In the four years since Texas authorities swarmed the Yearning for Zion polygamist compound, state prosecutors have spent more than $4.5 million pursuing convictions against sect leader Warren Jeffs and 10 loyal followers on child sex and bigamy charges, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.
Combined with other state agency costs associated with the raid on April 3, 2008, documents show the price tag is approaching $20 million for what began as a chaotic roundup of nearly 400 children and grew into one of the largest criminal cases in recent Texas history.The saga is now all but over. Last week, prosecutors won a conviction for the last of the 11 men arrested at the remote ranch outside Eldorado.All received prison time, including a life sentence for Jeffs."This was never about validation," said Jerry Strickland, a spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office. "It was always about, first and foremost, protecting children. There were a lot of people who wanted to make this about something it was not."Jeffs, 56, is the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is still considered God's spokesman by his followers despite being in prison.