'Person of interest' in FLDS case waives hearing
Rozita Swinton's scheduled Thursday arraignment on a misdemeanor charge of false reporting was vacated, according to court records. Instead, she retained an attorney on Monday, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for June 6.
Swinton, 33, is accused in this case of making a series of calls to authorities in Colorado Springs, claiming to be a little girl locked in a basement. It prompted a door-to-door search by police. When Swinton was arrested earlier this month, Texas Rangers were there and seized evidence from her home they said has a possible connection to phone calls involving FLDS compounds in Colorado City, Ariz., and Eldorado, Texas.
An arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Deseret News said investigators believe cell phone numbers belonging to Swinton matched those that were made to shelters in numerous states. In those calls, a 16-year-old girl identifying herself as "Sarah" claimed to be pregnant and abused by her husband, Dale Barlow.
Even after the raid that resulted in 462 children being placed in state protective custody, the affidavit said "Sarah" continued to make phone calls. Texas Rangers questioned a Dale Barlow, 50, in St. George earlier this month but did not arrest him.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said it continues to sift through evidence seized from Swinton's apartment. Authorities insist that even if the original call that sparked the raid was a hoax, it would not affect the outcome of the case because of what Texas child protective services workers found once they went onto the YFZ Ranch.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
It's beginning to look like Texas knew before the raid that Rozita...
They knew all along | May 2, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
Have we heard any explanation from Texas authorities why they couldn...
Any explanation from Texas? | April 29, 2008 at 12:58 p.m.
