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Will Weissert

(DELCIA LOPEZ/The Associated Press) In this April 19, 2011, file photo, a member of the National Guard checks on his colleague inside a Border Patrol Skybox near the Hidalgo International Bridge in Hidalgo, Texas. National Guard members along the Texas-Mexico border assist Border Patrol by surveying the terrain from the tower. All major Republican presidential candidates have promised to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Many support a fence stretching nearly 2,000 miles to do so. But a border that is sealed to all illegal immigrants and drugs is a promise none of them could keep.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Securing US border impossible

Last updated Tuesday, December 6, 2011 - 8:02am

AUSTIN, Texas — Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have promised to complete a nearly 1,950-mile fence. Michele Bachmann wants a double fence. Ron Paul pledges to secure the nation’s southern border by any means necessary, and Rick Perry says he can secure it without a fence — and do so within a year of taking office as president.

Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Republican Party, Immigration, National Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) This image provided by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shows the design of a proposed Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate. Eleven years ago, when the NAACP stepped up a campaign to remove the Confederate battle flag from statehouses and other government buildings across the South, it found an opponent in then Lt. Gov. Rick Perry. Perry argued that states should honor their history and decide on appropriate displays. A related issue may rise this fall when Texas decides whether to allow specialty license plates featuring the Confederate flag.

Perry once defended Confederate symbols

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, October 4, 2011 - 8:12am

AUSTIN, Texas — Eleven years ago, when the NAACP stepped up a campaign to remove the Confederate battle flag from statehouses and other government buildings across the South, it found an opponent in Rick Perry.

Civil War, Racism, Republican Party, Rick Perry, Texas, National Read more Comments

(Sarah A. Miller/The Associated Press) A fire burns in the wooded lots west of Hawk Road Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 near Diana, Texas. Texas is in the midst of one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in state history. A perilous mix of hot temperatures, strong winds and a historic drought spawned the Bastrop-area fire, the largest of the nearly 190 wildfires the state forest service says erupted this week, killing four people, destroying more than 1,700 homes and forcing thousands to evacuate.

Texas fire destroys 1,554 homes, 17 people missing

Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, September 11, 2011 - 6:46pm

BASTROP, Texas — Drawn to the quaint Central Texas town of Bastrop by the promise of life in a quiet, wooded area, Frank Davis moved into his new home two Saturdays ago. The next day, he and his wife evacuated when a monster wildfire moved in.

Drought, Texas, Wildfires, National Read more Comments

Firefighters from around the state battle a large wildfire on Highway 71 near Smithville, Texas, Monday, Sep. 5, 2011. A roaring wildfire raced unchecked Monday through rain-starved farm and ranchland in Texas, destroying nearly 500 homes during a rapid advance fanned in part by howling winds from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. (AP Photo/Erich Schlegel)

Wildfire destroys nearly 500 homes in Texas

Michael Graczyk, Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - 7:11am

BASTROP, Texas — Calmer winds Tuesday should help firefighters battling a wildfire that has destroyed nearly 500 homes in Central Texas and forced thousands of residents to evacuate to shelters to avoid the blaze, officials said.

Texas, Wildfire, National Read more Comments

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, greets veterans after he addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars 112th National Conference, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Romney in Texas takes shot at Perry by assailing 'career politicians'

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, August 30, 2011 - 4:25pm

SAN ANTONIO — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney castigated “career politicians” Tuesday as he tried to distinguish himself from chief rival Rick Perry while on the governor’s home turf in Texas.

Mitt Romney, Politics, Republicans, Rick Perry, National Read more Comments

Polygamist religious leader Warren Jeffs, front, is helped out of a sheriffs vehicle as he arrives at the Tom Green County Courthouse for the sentencing phase of his sexual assault trial Friday Aug. 5, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jeffs walks out of sentencing hearing

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, August 5, 2011 - 3:15pm

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- A polygamist sect leader convicted of child sexual assault walked out of his sentencing hearing in protest Friday, after reading a statement he claimed was from God. The statement promised a "whirlwind of judgment" on the world if God's "humble servant" wasn't set free.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, National Read more Comments

Polygamist leader's records helped get convictions

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, August 5, 2011 - 10:33am

SAN ANGELO, Texas — As a prophet of his polygamist sect, Warren Jeffs documented everything he did, keeping track of every marriage he performed, every young woman he wed, and even recording his intimate moments.

It was those meticulous records — including an audiotape of what prosecutors said was him sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he’d taken as a bride — that helped authorities secure two child sex assault convictions against the 55-year-old ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, National Read more Comments

In this courtroom sketch, lead prosecutor Eric Nichols, left, and Texas State Attorney General Greg Abbott, front, are shown during closing arguments in the sexual assault trial against Polygamist Religious Leader Warren Jeffs at the Tom Green County Courthouse Thursday Aug. 4, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. (AP Photo/Brigitte Woosley)

Jeffs convicted of child sex abuse

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, August 4, 2011 - 5:52pm

SAN ANGELO, Texas — A Texas jury convicted polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs of child sexual assault Thursday in a case stemming from two young followers he took as brides in what his church calls “spiritual marriages.”

Crime, Child Abuse, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Jeffs trial goes to jury

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, August 4, 2011 - 1:28pm

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The child sexual assault case against Warren Jeffs was in the hands of a Texas jury Thursday, after the polygamist leader stood mostly mute for his closing argument.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Law enforcement officials, left, and right, help polygamist religious leader Warren Jeffs out of a vehicle as he arrives at the Tom Green County Courthouse Thursday Aug. 4, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. Jeffs, 55, is accused of sexually assaulting two girls he took as brides during so-called "spiritual marriages." (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jeffs' tactics slow sex assault trial

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, August 4, 2011 - 10:07am

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Polygamist church leader Warren Jeffs has dramatically slowed his trial on child sex assault charges, and a church elder who already spent hours testifying is expected back on the stand.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Jeffs talks of persecution in opening statement

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - 5:13pm

Jeffs talks of persecution in opening statement

AP Photo TXSAN103, TXTG102, TXSAN105, TXSAN104

Eds: Restores background. JD is correct.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Polygamist religious leader Warren Jeffs, arrives at the Tom Green County Courthouse escorted by a law enforcement officer Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. Jeffs, 55, is accused of sexually assaulting two girls he took as brides during so-called "spiritual marriages." (AP Photo/San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Prosecutors rest in Jeffs' sex assault case

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - 2:45pm

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Prosecutors rested their case against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs on Wednesday, after playing an audiotape of what they said was him sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he took as a "spiritual wife."

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, National Read more Comments

Jury hears tape of Jeffs instructing 14-year-old girl how to please him sexually

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - 2:10pm

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Prosecutors played an audio recording Tuesday of a polygamist sect leader instructing his 14-year-old "spiritual wife" on how to please him sexually, and thus please God.

Warren Jeffs, 55, is head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. He is accused of sexually assaulting two girls, ages 12 and 15, he took as brides in "spiritual marriages."

Audiotape, Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Warren Jeffs is escorted by security into the Tom Green County Courthouse, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. Jeffs faces two counts of sexual assault of a child. The 55-year-old Jeffs claims his rights to religious freedom are being trampled. He is defending himself but gave no opening statement, hasn't cross-examined any state witnesses and isn't expected to call witnesses in his defense. (AP Photo/The San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Expert: Jeffs wasn't legally married

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - 11:21am

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- A Texas family law expert tells jurors that polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was never legally married to two underage girls he is accused of sexually assaulting.

The 55-year-old Jeffs leads the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism that believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.

Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, FLDS Church, National Read more Comments

Presiding over the trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther arrives at the Tom Green County Courthouse Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 in San Angelo, Texas. In a motion filed Monday, Jeffs quoted God as saying state District Judge Barbara Walther should "step away from this abuse of power against a religious and pure faith in the Lord." It's the third time Jeffs has tried to have Walther removed. (AP Photo/San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Jeffs' motion to remove judge delays sex abuse trial

Will Weissert The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, August 1, 2011 - 11:56am

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was unsuccessful Monday in a third attempt to remove the Texas judge overseeing his child sex assault case — this time based on the claim that God demands a change.

The head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints filed a motion purporting to quote God as saying state District Judge Barbara Walther should “step away from this abuse of power against a religious and pure faith in the Lord.”

Crime, Courts, Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, National Read more Comments