SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) _ A polygamist leader in West Texas has agreed to pay child support dating to 2003, when his then-wife left the sect with their eight children.
Frederick Merril Jessop, the bishop of the Yearning for Zion Ranch, signed the order in court Thursday. He will pay his formerwife $148,000 for seven years of back child support.
Natalie Malonis, Carolyn Jessop’s attorney, said Friday that the bishop will pay $2,000 a month for the first six months and then $100 a month after that to cover the delinquent child support.
Frederick Merril Jessop also will pay $2,450 a month to stay current.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints broke away from the Mormon church, which renounced polygamy more than a century ago.
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