U.S. police and members of a polygamist sect under investigation for possible child abuse were locked in a standoff over access to a Mormon temple where a suspected victim was believed to be held.

Authorities provided no details early yesterday about the standoff.

Allison Palmer, a prosecutor in Tom Green County, told the San Angelo Standard-Times on Saturday that medical workers were sent to the compound “in case this were to go in a way that no one wants.” She had said authorities would forcibly remove the sect’s followers “as peaceably as possible” if no agreement could be reached.

Authorities were searching for a 16-year-old mother whose report of alleged abuse led to a search of the secretive religious retreat built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

State welfare officials have removed nearly 200 women and children from the compound, operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Troopers armed with a search warrant raided the compound Friday to look for evidence of a marriage between the girl and 50-year-old Dale Barlow.

The girl had a baby eight months ago, when she was 15, according to court documents. Under Texas law, girls younger than 16 cannot marry, even with parental approval.

(SD-Agencies)