Spanking with a Belt is not Per Se Child Abuse In a juvenile court case, the parents had been accused of child abuse and neglect. As part of the adjudication of the case, the parties stipulated that the parents used a belt to spank the children, including a belt with...
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Violent Crimes
The Many Faces of Assault Charges
While assault sounds like a simple charge it is in fact very complicated and can include a lot of different things. Even when people use the phrase simple assault that still could mean two different possible actions. The baseline for this crime is an attempt to do...
Threatening With A Dangerous Weapon in Utah
Imagine this: A neighborhood decides to have a neighborhood yard sale. The neighbors take everything out into their yards the night before the yard sale so that it is ready for the early morning shoppers. One of the neighbors, a man of about sixty years, decides to sleep in his car to keep watch over the items for sale. This…
Orem Woman Killed, Driver Arrested for Possible Automobile Homicide
A woman in Orem was killed this weekend when a car jumped the curb she was sitting on and hit her. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries. Apparently the driver had been cited earlier that night with intoxication and disorderly conduct. Romero S. Hernandez, the driver, attempted to leave the scene but…
Utah Supreme Court Decides What Constitutes a “Dangerous Weapon”
In the recent case of Salt Lake City vs. Miles, the Supreme Court addressed the issues of what constitutes a dangerous weapon. Miles was a homeless man who tried to get on a light rail train with a shopping cart and was denied entrance as a result. The police were called, he became irritated and began swearing at the cops. …
Domestic Violence Defense in Utah
Domestic Violence is a Moniker Not A Crime When an individual is facing a crime involving domestic violence in Utah, the crime itself is not domestic violence but something else such as assault or criminal mischief. The term “domestic violence” is a category or description of the type of crime involved. Thus, many different types of violent crimes and property…
Man Accused of Fracturing Son’s Skull
Earlier this month a Uintah County Sheriff deputy was called to the home of Robbie Trujillo on a report of domestic dispute. According to the deputy Trujillo had pushed his wife while arguing with her. During the investigation the officer noticed that one of the children in the home had some dried blood inside his ear, upon which he questioned…
Utah Woman Pleads Guilty to Husband’s Murder
More than seven years after the death of Alan Johnson, his wife Evelyn Johnson has pleaded guilty to his murder. Evelyn Johnson, 75, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of manslaughter, after originally being charged with murder. The Johnson’s had been married for 20 years and had even been through a divorce and remarriage. Johnson had filed a…
Persons of Interest Named in Murder Case
Millerbergs Could be Responsible in Rasmussen Case Utah media has been swarming for weeks over the disappearance and later the apparent murder of Alexis Rasmussen from Ogden, Utah. Authorities are currently investigating Rasmussen’s death, who was last known to be babysitting at the home of Eric and Dea Millerberg. The Millerberg’s, who have since been picked up on parole violations,…
Babysitter Arrested for Child Abuse
Murray Woman Arrested in Connection with Child’s Death Last Thursday Jennifer Martinez was babysitting a 4-month-old child, Kaysen Calhoun. After the child had reportedly coughed up blood and stopped breathing Martinez called 911. The child was originally taken to IMC in Murray and then later flown to Primary Children’s Medical Center. The child later passed away on Sunday. Today the…