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Judge: Evict polygamous families not paying fees

By WTOP Staff

BRADY McCOMBS
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah judge said Friday that hundreds of people living in Warren Jeffs’ polygamous sect on the Utah-Arizona border who have collectively failed to pay millions in occupancy fees for their houses should be evicted.

State Judge Denise Lindberg said far too many have been ignoring the $100-a-month, per-house fee for too long and that “enough is enough.” She suggested starting with a few homes, giving families notice that they must pay up or pack up. That will send a message ahead of expanding the action throughout the community, she said.

“We have had a free rider problem here for a long time,” Lindberg said. “There needs to be action, or otherwise the law means nothing.”

Lindberg’s strong and surprising remarks came Friday during a hearing in a Salt Lake City courtroom to address progress toward formation of a board that will oversee the redistribution of 750 homes in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. The homes have been in state control since 2005 due to allegations of mismanagement by Jeffs and other sect leaders.

Lindberg said she has chosen seven people, from 12 finalists, for the panel but said she won’t announce their names or create the board until the fees are being paid and the trust has a stable revenue source.

No timetable was set for sending the eviction notices, but her emphatic directions mean they could begin within months, said Jeffrey Shields, an attorney representing the accountant who has managed the trust since Utah seized it. It was Shields who first raised the issues of evictions during Friday’s hearing.

“Until we get ground control,” Shields said “we should not turn this whole thing over to the board.”

The non-payments have occurred for as long as seven years, depriving the trust of millions, Shields said after the hearing. The trust should be receiving $75,000 a month, and is getting only $10,000 to $12,000, he said.

A yearly report showed the trust was owed $4.18 million in unpaid occupancy fees at the end of 2013, The Salt Lake Tribune reported earlier this year.

Lindberg spent much of the final part of the hearing expressing her frustration with the lingering problem and explaining why evictions are the only option. The judge acknowledged it will be an unpopular decision but said authorities have been dangling the empty threat of eviction for too long.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, who attended the hearing, said he would prefer that a board is formed first but noted his office won’t stand in the way. Reyes said he would coordinate with state agencies to ensure evictees have access to services they need.

Willie Jessop, a board finalist and former bodyguard for Jeffs, said he’s concerned about the idea of kicking people out of their homes but said he believes people will pay up when given notice.

Jessop said people didn’t stop paying in rebellion, but because they felt they shouldn’t have to pay property taxes and occupancy fees. He said state officials initially told community members the occupancy fee was to cover property taxes for open spaces such as farms and gardens.

During the hearing, David Wolf of the Utah Attorney General’s Office said eviction should be the absolute last resort, pointing out logistical issues with preventing destruction and looting of homes before they are evicted. Lindberg downplayed those concerns, saying that’s an issue with evictions in any community.

The state’s goal has always been to return the homes and a scattering of property — worth an estimated $118 million — to community members. The board’s creation is a key step toward a resolution.

None of the finalists are members of Jeffs’ sect. That’s because their jailed leader has made it clear they are not to participate. Jeffs is in a Texas prison, where he is a serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting underage girls he considered brides.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a radical offshoot of mainstream Mormonism whose members believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the mainstream church and its 15 million members worldwide abandoned the practice in 1890 and strictly prohibit it.

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Follow Brady McCombs at https://twitter.com/BradyMcCombs

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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