THE first of a dozen polygamist sect members to be tried over charges including child sex offences faces jail after being found guilty.

The first of a dozen polygamist sect members to be tried over charges including child sex offences faces jail after being found guilty today.

An elder of a polygamist sect and two other church members surrendered to Texas authorities to face charges over the marriage of underage girls to older men.

Lawyers for Texas child welfare chiefs have begun presenting evidence at a hearing on whether a girl allegedly given in marriage at 12 to jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs should be placed back in foster care.