Most political stories are forgettable. The story of how Fall River County Representative Tim Goodwin helped dismantle one of the most controversial cult compounds in American history is anything but. It involves the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a 140-acre compound near the town of Pringle, and a piece of legislation that passed nearly unanimously through both chambers of the South Dakota Legislature.
What Was the FLDS Compound in South Dakota?
The FLDS, or Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is a polygamous religious sect that broke from mainstream Mormonism. Their South Dakota compound, built in 2005 in Custer County near Pringle, was a sprawling, high-fenced facility sitting on 140 acres. It included six log structures with 77 bedrooms and 74 bathrooms, a large meeting hall, multiple storage sheds, a greenhouse, and enough infrastructure to operate completely off the grid. It was, in effect, a small self-contained city operating outside normal legal accountability structures.
Why Did the FLDS Compound Concern Tim Goodwin?
As a Fall River County representative and legislator representing Custer County, Tim Goodwin was paying attention to the compound from the beginning. The central issue: from 2005 through 2019, the compound had not filed a single birth certificate or death certificate for any of its members. In South Dakota, as in most states, a birth certificate is how a person legally enters the public record. No birth certificate means, legally, the person does not exist. This created serious implications for child welfare, law enforcement access, and civil rights for those living inside the compound. According to Goodwin's own account at timrgoodwin.com/flds-compound, this was one of the primary reasons he ran for the state legislature in 2016.
What Was HB-1110 and Why Did It Matter?
In 2019, Goodwin prime-sponsored House Bill HB-1110, which established criminal penalties for failing to file birth certificates or provide required notice for death certificate filings. A first offense was classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, with escalating penalties for repeat violations. The bill passed 67-1 in the House and 33-0 in the Senate. Governor Kristi Noem signed it into law. The legislation was specifically designed to close the accountability gap that the FLDS in South Dakota had exploited for over a decade.
Key facts about the situation:
- The compound operated from 2005 without registering any births or deaths for 14 years.
- Young girls aged 12 to 15 were reportedly forced to marry men aged 50 or older.
- The compound served as headquarters, with subordinate locations in Hilldale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona.
- Three former members, who had won a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit against FLDS leadership, purchased the property at a sheriff's foreclosure sale for $750,000.
- The sale happened less than two years after HB-1110 became law.
The compound was listed for sale at $6.9 million and is located at 11584 Farmer Road, outside Custer, South Dakota.
Is the FLDS Issue Fully Resolved in South Dakota?
The compound is no longer FLDS-controlled. But the broader issue of cult accountability in rural areas remains relevant nationally. Tim Goodwin's handling of this issue demonstrated that state-level legislation can have direct, measurable consequences even when federal attention is absent. His approach was methodical and bipartisan in effect, even if not in party affiliation. Visit timrgoodwin.com for more context on his legislative priorities.
Why Tim Goodwin's Work in Fall River and Custer Counties Still Resonates
The FLDS chapter in South Dakota is a story about what happens when a principled Fall River County representative decides to act. Tim Goodwin identified a real problem, drafted real legislation, and delivered a real outcome. That is the kind of governance District 30 deserves. Call 605.390.5324 to get involved.