Polygamist Compound Wins Battle For Water Access

South Dakota has decided to grant a polygamist cult access to water resources after months of legal wrangling.

Known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the cult was previously run by Warren Jeffs, who is serving out a life sentence for “two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child,” the San Antonio Express-News reported. Jeffs had claimed that the underage girls were his wives.

Warren’s brother, Seth Jeffs, now holds the position of water operator for the sect. He contacted authorities in an effort to obtain more water for one of the group’s compounds.

The group had asked regulators for permission to “draw water more quickly at its remote Black Hills compound even though the sect declined to provide many details about the number of people living there,” the Associated Press reported.

After a vote by the South Dakota Water Management Board in July, the group’s request was not granted. The board said it wants more details on the request. Seth Jeffs did not provide sufficient information about the organization and its compound, the Associated Press reported.

In October, the state reversed course. The Water Management Board approved the application despite opposition from local landowners, the report said. Board members now say it is okay for the sect to move ahead, according to the Associated Press:

Board members who voted in favor of approving the application said that despite the lack of candor, the group met the legal burden to access the water. Member Rodney Freeman, who “reluctantly” supported approving the water application, said Jeffs previously offered “evasive testimony” and said Jeffs’ failure to appear before the committee offended him.

Freeman said: “My sense of being offended doesn’t amount to a hill of beans when I look at the law.”

The group says the additional water resources are needed for houses, gardens, and orchards on its compounds. Neighbors are worried it could mean lots of new members are planning to relocate to the area.

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