Oct. 3, 2002--
Eyewitness News has learned secret court documents
were filed Thursday involving a man accused of
marrying three women and impregnating a
16-year-old. In an added twist, he's a police officer in
two states.
John Hollenhorst has the exclusive story.
The state line splits the polygamist town in two. On
one side it's Colorado City, Arizona. On the other it's
Hildale, Utah.
Rodney Holm is a cop in both towns, a certified police
officer in both states. He also allegedly has more than
20 children with three wives, including Ruth Stubbs,
now age 20. She was interviewed earlier this year by
Phoenix TV reporter Mike Watkiss.
REPORTER: "HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN
YOU BECAME PREGNANT WITH YOUR FIRST
CHILD?" RUTH STUBBS: "SIXTEEN?"
REPORTER: "AND THIS WAS AN ARRANGED
MARRIAGE BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
OF THAT TOWN?" RUTH STUBBS: "YES."
REPORTER: "THEY TOLD YOU WHO TO
MARRY?" "YES."
Stubbs fled the Holm household and his polygamist
community while pregnant for a third time.
RUTH STUBBS: "I THINK WOMEN SHOULD
HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY YES OR NO."
Holm became embroiled in a court battle, fighting for
custody of the children. When pursued by reporter
Watkiss several months ago, Holm and his attorney
refused comment.
HOLM'S ATTORNEY: "HE DOESN'T WANT
TO MAKE HIS CHILDREN THE SUBJECT OF
SOME KIND OF MEDIA CIRCUS. AND WITH
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY
COMMENT." WATKISS: "MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU HAVE
THREE.... " ATTORNEY: "WE'RE DONE
FOR TODAY SIR, OK."
JOHN HOLLENHORST, REPORTING: "THE
CUSTODY BATTLE RAISED AN
INTERESTING QUESTION. IS IT FAIR
FOR POLYGAMIST TOM GREEN TO GO TO
PRISON FOR MANY YEARS, WHILE A
POLICEMAN WALKS FREE WHO'S ACCUSED
OF DOING MORE OR LESS THE SAME
THING."
WILLIAM WALKER/STUBBS' ATTORNEY:
"HE THREE TIMES IN ARIZONA HAD SEX
WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS 16. THAT'S A
CRIME IN ARIZONA, SEXUAL CONDUCT
WITH A MINOR."
Arizona's attorney general publicly confirmed for the
first time Thursday that investigators in both states
have been probing the polygamist community, with a
broad range of possible targets and charges.
Thursday's filing in Utah of a sealed affidavit appears
to be a preliminary step toward the first criminal
charges.
Rodney Holm's day in court may be coming soon.
Holm and his attornies did not return our calls
Thursday. And the Utah Attorney General's Office
had no comment.
