FLDS Leader Seeks Preliminary Protections As To Evidence In Canadian Tax Trial

Another chapter in the many legal battles against the polygamous FLDS Church and its leaders is taking place in a federal tax court in Canada.  Winston Blackmore, one of the FLDS Church leaders who lives in Bountiful, British Columbia, has been assessed back taxes and $150,000 in penalties for allegedly under reporting $1.85 million in income.  Canadian Press reported yesterday that tax officials charge J.R. Blackmore and Sons, Ltd., a company majority-owned by Blackmore, evaded corporate taxes by reporting as business expenses large amounts that were in fact used to support Blakmore, his wives and his many children. The government contends that Blackmore's reported earnings were insufficient to support himself and his family.  Blackmore is challenging the back taxes and penalties in court in Vancouver.  Before the trial begins, he has filed a motion to ban publication of any information about polygamy that comes out in the proceedings, and for an order preventing evidence in this trial from being used against him in any future criminal proceedings charging polygamy if B.C.'s polygamy law is ultimately upheld as constitutional in other pending court proceedings. (See prior posting.)  The judge says he will rule on the publication ban on Friday, but will need longer to consider the motion regarding use of tax court evidence in later criminal proceedings.