Charges may be laid next week against a Mormon polygamist sect connected with prophet Warren Jeffs and former Bountiful leader Winston Blackmore.

The charges would parallel what is going on with charges in the US. A human rights tribunal ruled over the past they had no jurisdiction over decisions made by the Crown. The tribunal ruled it had no authority to rule against the province, which has been accused of failing to protect young girls against sexual exploitation.

It is alleged teen age girls have been brought across the border to be wives for sect leaders.

B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal told CBC News that taking action against the community is one of his top priorities.

“I would expect we will have some kind of answer within the next week or so as to whether or not we’ll be laying charges,” he said.

Since girls, raised in this lifestyle won’t lay charges in the US, it is unlikely they would do so in Canada. The BC Attorney General is making a decision on whether to lay charges without their co-operation and testimony.

Bountiful is a community of about 1000, 1/3 who are Mormon who are currently fractured because of loyalties to Jeffs and Blackmore. Blackmore has 20 wives and 103 children. Jeffs was made Prophet of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bishop Blackmore was excommunicated after a falling out with Jeffs several years ago. He has remained in Bountiful. Three of his wives are US citizens, and can be deported.

The school in the sect provide minimal education, girls are married off as young as 13, boys are sent to work in the fields, which may also be chargable.

9 women who fled Bountiful filed a complaint with the BC Attorney General.

Since the Canadian Charter of Rights protects freedom of religion, laws against sexual exploitation and cross border trafficking of girls for sexual purposes would be likely.

Jeffs had about 10 thousand followers in the US towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz, and was leader from May 2002 until May 2006 when he landed on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list.

The CBC’s Fifth Estate January 2006 program Bust Up in Bountiful is available online.

Religion News Blog has the chronology of news storys regarding Warren Jeffs reign as prophet, his flight, arrest  and current trial.