San Antonio - Custody cases involving 34 children taken from a polygamist sect's West Texas ranch were dropped this week because child welfare authorities no longer believe court oversight is needed, an agency spokeswoman said Friday.
The action brings to 66 the number of cases dismissed of the approximately 440 children that the state had taken from the sect in a raid this year, then was forced by courts to return.
Child Protective Services investigators have continued to review the cases since the children's return. Last week, officials persuaded the district court in San Angelo to dismiss 32 cases and on Thursday asked, and got, the court to dismiss 34 more.
The remaining cases are under review. In addition, CPS is seeking the return to state custody of eight children whose mothers have refused to limit their children's contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages.
Hearings in those cases are scheduled to begin in San Angelo on Monday.
