Court: Texas had no right to take polygamists' kids

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP)- An appeals court has ruled that Texas had no right to seize hundreds of children from polygamous sect.

Half the mothers from a polygamist sect that Texas child welfare authorities put in foster care as children have now been declared adults.

Attorneys for Child Protective Services say 15 of the 31 mothers are adults. One is actually 27.

Another girl listed as an underage mother is 14, but the state has conceded she is not pregnant and does not have a child.

The underage mothers had been cited as evidence that the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints committed widespread sexual abuse of girls.

State officials raided a ranch run by a polygamist sect in west Texas. Their contention that abuse was widespread led to the removal of more than 460 children.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20080522/D90QQSMO0.html