SENTENCING IN ARIZONA: Letters ask mercy for man (polygamy)

[NVMojo]

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A woman is asking an Arizona judge to spare her polygamous partner from incarceration when he is sentenced today in Kingman for having sex with her after she became his church- assigned "celestial wife" more than five years ago.

The 21-year-old woman, Jenny Steed Fischer, and about 140 other people have submitted character letters to the court urging leniency on behalf of Kelly Fischer, 37.

A Mohave County jury last month convicted Fischer of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

That Jenny Fischer had sex with the legally married Kelly Fischer before she was of legal age was not contested at trial. The defense focused on the argument that prosecutors could not prove where any sexual relations had occurred, and thus the court did not have jurisdiction.

Testimony revealed that the Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FLDS, teaches its members that men can make their way to heaven by taking a legal wife and several "celestial wives" to bring many children into the world.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-02-Wed-2006/news/8831757.html

[LisaM]

1. There's got to be some term other than polygamy for this crime

"Polygamy" makes this sound much more benign than it is. She met him when he came to marry her MOTHER - then she "married" him, also, at age 14, and yet people are writing letters attesting to this man's character? This is beyond absurd (not to mention the duality of these people claiming that they are married, yet cheerfully taking the benefits available to single mothers to pay their bills when they have 15 rug rants running around. I won't even get into the rife opportunities for incest, with all the complex interrelation between families).

[WinkyDink]

2. There is: Statutory rape. A minor is by law determined unable

to give consent.

[LisaM]

5. Agreed - but I meant some particular term for this group

they make my skin crawl. Something really targeted to this specific situation.

But I think we are all on the same page here.

[heidler1]

14. Does parental consent make these marriages legal?

I suspect that in these religious encouraged marriages, parental consent is pretty normal. It's a mess. IMO there are many men who will pay large sums of money to have a 14 year old wife and plenty of preachers who will take advantage of the trade. All so IMO a large part of the MidEast/Muslim problem is rooted in the same male desire. I believe it is fairly common for 14 year old women to want to have sexual relations with older men.

Keeping women un-educated is key to making this work in male dominated religious societies. Untill we have our own country free of this problem it is stupid to have our troops go fight and die in other countries that do the same thing that goes on here at home. One thing for certain you can not fix this by expecting religious groups to do their own policing.

[enlightenment]

16. Legal age of consent in AZ is 18.

Parent's consent notwithstanding. So, nope, it's not legal. Age of consent in Utah is also 18 (16 with some provision), so even if they skipped over the border to "marry" they'd still be breaking the law.

I have no issue with polygamy between consenting adults (a little weird, IMO, but what grown-ups do in their bedrooms isn't my business). I have major issues with this crap -- and having lived most of my life in the mountain west, I've been aware of it for a very long time.

It's sick, and the state of AZ needs to put their collective governmental foot down -- preferably on the scrawny necks of those freaks.

[Donnachaidh]

3. I think pedophile would apply

or child predator. And they shouldn't give this cretin ANY mercy.

[bumblebee1]

4. Unfortunately,

people in cults behave this way. Things you and I find absurb, they find it perfectly normal. Jenny Steed grew up in this environment. She hasn't been taught anything else. Yes, I am also angry about the welfare and sexual abuse polygamy is rife with. They want nothing to do with the government until some guy has 30 children with 6 or 7 different women claiming to be his "wives." I feel for the taxpayers in Utah and Arizona who have to shoulder the burden for this "church sanctioned" screwing around.

[Bobbieo]

7. Polygamous Mormon males are the American Taliban

How many are aware the leaders ostracize young males and force them to leave the community. They are a threat to older men.

[NVMojo]

12. it's screwed up, to say the least, and if it's not statutory rape, then

it's perversion of some sort.

[michaelpush]

6. If he broke the law, and, was found

guilty, he should pay the price. Plain and simple. The point in this case is that the girl was a minor. The law could have done nothing if she was of age and not legally married. Then it would have been no different than what a lot of men do, have multiple partners or extra marital affairs.

[Traveling_Home]

8. Slightly OT but polygamy.....

I often read about Moslem men having several wives. The articles usually are describing someone living in another country. If such a man immigrates to the US and seeks citizenship....

Just curious

[bumblebee1]

9. the difference is:

A Muslim man can only marry up to four women at most. He has to have the ability to support all four women and any children they have together. A man married to a woman can't be married to her mother or her sister at the same time. If he divorces the woman, he may then marry her sister.

[Traveling_Home]

10. Agreed and .....

"the difference is:
Posted by bumblebee1
A Muslim man can only marry up to four women at most. He has to have the ability to support all four women and any children they have together. A man married to a woman can't be married to her mother or her sister at the same time. If he divorces the woman, he may then marry her sister."

I recognize and acknowledge the difference. I have no issue with the cultural and religious values of Islam regarding polygamy. I was and am wondering how such a situation is legally handled in the U.S.

I probably should have started a new thread. I made it confusing.

[Bridget Burke]

13. You can only have one legal wife (at a time) in the USA.

For purposes of immigration & taxation, only one spouse can be claimed.

But the law doesn't really care who sleeps with whom, as long as they're consenting adults. (& it's still easier for hets.) Look around you: married couples, unmarried couples, husbands or wives with "someone on the side", etc. (And let's not mention all the "exes.") If a prosperous "extended family" lives in a fine, large house--or several houses--who's to know the details?

I don't believe that polygyny is actually practiced in all Muslim countries. And the more conservative folks are less inclined to emigrate. Of course, a man might choose to leave his wives back home.

[MrPrax]

11. So you can rape children...

if you say it's a religion?

What mercy could offered to someone living under the same laws of the land as anyone else who values their religion and morals?

[Tsiyu]

15. I know their Bobble is a bit different than the NIV or King James versions

but those Bobbles are very clear. You are not allowed to sleep with a woman and her mother at the same time.

Perhaps they removed this verse when they rewrote the tome? :shrug:

[Megahurtz]

17. BLAH!

:puke: