| FLDS search ties to Mancos Owner of west Texas compound also owns Montezuma property | |
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By Steve Grazier Cortez Journal - Cortez, Colorado | |
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member who purchased a west Texas ranch from which nearly 200 people were removed over the weekend for alleged physical abuse has ties to two properties northwest of Mancos. David Steed Allred, a known FLDS member, has his signature on the warranty deed of trust for one parcel of two FLDS properties in Montezuma County, according to the county assessor’s office. Another property has Sherwood Management Group Inc. named as primary owner. An Oct. 30, 2004, Journal report listed Allred as president of the company. Deputy County Assessor Scott Davis said Monday the assessor’s office has made requests to visit the properties over the past few years as per normal procedure. He has never heard back from the owner or any residents on the inquiries and said there appears to be ongoing expansion of facilities on the two properties. "I suspect there are things going on there," he said. "They recently have added two more big log houses." Allred paid about $1.4 million combined for both Mancos-area properties. However, that amount has more than doubled to $3.1 million since the purchase dates a few years ago, according to the assessor’s office. The 60-acre parcel at 15252 County Road 39 is valued at $2.65 million since it now consists of five homes and multiple outbuildings, said Assessor Mark Vanderpool. Forty acres at 15976 Road 39 are valued at about $450,000. It has three homes, multiple sheds and a pre-fabricated steel building. Property at 15976 Road 39 was purchased in October 2004. Sherwood Management Group Inc., of Mesquite, Nev., is the listed owner of the parcel. A 2004 Journal report noted Allred as president of Sherwood Management. The parcel at 15252 Road 39 was originally purchased in July 2003 for a corporate hunting retreat. That land was conveyed from Allred to Elite Management Group, of Cheyenne, Wyo., on Jan. 18, 2007, according to Vanderpool. Vanderpool said paperwork from the conveyance notes that EMG and Allred are "related parties." Authorities have removed more than 220 women and children from an Eldorado, Texas, FLDS religious retreat — constructed by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs — in the wake of reports of alleged abuse and an illegal, underage marriage. According to the Eldorado (Texas) Success, the compound, called YFZ Ranch, was purchased by Allred in November 2003. The retreat just outside of Eldorado is home to almost 400 members of the church who relocated from Arizona and Utah. Montezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace said county deputies "keep an eye on the FLDS property" near Mancos as part of regular patrols. He suggested it’s possible additional church members could be coming to the area as a result of the Texas ranch raid. "I know there’s construction going on there," Wallace said. "We believe not too many (people) are up there now." The Associated Press contributed information to this report. Reach Steve Grazier at steveg@cortezjournal.com. | |
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CortezJournal.com Originally published Tuesday, April 8th 2008 | |
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