Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(Phoenix-AP) -- Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is coming under fire from a group of state lawmakers.
They are demanding Goddard take more aggressive action on reports of widespread child abuse and welfare fraud in the polygamous town of Colorado City.
The demands come in a letter sent to Goddard and signed by 27 members of the Arizona House.
The letter says law enforcement must address renewed reports that women and teenage girls have been compelled by Colorado City's religious leaders into polygamous marriages for years.
Goddard says the letter signals support for his efforts to draft stronger state laws to protect children in Colorado City. Most residents of Colorado City and neighboring Hildale, Utah, are members of the polygamous Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
