Bountiful polygamists on trial for taking girl to U.S. to marry older man
A first of its kind trial has begun in Cranbrook, B.C. where three people are charged with transporting an underaged girl across the U.S. border where she was expected to marry a much older man.
James Oler, Brandon Blackmore and Ruth Crossfield were charged over two years ago with unlawful removal of a child from Canada for sexual purposes.
The three are alleged polygamists from a breakaway Mormon sect in Bountiful, near Creston, B.C.
Blackmore and Crossfield are alleged to have taken part in shuttling the underaged girl into the U.S. to be married to an older American sect member, while James Oler was a leader of the B.C. sect at the time.
The evidence against the three came to light in the investigation of American polygamous leader Warren Jeffs, who was sentenced to life in prison for being an accomplice to rape. Jeffs was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl he had taken as child brides.
At the heart of the Cranbrook trial is the lifestyle of secretive fundamentalist Mormons who openly practiced polygamy and allegedly shared girls between sects.
The case will take weeks with legal arguments alone expected to last until mid-November. Arguments over legal procedures taking place this week can't be reported on.
A charge of polygamy was also laid against Oler and Winston Blackmore, Brandon Blackmore's younger brother, which will be tried separately.
With files from Bob Keating
