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Polygamy hearing

April 14, 2009 - 2:29 PM

** FOR RELEASE WEEKEND EDITIONS, APRIL 3-5 **FILE ** This undated booking file photo provided by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office shows polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs in Arizona. Documents obtained by The Associated Press shows that Jeffs, now imprisoned as an accomplice to rape for marrying an underage girl to an older cousin, gave regular dictation and teachings used to govern every aspect of life on the the Yearning for Zion Ranch at Eldorado, Texas. (AP Photo/Mohave County Sheriff's Office, File)

** This undated booking file photo provided by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office shows polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs in Arizona. Documents obtained by The Associated Press shows that Jeffs, now imprisoned as an accomplice to rape for marrying an underage girl to an older cousin, gave regular dictation and teachings used to govern every aspect of life on the the Yearning for Zion Ranch at Eldorado, Texas. (AP Photo/Mohave County Sheriff's Office, File)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A 14-year-old girl allegedly married to polygamist group leader Warren Jeffs when she was 12 may be placed permanently in state custody.

Family and Protective Services Commissioner Anne Heilingenstein (HIEL-gen-STIN') said during a legislative hearing on Tuesday that Child Protective Services would seek permanent custody of the girl because efforts to reunite her with her parents have failed.

The girl is the only one of the 439 children taken from the Yearning For Zion Ranch last year still under court oversight. She's been in temporary foster care since last August.

Jeffs was convicted in Utah as an accomplice to rape and awaits trial on charges in Arizona and Texas related to underage marriages. He allegedly married the girl in foster care when she was 12.