Evictions move forward in polygamous community

SALT LAKE CITY — Officials are moving forward with plans to evict families in 14 homes in Warren Jeffs’ polygamous community on the Utah-Arizona border as authorities attempt to crack down on families who have failed to pay occupancy fees for years.

Jeffrey Shields, an attorney representing the accountant who has managed the trust since Utah seized it from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 2005, said actual evictions are still weeks away.

He said of 16 notices sent recently, only two families have agreed to pay. The goal is not evict families, but to collect back fees.

Shields said most of the group’s members have been the ignoring the $100-a-month, per-house fee for years, depriving the trust of millions of dollars.

Judge Denise P. Lindberg green-lighted the eviction plan in June, citing a free-loader problem in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.