ST. GEORGE – A citizen’s report to authorities of a person passed out in a parked car Saturday led to police arresting two men on multiple offenses related to vehicle burglaries and drug use.
Danny Halpin, of Ivins, Utah, booking photo, Dec. 16, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
At approximately 9:20 a.m. Saturday, St. George Police officers were sent to a parking lot in the area of 240 N. 200 West in St. George on a “person down” call. When officers arrived at the scene they encountered two men inside a Honda Civic who were identified as Danny Halpin, 29, of Ivins, and Adam Dennis, 30, of St. George.
While conducting a welfare check on the two, officers came across suspected drug paraphernalia in the car, including needles and straws allegedly used for either injecting or smoking heroin, according to police reports.
The two men are believed to have been using heroin in the car sometime prior to the officers’ arrival.
Additional investigation pointed to the two men allegedly being involved in a series of vehicle burglaries in the Little Valley area of St. George the night prior.
The two are accused of burglarizing six vehicles. Dennis is believed to have been the driver while Halpin took items from the cars.
Among the items found in the car believed to have been stolen were prescription bottles and a gym duffel bag, as well as checks and some identification cards. Glass plates that had been kept in a tote bag that was also swiped were broken during the incident, according to police reports.
Adam Dennis, of St. George, Utah, booking photo, Dec. 16, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Each incident of vehicle burglary netted Dennis and Halpin a total of six class A misdemeanor offenses. Other misdemeanor offenses involve possession of drugs and paraphernalia, as well as criminal mischief amounting to damages of between $500-$1,500. A third-degree felony charge for receiving stolen property valued at between $500-$1500 was also added.
Halpin and Dennis were booking into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and have court appearances scheduled for January.
“Our Investigations Division spent several hours sorting through the property and returning it to the owner,” St. George Police Officer Lona Trombley said in relation to the case. “We encourage our community to file a report if you do have a vehicle burglary.”
UTAH — A 23-year-old man was sentenced Monday to seven years to life in prison for trying to kill his girlfriend, whom he believed was pregnant, by hanging her from a Utah overpass.
Juan Echeveste Alba, of Utah, booking photo posted July 1, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Jail, St. George News
Juan Echeveste Alba had been upset over learning that his girlfriend might be pregnant and that she was uncertain of the father, according to Utah court documents filed in the case.
The woman told police Echeveste Alba was waiting outside her Salt Lake area home when she arrived on July 1, and that he forced her into his vehicle, charging documents state. She said he punched her several times, noting that many of the punches seemed to be aimed at her stomach.
Echeveste Alba drove the woman to Parleys Canyon overpass at Interstate 80 Exit 131, court documents state. Once there, the woman told police he punched her several more times before getting a rope from the trunk of his car – ultimately tying one end of the rope to his car and wrapping the other end of the rope around his girlfriend’s neck.
He then told the woman he was going to kill her for lying to him, according to court documents. When the woman managed to get the rope off her neck, Echeveste Alba began to strangle her with his hands to the point she said she couldn’t breathe.
At about that time, four Unified Fire Authority firefighters, who were in the area responding to a report of smoke, observed Echeveste Alba shoving the woman against a wall and pulling on the rope, according to officials.
When Echeveste Alba saw the firefighters, he pushed the woman into his car and tried to take off, but the firefighters pulled him out and detained him until Utah Highway Patrol troopers arrived and arrested him.
During the investigation, it was determined that the victim was not pregnant.
Notwithstanding, Echeveste Alba was charged in 3rd District Court with two first-degree felony counts of attempted murder and one first-degree count of aggravated kidnapping.
In September, he pleaded guilty in September to both attempted murder counts and to a reduced second-degree felony count of kidnapping.
Echeveste Alba was sentenced Monday to three years to life in prison on each of the attempted murder counts, and one to 15 years for the kidnapping count.
ST. GEORGE — One of the 11 defendants charged in the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud case has been released from jail after striking a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
Initially charged with one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the nutrition assistance program and one count of conspiracy to launder money, John Clifton Wayman, 57, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a lesser count of using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits contrary to the law.
His plea agreement came hours after U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart rejected a request to release Wayman and Seth Jeffs – brother to imprisoned FLDS leader Warren Jeffs – from jail pending trial. The judge had agreed with federal prosecutors that the two men couldn’t be trusted to follow the court’s orders and shouldn’t be released from jail.
Wayman, a former bishop for the polygamous sect, had been in jail for six months after being arrested for violating a court order prohibiting him to have contact with other defendants. However, after the deal was signed Thursday, Wayman was immediately released from Davis County Jail with time-served.
In the plea deal with federal prosecutors, Wayman admitted in U.S. District Court that he knowingly diverted Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program benefits totaling at least $5,000 to people who weren’t eligible to receive them.
Under the deal, Wayman will not have to serve probation, does not have to pay a fine or restitution – other than a $100 court fee – and does not have to testify or cooperate with the government. Federal prosecutors and the FBI have also agreed not to pursue charges against Wayman for any other crimes that they may be aware of. He also must attend a Department of Agriculture training class on the proper use of SNAP benefits.
Wayman was among 11 defendants indicted in February on food stamp fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly diverting at least $12 million worth of food stamp benefits from FLDS members. Prosecutors had alleged that Wayman was one of the church leaders who counseled sect members to turn over their SNAP benefits to the FLDS Church.
Wayman’s plea agreement is the first among the 11 FLDS Church members charged. Other defendants are expected to follow, with the exception of Lyle Jeffs, who fled from custody in the summer. The government said no deal had been offered to Lyle Jeffs, who also served as a bishop in the FLDS Church.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lund said the resolution would help deter a “culture of fraud” in the FLDS community, FOX News reported.
“These people are extremely poor. There’s not $12 million in that community to pay restitution,” Lund told reporters outside the courthouse, adding that the government – not individual investors – was the victim. “We’re willing to eat that cost.”
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Another high-ranking leader in the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints charged in a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud case has been released from jail after accepting a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
During a change of plea hearing Wednesday in Salt Lake City’s U.S. District Court, Seth Jeffs, brother of imprisoned polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, pleaded guilty to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program fraud.
Under the plea deal, Seth Jeffs, who runs the group’s South Dakota compound, was sentenced to time-served – approximately six months in jail. He will not have to serve probation nor pay restitution and he and his family will not be prosecuted further in the case. He will have to attend a government training class on the proper use of SNAP benefits.
The deal is similar to the one accepted last week by Seth Jeffs’ codefendant, John Wayman, who was also immediately released from jail after entering a guilty plea.
Seth Jeffs and Wayman were among 11 defendants indicted in February on food stamp fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly diverting at least $12 million worth of food stamp benefits from FLDS members.
Prosecutors had alleged that the men counseled sect members to turn over their SNAP benefits to the FLDS Church, using them to fund leaders’ lavish lifestyles.
Other defendants in the case have also been offered deals and negotiations are ongoing, with the exception of Lyle Jeffs, who served as a bishop in the FLDS Church and fled from police custody in the summer. The government said no deal had been offered to Lyle Jeffs.
Outside the courthouse, Seth Jeffs’ attorney, Jay Winward, suggested to FOX 13 Reporter Ben Winslow that his client was prosecuted because he is related to Warren Jeffs.
“This is an investigation that’s gone on for five years. I’m not certain in any other circumstance with any other people, the U.S. government wouldn’t simply ask them to stop what they were doing rather than indicting them,” Winward told FOX 13.
However, the terms of the deals offered to the defendants have evoked criticism from those who see it as a “slap on the wrist” for allegedly carrying out a fraud scheme that bilked taxpayers out of more than $12 million over the course of five years.
Sam Brower, a private investigator who has been researching the FLDS church for the last 12 years, posted a statement on Facebook, noting that Seth Jeffs was already a convicted felon and that it was unjust that he will not even have to serve probation under the deal.
Brower added:
It is the most insane, incompetent, disturbing, and disgraceful miscarriage of justice I’ve ever seen. A deadbeat dad, whose (sic) previously lied to the court, was released with absolutely zero consequences for his actions! Seth could care less if (he) carries another felony. It only increases his stature in the FLDS hierarchy! It would have been better if the US attorneys office never prosecuted the case to begin with, than to hand a gift like this over to Warren Jeffs and his cabal!!!
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Lund told FOX 13 he did not believe the government would be able to recover $12 million, which is why they opted not to seek restitution.
“The people in that community — including some of the defendants — are among the poorest people that live in Utah,” Lund said. “They have no ability to pay restitution.”
ST. GEORGE — A man who allegedly broke into a St. George home on Christmas Eve while the owners were out of town and then led police on a chase in a stolen vehicle made his initial appearance in court Thursday.
Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a residential burglary in St. George where it was reported that an unknown individual had forced entry into a home by smashing a large window.
Fernando Torres-Sanchez, of Milford, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 24, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
The suspect later exited the home carrying a black bag which appeared to contain items stolen from the home, according to a probable cause statement filed by the St. George Police Department in support of the arrest.
No one was inside the residence at the time as its occupants were reportedly out of town.
Before the suspect left the scene of the alleged crime, a quick-thinking neighbor who witnessed the incident took a photo of the suspect’s license plate and vehicle – a blue Hyundai Santa Fe – and called police.
Police contacted the homeowners who confirmed that the house should have been secured and that nobody was supposed to be inside, the arresting officer wrote in a sworn statement.
At approximately 6:28 p.m., a St. George Police sergeant located the suspect vehicle traveling south on River Road near 680 South, according to the statement. The sergeant observed the driver make an improper left turn onto Riverside Drive, cross the fog line and jerk back over before accelerating the vehicle to more than 50 mph in a 40-mph zone.
“The roads were wet and it was raining heavily,” the arresting officer stated. “This driving was believed to be reckless based on the three or more moving violations to include speeding, too fast for conditions, improper lane of travel and improper turn.”
After additional officers were able to respond and assist, police initiated a stop of the vehicle at 950 N. 3050 East in St. George, according to the probable cause statement. However, the driver of the vehicle continued north and turned right onto Telegraph Street in Washington City before turning into the parking lot of Zion’s Bank.
“There were approximately six or seven police vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens on from the time the original stop was attempted,” the officer stated. “… The driver willfully ignored the many red and blue emergency lights and sirens and continued to drive.”
When the driver attempted to exit the parking lot, an officer blocked the exit with his patrol car and the driver subsequently stopped the car, according to the statement. The driver verbally identified himself to police as 49-year-old Fernando Torres-Sanchez, but police were unable to confirm his identity because he had no identification on his person.
After a search warrant was executed on the vehicle, police identified the registered owner of the car who confirmed the vehicle had been stolen, the report stated.
During an interview with police, Torres-Sanchez allegedly admitted to taking the vehicle at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday, but denied knowing anything about the residential burglary, according to the statement. However, officers recovered a black bag from inside the stolen car that was consistent with the description provided by the witness.
The homeowners positively identified the black bag, along with a modem and a router found inside, as items that had been stolen from their home. Damage to the homeowner’s window, blinds and doorknob was estimated to be around $475.
Torres-Sanchez was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Torres-Sanchez of two second-degree felony counts of burglary of a dwelling and theft; a third-degree felony of failing to stop at the command of police; three class B misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, theft by receiving stolen property and reckless driving; and an infraction for not having his driver’s license.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Six of the 11 defendants charged in the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud case struck plea deals with federal prosecutors Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. George.
Initially charged with one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and one count of conspiracy to launder money, the six FLDS members pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor count of using SNAP benefits contrary to the law.
During Wednesday’s hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Braithwaite, defendants Kimball Dee Barlow, Winford Johnson Barlow, Rulon Mormon Barlow, Ruth Peine Barlow, Hyrum Bygnal Dutson and Kristal Meldrum Dutson admitted to knowingly diverting SNAP benefits to people who weren’t eligible to receive them.
FLDS co-defendant Preston Yates Barlow is also expected to accept a plea deal. However, his attorney was out of the country Wednesday, and his case will be heard at a later date.
Under the deal, upon pleading guilty to the fraud, the six defendants – who each received the exact same sentence – will not have to serve jail time or probation, and they do not have to pay restitution. The defendants will have to attend a government training class on the proper use of SNAP benefits.
The deals are similar to those accepted earlier this month by co-defendants John Wayman and Seth Jeffs, two high-ranking leaders of the polygamous sect who were both immediately released from jail after entering guilty pleas.
Nephi Steed Allred, who still has a suppression motion pending, and fugitive FLDS leader Lyle Jeffs, who has not been offered a deal since fleeing from police custody, are the only two remaining defendants of the 11 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2016 on food stamp fraud and money laundering charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lund (right) arriving at the courthouse Wednesday morning, St. George, Utah, Jan. 4, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
The defendants allegedly ordered FLDS members to hand over SNAP benefits to church leaders. Federal prosecutors have alleged that the fraud scheme bilked taxpayers out of more than $12 million over the course of five years.
However, outside the courthouse Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lund said the exact number of financial loss is difficult to determine.
“With regard to the loss figure that’s mentioned in the indictment, that is not a figure that relates to an easily verifiable figure,” Lund said. “In typical fraud cases, we’re able to determine what investors donated what amount of money and it’s easy to determine. In this case, that figure relates to fraud indicators so, it’s more an estimation than it is an exact figure of loss.”
Regarding the result of the case, Lund said federal prosecutors believe they were able to achieve an appropriate outcome.
“The goal of this prosecution was to try to stop the diversion of SNAP benefits and ensure that needy families receive the food that they’re entitled to have,” Lund said. ” … For the government, we feel like we’ve achieved the goals of this prosecution.”
Outside of the courtroom, defense attorney Aric Cramer and his client, Kristal Dutson, appear pleased with a plea deal struck with federal prosecutors, St. George, Utah, Jan. 4, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News
Aric Cramer, Kristal Dutson’s defense, said the case should never have been brought in the first place and that he believes it would have been a tough case for prosecutors to prove.
“I think it was a good deal for my client even though I don’t believe she was guilty of any crime,” Cramer said, “but to avoid the risks of going to trial and having the jury feel that she may have been a conspirator in some function, having a misdemeanor won’t adversely affect her life.”
However, not everyone is pleased with the results of the case.
After learning of the plea deals, Sam Brower, a private investigator who has been researching the FLDS church for the last 12 years, called Seth Jeffs’ deal “the most insane, incompetent, disturbing and disgraceful miscarriage of justice” he had ever seen.
“It would have been better if the US attorneys office never prosecuted the case to begin with,” Brower said in a statement on Facebook last week.
Echoing Brower’s sentiments, Brenda Nicholson, a former sect member and vocal critic of the FLDS, posted the following statement on Facebook:
Utah, once again I am ashamed of you and appalled at the lack of justice that exists where religion enters the equation. Shame on you. Shame on the incompetent prosecution and shame on Judge Stewart for accepting such insane plea deals.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man, who evidently did not want to go to jail Wednesday, is now facing a lengthier jail sentence after trying to flee a St. George courthouse – assaulting a probation officer in the process – as a court bailiff attempted to take him into custody.
Court proceedings were underway in Judge G. Michael Westfall’s courtroom at the 5th District Courthouse in St. George Wednesday when, at approximately 2:15 p.m., 28-year-old Michael Ray Smith Jr. appeared before the judge for a review hearing.
Michael Ray Smith Jr., of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 1, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Smith had sentence hearings already scheduled in two pending cases involving felony theft and identity fraud, among other charges, when he found himself in court again facing a barrage of similar charges, according to court documents.
During the hearing, Smith’s defense attorney, Trevor Terry, requested that the court continue sentencing in Smith’s other cases and set all his cases for Jan. 18.
Accordingly, prosecuting attorney James Weeks requested to have Smith remanded. Judge Westfall agreed and ordered Smith be remanded to the custody of the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
However, when the bailiff attempted to take Smith into custody off the courtroom floor, Smith wasn’t having it and ran toward the doors in an attempt to flee, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in support of his arrest.
A private probation officer attempted to intervene and block Smith’s exit, according to the statement.
“Smith rammed into the agent, dragging him down the hallway in his attempted escape,” the arresting deputy wrote in a sworn statement. “The probation officer sustained small lacerations and abrasions to the right side of his face from the altercation.”
Smith then made an effort to flee the courthouse using the stairway in the fire exit as the bailiff pursued after him while giving him verbal commands to stop, the report stated.
“After observing the assault between the probation officer and Smith, along with his failure to comply with my commands,” the deputy wrote in the statement, “I deployed my TASER. The TASER was ineffective but distracted Smith, causing him to run into a wall.”
After hitting the wall, Smith was taken into custody and transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George for medical clearance before subsequently being booked into jail.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Smith of third-degree felony escape from official custody, class A misdemeanor failure to stop at the command of law enforcement and class B misdemeanor assault.
Following the ordeal, the court ordered Smith be held without bail.
According to Utah court documents, a July 27, 2016, incident led to Smith being found guilty on charges of third-degree felony possession of another’s identifying documents and second-degree burglary of a dwelling, which was amended to a third-degree felony as part of a plea agreement.
As the result of a crime committed Sept. 14, 2016, Smith was found guilty of two third-degree felony counts of identity fraud and possession of another’s identifying documents, along with a class A misdemeanor count of providing false information to police with the intent to be another actual person, according to court documents.
He was later arrested Nov. 28, 2016, on charges of third-degree felony theft, class A misdemeanor drug possession and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Smith was then arrested Dec. 10, 2016, on a class B misdemeanor count of retail theft. And, again, Dec. 14, 2016, on five third-degree felony counts of possession of another’s identifying documents, retail theft and theft by deception, two class A misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and a class A misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
Cedar City resident Colton Owens Allred was arrested Thursday for forcible sexual abuse, Cedar City, Utah, Jan. 6, 2016 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George / Cedar City News
CEDAR CITY – A Cedar City man is in jail after he allegedly admitted to sexually abusing a mentally disabled woman.
George Owen Allred, 33, was arrested Thursday and is facing charges for forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
According to charging documents filed with 5th District Court, the alleged victim was living in a program house for mentally disabled individuals where Allred was employed at the time of the incident.
The alleged abuse occurred on July 10, 2013. That day the victim had gone on a day trip and at some point was in the program-owned van alone with Allred, who was driving.
The court documents state that when the two arrived back at the home the victim was “visibly upset” and “reported to staff members that she had been molested.”
She told employees Allred had pulled to the side of the road in Cedar City and had “put his hand up her shirt touching her bare breasts.” Allred was interviewed and denied the allegations.
The case was turned over to Adult Protective Services who took no action, according to the court documents.
On approximately Sept. 22, 2016, the program director contacted Cedar City Police after Allred, by then a former employee, had come into the office and admitted to having lied that day in 2013. Allred provided a written confession admitting he had touched the victim’s breasts as had been reported by her, documents state.
Detective Dustin Orton conducted an interview with the suspect Oct. 11, 2016. He initially lied to police, Orton stated in his written report.
“. . . but after some discussion admitted to touching (the victim’s) bare breast under her bra after asking her to lift her shirt demonstrating the act as well,” Orton wrote.
Allred told the detective he felt bad about having lied and for telling others that the victim had lied.
“George said he went to the program and admitted what had been done in an attempt to make it right,” court documents state.
The case was sent to the Iron County Attorney’s Office for review and was later assigned back to the detective to make an arrest. Allred met Orton at the police department where he was arrested and transported to the Iron County Correctional Facility. He has a $10,000 bail.
CEDAR CITY – Police arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday for arson after he allegedly set fire to six different vehicles at four separate locations.
Cedar City Police arrested Beaver resident Isaac Wall for six counts of arson, all of them second-degree felonies.
At publication, Wall had not yet been booked into jail but was taken to the Cedar City Hospital first for a mental health screening, said Sgt. Jerry Womack.
“He made several suicidal threats during the police interview so they wanted to get him cleared before taking him in to the jail,” he said.
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
According to a news release from Cedar City Police, the fires occurred between 1-3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
During the early morning investigation, detectives received information that the suspect was seen running from the first reported vehicle fire. The victims identified him as the ex-spouse of a female living at the location, the police statement said.
At that time, officers issued an attempt to locate and an off-duty Cedar City officer located the suspect’s vehicle near Ridge Road and Rose Hill Drive.
The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the police department where he was interviewed by authorities for several hours before detectives officially arrested him.
During the interview, it was determined that Wall had set the first fire out of vindictiveness for his estranged wife, Womack said. The other fires were set randomly. The other victims did not know the suspect.
Of the six vehicles, four were completely totaled with two only receiving minimal damage. The suspect allegedly told police he set fire to the two with the least amount of damage via a punctured fuel tank but did not admit to puncturing the tanks.
“He said they were already like that,” Womack said.
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
There was also some minor damage to property and homes near the fires including fencing, stucco, and a melted vinyl window shutter. As close as the fires were to some of the houses however, it was remarkable that there wasn’t at least one structure fire, authorities said.
“We’re very fortunate no one was hurt,” Womack said. “Some of these fires were so close to the homes that we’re just very very lucky that they didn’t catch fire and that someone wasn’t injured or killed.”
The estimated damage has not yet been determined but authorities believe it to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Wall’s most recent address is from Beaver, however Womack said he is originally from Cedar City. Court records show that in 2014 Wall pleaded guilty in 5th District Court in Beaver County to assault and attempted sexual battery, both misdemeanors.
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A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
A man was arrested for arson after police said several vehicles were intentionally set on fire in Cedar City, Utah, early Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack, St. George News / Cedar City News
CEDAR CITY – An Enoch man is facing several felony sex charges related to a minor victim following an investigation that led police to find child pornography in his home and iPod.
Enoch Police arrested Theodore Calvin Wolf Fletcher, 20, Dec. 21 on allegations he had sexually abused a minor female.
Theodore Calvin Wolf Fletcher, booking photo, Dec. 21, 2016, Iron County Sheriffs Office, Cedar City, Utah | Photo courtesy Iron County Sheriffs Office, St. George News / Cedar City News
Fletcher was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on a $50,000 cash-only bail.
He is facing two first-degree felonies for rape of a child and aggravated sex abuse of a child. He is also looking at a second-degree felony for sexual exploitation of a minor and a third-degree felony for dealing in material harmful to a minor.
According to charging documents filed in 5th District Court, the victim disclosed to authorities during an interview at the Children’s Justice Center Dec. 21 that Fletcher had had sexual contact with her during the summer.
Court documents detail the alleged sexual activity. Enoch police later interviewed Fletcher who corroborated the victim’s statement of events.
A further investigation by police that included a search warrant for Fletcher’s residence and electronics found more than 50 sheets of printed photos containing animated pictures of minors performing various sexual acts, Enoch Police Chief Jackson Ames.
There were also two pictures of the same type of material on one of his iPods. Fletcher allegedly used the iPod to take the nude photos of the victim but told police he immediately deleted them afterwards.
TOQUERVILLE – A woman was arrested Monday in a case of alleged child abuse that has been called “heinous” and “like something out of a horror movie.”
Medical staff at Dixie Regional Medical Center contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office concerning a case of suspected child abuse after a man brought his emaciated 12-year-old son to the hospital Sunday, Jan. 8.
The boy weighed only 30 pounds and was the worst case of child malnutrition the doctors said they had ever seen, Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. David Crouse said Tuesday.
“He looked like one of those children who had been held in a concentration camp,” Crouse said as he described the boy’s physical condition. “Skin and bones and only weighing 30 pounds.”
Brandy K. Jaynes, of Toquerville, Utah, booking photo from Jan. 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Deputies spoke to the father and also to the boy and were made aware of the boy’s living conditions at home.
“I’ve seen the photos and I wish I could unsee them,” Crouse said.
The father found the boy locked in a filthy, feces-covered upstairs bathroom in the dark, according to a probable cause statement connected with the arrest of 36-year-old Brandy Jaynes, the boy’s mother. The father took the boy from the home and took him to the hospital.
Deputies obtained a warrant to search the Toquerville home and found a bathroom that had feces and a blanket on the floor and empty cans of beans inside. The bathroom’s toilet was also described as having more fecal matter in it than visible water. There was also a video camera with a baby monitor taped to it inside the bathroom.
A large of amount of tape also covered the light switches in the bathroom, Crouse said, and there were two latches on the door to lock it from the outside.
From what investigators gathered while interviewing the boy’s two siblings, who were seemingly treated in a normal fashion, Crouse said, the boy was living in the bathroom for a year if not longer.
The siblings also said they hadn’t spoken to their brother through the bathroom door in six months, according to what Crouse told the Associated Press. He declined to give their ages, but said one was old enough to understand things.
According to the probable cause statement, Jaynes told deputies that her son wanted to live in the bathroom. She also said she would lock the boy in the bathroom for his safety when she left the house. She also attempted to give him protein shakes to get his weight back up.
“This is something out of the makings of a horror film,” Crouse said. “It’s like one of the more heinous captivity stories I’ve ever been told.”
Crouse, who said he has seen many crazy and gory things during his time in law enforcement, said Tuesday he has never seen anything like this before.
He also said those involved in the case when it first started worked non-stop until they were satisfied the children were safe.
The 12-year-old boy is expected to be recovering in the hospital for around three weeks or so and his siblings have been placed in the custody of family members.
The father of the 12-year-old boy appears to be separated from Jaynes, Crouse said, and is cooperating with authorities.
Jaynes is currently in the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and has been charged with a second-degree felony for child abuse, intentionally inflicting serious physical injury. New charges may be added as the case moves forward. Her bail currently stands at $30,000.
“Behavior like that just can’t be explained,” Crouse said. “It’s horrible.”
ST. GEORGE — Police executed search warrants Tuesday at five Washington County massage parlors, resulting in a number of charges.
As part of a multiagency operation and investigation into prostitution, sexual solicitation and Utah business license violations, search warrants were served at Japan Massage, Golden Coast Massage and Massage Therapy, each located in St. George, along with Dixie Massage, located in both St. George and Washington City.
“Those warrants were in response to a long investigation into information we received that prostitution was being performed at these parlors,” St. George Police Sgt. David Williams said. “… We’ve received complaints from numerous citizens who went in to get a massage and they were solicited sexually for other activities.”
The Police Department has enlisted the help of several government agencies, including Homeland Security and IRS, to help process a significant amount of evidence seized during the search warrant executions, Williams said, adding that additional charges may be forthcoming.
“There’s a lot of information to process,” Williams said. “We seized a lot of cellphones (and) a lot of DVRs that contain camera footage of the (parlors) – so, clients coming in and out.”
Dixie Massage
During the service of the search warrant at Dixie Massage, located at 225 N. Bluff St. in St. George, detectives located two females, identified as Feng Fang Li, known to clients as “Suzanne,” and Dong Ju Jin, known to her clients as “Jenny,” St. George Police Officer Lona Trombley said.
Feng Fang Li, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Prior to the search warrant being issued, an undercover officer entered the business for a massage. During the massage, Feng Fang Li offered to perform sexual acts on the undercover officer in exchange for money, Trombley said, adding that the undercover officer declined.
Upon police questioning, Feng Fang Li allegedly admitted she is not a licensed massage therapist and does not have a license to work as a massage therapist in Utah but admitted to working at Dixie Massage as a massage therapist for approximately one year.
“During the course of the interview, Feng admitted to performing sex acts on ‘two to three clients,’” Trombley said.
Feng Fang Li was arrested on a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
Dong Ju Jin, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Dong Ju Jin also allegedly admitted to being employed at Dixie Massage as a massage therapist performing foot and back massages at the business for more than a year, Trombley said. She also admitted she is not a licensed massage therapist and does not have a license to work as a massage therapist in Utah.
Dong Ju Jin was arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
During the execution of the search warrant at Dixie Massage, located at 43 N. 300 West in Washington City, investigators spoke with a female identified as Geman Li, Trombley said. Following a police interview, Geman Li was issued a citation for class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
Japan Massage
Prior to service of the search warrant at Japan Massage, located at 328 E. St. George Blvd. in St. George, an undercover officer entered the business for a massage.
Shanmei Olmstead, of Oakhurst, California, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
“Contact was made with a female known as ‘Vicki,’” Trombley said. “At that time, ‘Vicki’ offered to perform sexual acts on the undercover officer in exchange for money. The undercover officer declined.”
During the execution of the warrant Tuesday, “Vicki” was not located at the business. However, investigators encountered two females, later identified as Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu.
“Both Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu were interviewed and admitted to conducting massages at the Japan Massage location,” Trombley said. “Both admitted that they weren’t licensed in Utah to perform massages and that they came to St. George specifically to make money doing massages.”
Yuhua Liu, of San Gabriel, California, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Shanmei Olmstead and Yuhua Liu were both arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
Charges of prostitution and performing massages without a massage license are pending in “Vicki’s” case.
Golden Coast Massage
When investigators entered Golden Coast Massage, located at 249 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, with a search warrant in hand, they encountered two females, later identified as Li Ying and Yuxoang Wang.
“While interviewing Li Ying, she admitted to being the owner and bringing employees to St. George to work as massage therapists,” Trombley said. “Li also admitted to performing massages at the business.”
Li Ying, of San Gabriel, California, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Li Ying was arrested and charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license.
“Prior to the warrant service, an undercover police officer met with Yuxoang Wang at Gold Coast Massage,” Trombley said. “During this meeting, negotiations were made for sexual favors in exchange for money. The undercover officer declined the services and left the business.”
During her interview, Yuxoang Wang allegedly admitted she was at the massage parlor to perform massages, police said, but that she did not have a valid business license to do so.
Yuxoang Wang, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Yuxoang Wang was charged with a class A misdemeanor count of not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
Massage Therapy
Prior to the warrant service at Massage Therapy, located at 425 E. Tabernacle St. in St. George, an undercover police officer met with Jumei Qin at the business, Trombley said.
“During this meeting, negotiations were made for sexual favors in exchange for money,” Trombley added. “The undercover officer declined the services and left the business.”
Jumei Qin, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 11, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Jumei Qin was arrested and charged with two class A misdemeanor counts of sexual solicitation and not having a massage parlor license, along with a class B misdemeanor count of prostitution.
The investigation into the massage parlors is ongoing, police said Tuesday, adding that evidence is currently being processed and additional charges may be pending.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
FEATURE — In the wake of a news week that revealed some dark and perhaps unexpected elements in the St. George area, “No Filter Show” co-hosts Grady Sinclair and Paul Ford consider whether there’s an underbelly to Utah’s Dixie.
ST. GEORGE — The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested three men and a woman on a variety of charges Friday evening during a search of a St. George residence. Police also recovered a stolen $4,000 bicycle in the process.
The task force executed a narcotics search warrant at the home, located on the 200 West block of 200 North, according to probable cause statements filed by the Washington County Drug Task Force in support of the arrests. The search warrant included all people present at the residence when the search warrant was executed.
Coby Scot Gordon, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Officers arrested 31-year-old Coby Scot Gordon, 20-year-old Nichole Elizabeth Jones, 34-year-old William Maurice Pridgen and 24-year-old William Frank Owen, all of St. George.
Gordon, who was found to be a resident of the home where the search warrant was served, allegedly had heroin on his person, according to the probable cause statements. During a search of his bedroom, detectives discovered methamphetamine pipes with residue that tested positive for meth.
Neither Gordon nor his girlfriend, identified by police as Jones, claimed ownership of the drug-related items located in their shared room, the arresting officer wrote in a sworn statement.
Nichole Elizabeth Jones, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Detectives also allegedly found heroin inside Jones’ shoes, according to the statement.
During a search of the home’s garage, detectives observed a mountain bike with a value in excess of $4,000 that appeared to be “out of place,” the report stated. Records showed that the bicycle had been reported stolen to the St. George Police Department.
When detectives interviewed Pridgen, who was located at the home during the search warrant execution, he allegedly admitted that he and Gordon had previously entered an open garage of a residence and that the two had stolen the bicycle from the residence, according to the statement.
Gordon, however, denied any knowledge of the bicycle being stolen, the report stated.
William Maurice Pridgen, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
When Owen was located in the residence at the time of the search, he was allegedly found to have a used syringe stored behind his ear with residue in it that tested positive for heroin, the report stated, noting that Owen allegedly admitted to using heroin that day.
Owen was also found by detectives to have several prior convictions for drug offenses, as well as an active warrant for his arrest.
The four were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Gordon was charged with second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, third-degree felony theft, two class A misdemeanor counts of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
William Frank Owen, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
“Coby (Gordon) has a significant criminal history with numerous convictions for various theft offenses,” the arresting officer stated. “As a result, his theft charge is enhanced.”
Pridgen was charged with second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, two third-degree felony counts of theft and transporting contraband into jail, class A misdemeanor drug possession and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
While being booked into jail, Pridgen was allegedly caught attempting to conceal drugs on his person, according to officials.
Jones was charged with two class A misdemeanor counts of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Owen was charged with a class A misdemeanor count of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE – Over a week has passed since the story of a Toquerville mother who allegedly starved her 12-year-old son and locked him in a bathroom made headlines across the county and beyond. Many questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered as the case begins its run through 5th District Court and her attorney is formulating ideas on what may have contributed to the situation, one being that the child may be autistic and she was overwhelmed.
See the interviews in video top of this report.
Thirty-six-year-old Toquerville resident Brandy Jaynes made one of her initial appearances in court Tuesday. She was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the early morning hours of Jan. 9, according to police records, and subsequently charged with a second-degree felony for child abuse.
Brandy K. Jaynes, of Toquerville, Utah, bookings photo from Jan. 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Thus far a central question in the case is why Jaynes treated her son in the manner she did, yet appears to have treated his two siblings, a twin sister and a younger sibling, normal by comparison. Questions have also been asked concerning the father’s involvement and what he knew.
The boy’s father is the one who brought him to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George the evening of Jan. 8. The boy weighed 30 pounds and was the worst case of child malnourishment the doctors there had ever seen, Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. David Crouse said last week.
Investigators ultimately discovered the boy had been living in a bathroom at home where he was allegedly locked in the dark for extended periods of time, Crouse said. The bathroom was reported to be covered in filth and feces. Light switches in the room were also reported to be heavily taped over so they would couldn’t be used, and the door was locked from the outside.
Investigators believe the boy was kept in the bathroom for a year or longer.
As for the boy’s father, he has been cooperating with authorities. His identity has not yet been made public. Whether or not he faces any charges related to the case has yet to be seen.
“The situation is still unfolding,” Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said. “The investigators from the Sheriff’s Office are working hard on the case.”
Belnap wouldn’t go into details as the investigation is ongoing yet said that many of the questions surrounding the case would most likely be answered as it progresses through the court.
Ed Flint, Jaynes’ attorney, said he is currently waiting to receive and review evidence gathered by investigators, so he has yet to form an an opinion based on evidence. However, he met with Jaynes at the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility Sunday and has formed a primarily, speculative opinion from what he was told.
From what he heard, Flint said, he rejects the narrative that has spun out of media reports painting the woman as an abusive mother willfully starving her child. Rather, he said, this may be a case of someone who became overwhelmed with caring for a child who might be autistic.
“Everything she described was describing a child with an autism spectrum disorder, right down to the gastrointestinal problems,” Flint said.
“The things she was describing are all things I recognize from having my own adult child with autism spectrum disorder,” he said.
A reason the boy was placed in the bathroom was evidently due to continual bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, Flint said. The boy has been unable to keep down food and likely lost a lot of body weight over time because of it, he said.
This June 10, 2017, file photo shows the home in Toquerville where a 12-year-old boy was allegedly locked in a bathroom and starved by his mother, 36-year-old Brandy k. Jaynes. Jaynes’ attorney rejects the native of her being an abusive mother the media has painted her to be, and suggest there is much more to this story than is currently known, Toquerville, Utah, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Jaynes disputes the accusation that her son was in the bathroom for a year or more, Flint said. Jaynes claims the conversion of the bathroom into a room for the 12-year-old was a more recent event.
She has also stated that the boy’s father lived in the home and knew what was going on, Flint said, and that he was also present when the bathroom was set up for the child.
Initial reports have stated that Jaynes and the boy’s father were separated and he wasn’t living in the house at the time.
“I’ve had a concern about what the father’s participation was in all of this,” Flint said.
As to why Jaynes put the boy in the bathroom, Flint said he believes she may have had a breakdown of some sort while trying to care for a special needs child. From his own experience, he said, he understands the stress that can be placed on a family and parents in caring for an autistic child.
“These are my completely unscientific conclusions,” he said, “but I think those are sound, reasonable inferences to draw from my discussion with her.”
As to why the boy’s siblings apparently never said anything to anyone outside the home about their brother, Flint said that is another question yet to be answered.
While the boy’s twin sister and other sibling have been enrolled in public school, the boy himself was pulled out three years ago, Flint said. At the time the Washington County School District noticed something different about the child and approached Jaynes about getting the boy tested so they could narrow down what the issue could be.
That never happened as the boy was pulled out of school soon after, Flint said, adding that he hopes the boy gets some testing for potential Autism Spectrum Disorder while in state custody.
A plaque outside of the enterance of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Ultimately, based on the information he has at the moment, Flint said he hopes the family can be reunited with some state supervision and parental training added for good measure.
Jaynes’ next court appearance is set for Jan. 30. She currently remains incarcerated in the county jail.
In the days following the Toquerville boy’s story going viral, people began asking the Washington County Sheriff’s Office how they could help and where they could donate money and items.
After it was announced last week that the Washington County Children’s Justice Center would be the focal point for those donations, staff have seen donations of various kinds flood into the center nearly every day.
“It’s been great,” said Solinda Larsen, a victims advocate with the Children’s Justice Center.
Those items were sent to the foster family that will be caring for the boy Tuesday.
Many donations came from the community, as well as from across the nation and oversees, Larsen said. Some of those locations have included Idaho, Nebraska, California, Canada and England.
ST. GEORGE — Mesquite Police narcotics detectives arrested a 46-year-old man on a variety of felony drug charges Wednesday after he was allegedly found to be selling crystal methamphetamine out of his home in Mesquite, Nevada.
Christopher Stevens, of Mesquite, Nevada, booking photo posted Jan. 18, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Mesquite Police Department, St. George News
“The narcotics detectives had been working a lengthy investigation which involved the suspect trafficking methamphetamines, selling it out of his home and allowing it to be used inside of his home,” according to a statement issued Friday by the Mesquite Police Department.
Police said they were able to safely take Christopher Stevens into custody while he was traveling in his vehicle. Once Stevens was in custody, detectives served a search warrant on his vehicle as well as his residence.
“Multiple items of evidence were recovered during the searches,” according to the statement, “and as the investigation is still ongoing, more criminal charges are pending.”
Stevens was charged with two felony counts of selling methamphetamine, two felony counts of trafficking methamphetamine, two felony counts of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, along with one felony count of maintaining a place to sell and/or use drugs.
Due to the felony charges, police said Stevens was transported and booked into the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A man who fled from sheriff’s deputies during a traffic stop in Beaver Dam, Arizona, Thursday was later located by authorities and found to be in possession of meth, a firearm and drug paraphernalia.
George Stotler, of Mesquite, Nevada | Photo courtesy of Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
While monitoring traffic in a school zone near Highway 91 and Rio Virgin Road, Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies observed a fast-approaching, dark-colored vehicle.
“School zone signs were posted next to the roadway and in the roadway as 15 mph,” Mohave County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Trish Carter said, noting that with the use of a radar device, deputies determined the vehicle was traveling 45 mph in the posted 15 mph zone.
Deputies observed a single-occupant, male driver in the vehicle and attempted to pull him over at approximately 9:48 a.m., Carter said. However, the driver of the vehicle accelerated and deputies lost sight of the vehicle as it went around a curve, prompting deputies to discontinue the traffic stop.
Hours later, the same vehicle was observed in the Desert Springs area of Arizona.
The male driver, later identified as 34-year-old George Stotler, of Mesquite, Nevada, fled on foot, Carter said. Stotler was located by authorities after a foot pursuit in a wash near Hope Circle in Desert Springs.
Hewas found to be in possession of methamphetamine, a 9mm pistol and drug paraphernalia, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“Stotlerwas released to family after he was medically cleared from a hospital due to his difficulty breathing during the incident and recent methamphetamine use,” Carter said, adding, “Stotlerwill be longed form for multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.”
His vehicle was towed from the scene.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
FEATURE — In the wake of a news week that revealed some dark and perhaps unexpected elements in the St. George area, “No Filter Show” co-hosts Grady Sinclair and Paul Ford consider whether there’s an underbelly to Utah’s Dixie.
ST. GEORGE — The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested three men and a woman on a variety of charges Friday evening during a search of a St. George residence. Police also recovered a stolen $4,000 bicycle in the process.
The task force executed a narcotics search warrant at the home, located on the 200 West block of 200 North, according to probable cause statements filed by the Washington County Drug Task Force in support of the arrests. The search warrant included all people present at the residence when the search warrant was executed.
Coby Scot Gordon, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Officers arrested 31-year-old Coby Scot Gordon, 20-year-old Nichole Elizabeth Jones, 34-year-old William Maurice Pridgen and 24-year-old William Frank Owen, all of St. George.
Gordon, who was found to be a resident of the home where the search warrant was served, allegedly had heroin on his person, according to the probable cause statements. During a search of his bedroom, detectives discovered methamphetamine pipes with residue that tested positive for meth.
Neither Gordon nor his girlfriend, identified by police as Jones, claimed ownership of the drug-related items located in their shared room, the arresting officer wrote in a sworn statement.
Nichole Elizabeth Jones, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Detectives also allegedly found heroin inside Jones’ shoes, according to the statement.
During a search of the home’s garage, detectives observed a mountain bike with a value in excess of $4,000 that appeared to be “out of place,” the report stated. Records showed that the bicycle had been reported stolen to the St. George Police Department.
When detectives interviewed Pridgen, who was located at the home during the search warrant execution, he allegedly admitted that he and Gordon had previously entered an open garage of a residence and that the two had stolen the bicycle from the residence, according to the statement.
Gordon, however, denied any knowledge of the bicycle being stolen, the report stated.
William Maurice Pridgen, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
When Owen was located in the residence at the time of the search, he was allegedly found to have a used syringe stored behind his ear with residue in it that tested positive for heroin, the report stated, noting that Owen allegedly admitted to using heroin that day.
Owen was also found by detectives to have several prior convictions for drug offenses, as well as an active warrant for his arrest.
The four were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Gordon was charged with second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, third-degree felony theft, two class A misdemeanor counts of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
William Frank Owen, booking photo posted Jan. 13, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
“Coby (Gordon) has a significant criminal history with numerous convictions for various theft offenses,” the arresting officer stated. “As a result, his theft charge is enhanced.”
Pridgen was charged with second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, two third-degree felony counts of theft and transporting contraband into jail, class A misdemeanor drug possession and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
While being booked into jail, Pridgen was allegedly caught attempting to conceal drugs on his person, according to officials.
Jones was charged with two class A misdemeanor counts of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Owen was charged with a class A misdemeanor count of drug possession and a class B misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE – Over a week has passed since the story of a Toquerville mother who allegedly starved her 12-year-old son and locked him in a bathroom made headlines across the county and beyond. Many questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered as the case begins its run through 5th District Court and her attorney is formulating ideas on what may have contributed to the situation, one being that the child may be autistic and she was overwhelmed.
See the interviews in video top of this report.
Thirty-six-year-old Toquerville resident Brandy Jaynes made one of her initial appearances in court Tuesday. She was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the early morning hours of Jan. 9, according to police records, and subsequently charged with a second-degree felony for child abuse.
Brandy K. Jaynes, of Toquerville, Utah, bookings photo from Jan. 9, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Thus far a central question in the case is why Jaynes treated her son in the manner she did, yet appears to have treated his two siblings, a twin sister and a younger sibling, normal by comparison. Questions have also been asked concerning the father’s involvement and what he knew.
The boy’s father is the one who brought him to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George the evening of Jan. 8. The boy weighed 30 pounds and was the worst case of child malnourishment the doctors there had ever seen, Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. David Crouse said last week.
Investigators ultimately discovered the boy had been living in a bathroom at home where he was allegedly locked in the dark for extended periods of time, Crouse said. The bathroom was reported to be covered in filth and feces. Light switches in the room were also reported to be heavily taped over so they would couldn’t be used, and the door was locked from the outside.
Investigators believe the boy was kept in the bathroom for a year or longer.
As for the boy’s father, he has been cooperating with authorities. His identity has not yet been made public. Whether or not he faces any charges related to the case has yet to be seen.
“The situation is still unfolding,” Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said. “The investigators from the Sheriff’s Office are working hard on the case.”
Belnap wouldn’t go into details as the investigation is ongoing yet said that many of the questions surrounding the case would most likely be answered as it progresses through the court.
Ed Flint, Jaynes’ attorney, said he is currently waiting to receive and review evidence gathered by investigators, so he has yet to form an an opinion based on evidence. However, he met with Jaynes at the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility Sunday and has formed a primarily, speculative opinion from what he was told.
From what he heard, Flint said, he rejects the narrative that has spun out of media reports painting the woman as an abusive mother willfully starving her child. Rather, he said, this may be a case of someone who became overwhelmed with caring for a child who might be autistic.
“Everything she described was describing a child with an autism spectrum disorder, right down to the gastrointestinal problems,” Flint said.
“The things she was describing are all things I recognize from having my own adult child with autism spectrum disorder,” he said.
A reason the boy was placed in the bathroom was evidently due to continual bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, Flint said. The boy has been unable to keep down food and likely lost a lot of body weight over time because of it, he said.
This June 10, 2017, file photo shows the home in Toquerville where a 12-year-old boy was allegedly locked in a bathroom and starved by his mother, 36-year-old Brandy k. Jaynes. Jaynes’ attorney rejects the native of her being an abusive mother the media has painted her to be, and suggest there is much more to this story than is currently known, Toquerville, Utah, Jan. 10, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Jaynes disputes the accusation that her son was in the bathroom for a year or more, Flint said. Jaynes claims the conversion of the bathroom into a room for the 12-year-old was a more recent event.
She has also stated that the boy’s father lived in the home and knew what was going on, Flint said, and that he was also present when the bathroom was set up for the child.
Initial reports have stated that Jaynes and the boy’s father were separated and he wasn’t living in the house at the time.
“I’ve had a concern about what the father’s participation was in all of this,” Flint said.
As to why Jaynes put the boy in the bathroom, Flint said he believes she may have had a breakdown of some sort while trying to care for a special needs child. From his own experience, he said, he understands the stress that can be placed on a family and parents in caring for an autistic child.
“These are my completely unscientific conclusions,” he said, “but I think those are sound, reasonable inferences to draw from my discussion with her.”
As to why the boy’s siblings apparently never said anything to anyone outside the home about their brother, Flint said that is another question yet to be answered.
While the boy’s twin sister and other sibling have been enrolled in public school, the boy himself was pulled out three years ago, Flint said. At the time the Washington County School District noticed something different about the child and approached Jaynes about getting the boy tested so they could narrow down what the issue could be.
That never happened as the boy was pulled out of school soon after, Flint said, adding that he hopes the boy gets some testing for potential Autism Spectrum Disorder while in state custody.
A plaque outside of the enterance of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center, St. George, Utah, Jan. 18, 2017 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Ultimately, based on the information he has at the moment, Flint said he hopes the family can be reunited with some state supervision and parental training added for good measure.
Jaynes’ next court appearance is set for Jan. 30. She currently remains incarcerated in the county jail.
In the days following the Toquerville boy’s story going viral, people began asking the Washington County Sheriff’s Office how they could help and where they could donate money and items.
After it was announced last week that the Washington County Children’s Justice Center would be the focal point for those donations, staff have seen donations of various kinds flood into the center nearly every day.
“It’s been great,” said Solinda Larsen, a victims advocate with the Children’s Justice Center.
Those items were sent to the foster family that will be caring for the boy Tuesday.
Many donations came from the community, as well as from across the nation and oversees, Larsen said. Some of those locations have included Idaho, Nebraska, California, Canada and England.
