Former Officer Jeremy Rose Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minor

Former Tremonton police officer Jeremy Rose has been charged with 15 offenses in the collection of thousands of photos of a teenage girl in various stages of undress.
 

Rose was arrested and booked into the Box Elder County Jail Thursday, said Utah Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Missy Larsen, and is scheduled for arraignment April 7 before 1st District Judge Ben Hadfield.

 

Rose, 37, is charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and two counts of voyeurism, a third-degree felony. He's also charged with single counts of dealing in material harmful to a minor, communications fraud, obstruction of justice, and stalking, all felonies but the stalking, a class A misdemeanor.

 

While employed by the Tremonton force, Rose convinced a then-15-year-old Tremonton girl to pose semi-nude for photos he said he would sell for her on the Internet and to private buyers, according to charging documents. That was a ruse in order to collect the photos for himself, the charges say.

 

He also allegedly hid a camera in the girl's bedroom to record video of her dressing and undressing.

 

Rose is being held in lieu of $145,000 bail. The case was handed off by the Box Elder County Attorney's Office last year to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest since prosecutors there had worked with Rose for years.

 

Rose resigned from the Tremonton department in July after investigation began by the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which was assisted by Tremonton police.

 

The case features a 15-page probable cause affidavit, a document rarely longer than a page.

It details Rose's apparent obsession with the teen beginning in early 2012 and continuing through much of last year until his initial arrest in June. Due to the complex investigation detailed in the affidavit, the charges weren't filed until Thursday by the attorney general's office.  Rose was a 12-year veteran on the Tremonton force.

 

Rose set up fake email accounts and links to a bogus online company where he told her he was selling the photos, the affidavit says.

 

He sent emails under assumed names from the fake company encouraging her in her nude and semi-nude posing for photos with Rose, as well as those she took herself and sent to the fake Internet site, according to the affidavit.

 

They told her she could make more money by wearing less clothing, one of the emails said.

Investigators were informed last June by Rose's wife that he had confessed to her and other family members, according to the affidavit.

 

The thousands of images of the minor were found on Rose's several cell phones "as well the laptop computer he was assigned through his employment at the Tremonton Police Department," it reads.

 

The document refers to Rose paying the girl $300 for her pictures and buying her an iPhone for her picture-taking.

Former Officer Cody Smith Arrested for Rape of Child

A 39-year-old man who worked temporarily for both the Logan City Police and the Cache County Sheriff is expected to appear in court Thursday on multiple felony charges.

Cody Smith was booked into the Cache County Jail Tuesday afternoon. He’s being held on two counts of rape of a child, three counts of rape, one count of object rape, one count of forcible sexual abuse and three counts of aggravated assault.

Utah State University Police Chief Steve Mecham said his department was asked to investigate the case because Smith has a brief employment history with both the Logan City Police and the Cache County Sheriff.

According to Logan City Police Assistant Chief Jeff Curtis, Smith was a reserve officer, volunteering with the department, after graduating from the police academy in the mid-90's.

Curtis said Smith was never hired permanently and left the department to try and get a job with the Cache County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Lynn Nelsen said Smith volunteered for the sheriff's office from May 1999 to October 1999. He was then hired full-time and began the “Field Training Program,” a 12-week program to qualify for full-time service.

Nelson said Smith was terminated during the program for not meeting department standards in December 1999.

Bail has been set at $100,000.

Lt Jake Adams Arrested for DUI After Rolling Vehicle with his Children Inside

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident.

“We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Adams was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

The accident happened on state Route 17 near La Verkin just before 4:30 p.m. in what Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce called a “slow speed rollover accident.”

“Adams drifted off the right shoulder then over-corrected back to the left. The truck left the roadway and went down a dirt embankment in a sideways slide,” according to a statement from the UHP. This caused the truck to roll onto its hood. All four of the children were wearing their seat belts, Royce said.

Adams reportedly suffered minor injuries. In his mug shot photo, a red mark can be seen on his forehead. Adams was booked into the Iron County Jail to avoid a conflict of interest in Washington County. He posted bail and was released Monday.

Adams was hired by the sheriff’s office in 1998 and has worked for the office his entire career. He is currently the lieutenant in charge of investigations.

Adams was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
The accident happened on state Route 17 near La Verkin just before 4:30 p.m. in what Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce called a “slow speed rollover accident.”

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

A sheriff’s lieutenant was arrested for investigation of DUI Sunday after allegedly rolling his patrol vehicle with his four children inside.Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Jake Adams, 39, was booked into the Iron County Jail under the name Jason Lynn Adams for investigation of DUI, making an unsafe lane change and carrying a weapon while intoxicated.Adams rolled his sheriff’s patrol vehicle, an unmarked F-150 pickup truck, with his four children inside. The children, who reportedly range in age from 8 to 14, were not injured. Adams was not on duty at the time of the accident. “We’re just really grateful that neither he nor any of his kids were seriously injured or killed. I mean, it’s very lucky,” said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-arrested-dui-rolling-patrol-vehicle-4-children/#lHxHEfW8S6GW0bGG.99

Officer Joshua Boren Shoots Entire Family then Kills Himself

More horrible news of a parent taking his or her life and the lives of their children. This time, it happened on Thursday in Spanish Fork, Utah. Reports say that 34-year-old police officer Joshua Boren shot his entire family dead, including his 55-year-old mother-in-law Marie King, his wife, Kelly, and his two children, 7-year-old Joshua (who was called Jaden) and 5-year-old Haley. He then reportedly took his own life. The family was found when officers became concerned after Boren didn't show for his night shift with the Lindon Police Department.

Authorities said that the couple appeared to be having marital difficulties, but despite that, they had all gone on a trip to Disneyland at Christmas.

Pictures show a family looking happy and healthy. The kids are smiling with painted faces; Kelly and her daughter dressed up like princesses at Disneyland. The husband wife are both athletic-looking and attractive. They had everything to live for. What could make someone feel that things are so incredibly hopeless that the entire family needs to be wiped out in such a horrifying manner?

It has been only two days since another family murder-suicide in Utah, that of Kyler Ramsdell-Oliva, whom police believe killed her 13-year-old and 6-year-old daughters before turning the gun on herself after her fiance moved out.

Kelly's Facebook page shows a beautiful young woman and her gorgeous, blonde children. "Kelly, how sadly ironic that you post a loving picture of your children the day you and them were taken from us. You will always be in my heart," a devastated friend posted on her wall. She also was a fan of working out and posting motivational quotes from Tony Robbins. In fact, it appears she had been struggling lately with making a major decision, and quoted Robbins:

Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that dis-empowers them or one that can literally save their lives.

Unfortunately, Kelly's life and that of her children were not saved.


Please call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in case you are worried about yourself or someone else.

Officer Edward Guerrero Charged with Robbing Police Station

A police officer found himself on the other side of the law in Moab, accused of robbing his own police station.

43-year-old Edward Guerrero is charged with burglary and theft.

Moab police say Guerrero broke into a locked office inside the police department and stole $900.

Guerrero has hired well known defense attorney Greg Skordas, who says his client didn't break into a locked office, but is accepting responsibility.

Guerrero will be back in court on Tuesday.

Salt Lake Family Wants City to Pay Damages Caused by SWAT Team

A Salt Lake family wants the city to pay for damage from a SWAT team search of their house.

It stems from the Jan. 5 search for the man accused of fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Fox.

Police originally believed the suspect, Roberto Roman, was hiding at the Salt Lake City home of his cousin, Guillermo Miramontes. A car believed to be connected to the shooting was spotted in front of the house on the 1000 West block of 300 South. Officers got permission to search the home and ended up firing 10 canisters of tear gas into the house before entering.

Roman was not inside. He later was found with an accused accomplice and arrested north of Beaver.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports damage to the Salt Lake City home is approximately $25,000. The family says it needs to replace the carpet, two couches, six beds, most of their clothing and all of the food that was in the house.

Family members tell the Tribune they're afraid they will get stuck with the cost. The family filed a claim against the city and says it will file a lawsuit if it doesn't get paid.

Community activist Michael Clara, who also is a neighbor of the Miramontes family, says the family has been living in a hotel room.

"Eleven days (after the SWAT search) the health department shows up and says 'Oh, this house, we need to close it because there is too much tear gas in there,'" he told KSL.

He says the family basically has been left homeless.

"The house is uninhabitable. Everything is damaged, the windows are all broken. There's no process in place to help someone in that situation," he said.

Salt Lake City isn't commenting because of the pending claim.
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West Valley Officer Being Sued by Man Who Claims he was Slammed to the Ground

A West Valley Police officer is being sued by a man who claims was slammed to the ground and injured unjustly by the officer. Ceasar Medina says he was driving to his girlfriend's house July 17 to meet her for breakfast. Medina says he was pulled over by the officer in West Valley, near where his girlfriend lives. He says that the officer claims he was resisting arrest during the stop and pulled him out of his vehicle and slammed him to the ground.

West Valley Police say they do not know about the lawsuit and cannot comment until they review the case.

Police say that Medina was pulled over for failure to stop at a stop sign and speeding.

Until West Valley Police have had a chance to review the case, FOX 13 has chosen not to release the identity of the officer involved.

Officer Robert Tracy Buck Charged with Drunk Driving

An Ogden police officer charged with drunken driving resolved his case this week by pleading guilty to "impaired driving."

Officer Robert Tracy Buck, 35, was pulled over Aug. 30 after a Harrisville officer observed him speeding and drifting over the center line.

Buck, who failed a field sobriety test and admitted to police he "had too many to be driving," had a blood-alcohol content of 0.12, according to a police report.

Charged with class B misdemeanor driving under the influence, Buck was scheduled for trial Thursday in Harrisville's justice court.

Instead, the officer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the impaired driving charge, which is also a class B misdemeanor.

Harrisville Justice Court Judge James Beesley suspended a potential six-month jail term and ordered Buck to pay a $1,340 fine, perform 48 hours of community service and complete counseling.

Buck is to remain on probation until the fine is paid and he has completed the other sentencing requirements, according to a docket entry.

Neither the prosecutor nor Buck's defense attorney were immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Buck remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation, Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner said Thursday.

Last month, another Ogden police officer charged with DUI, Jared Ingalsbe, resolved his case by pleading guilty to a non-alcohol-related reckless driving charge.
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On June 30, Ingalsbe crashed into two power poles, four cars and a house in Harrisville.

There was both alcohol and a prescription sleep medication in Ingalsbe's bloodstream and he was initially charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Prosecutors said the plea deal was the result of problems proving in court that Ingalsbe was driving while impaired.

Ingalsbe, who claimed he simply fell asleep at the wheel, has been returned to duty.

Brian Cardall Dies After Being Tasered

Prosecutors in southern Utah announced Thursday they will not file charges against Hurricane City police for the death of a mentally ill man they subdued with a Taser.

That's in spite of a medical examiner's report which says the Taser may be what killed him.

Cause of Brian Cardall's death

Officers at the scene attributed Brian Cardall's death to a controversial medical diagnosis called "excited delirium." But the medical examiner's report KSL News obtained Thursday said some elements of that supposed disorder did not occur.

The cause of Brian Cardall's death was ventricular fibrillation--a faulty rhythm in the heart muscle--after he was tased. The medical examiner's report says it "is consistent with findings seen in cases of electrocution," but the report did not conclusively find it was caused by the Taser.

Cardall died of cardiac arrest last June after he was hit by a Taser and then given two jolts of 50,000 volts. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was experiencing a manic episode, running naked on a rural stretch of state Route 59.

After Cardall's wife called 911 for medical assistance, police officer Ken Thompson fired Taser darts into Cardall's chest.

A team of prosecutors recommended unanimously that Thompson not be charged with a crime.

Washington County prosecutors' findings

Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said Officer Thompson "responded to a tense, uncertain and rapidly unfolding situation in a manner consistent with his training."

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Police Chief Lynn Excell said, "I was there. I know what happened at the scene. The evidence in this case clearly shows that the officers were justified and that their actions were justified and that their actions were reasonable under that circumstance."

Peter Stirba, who is the attorney representing Hurricane City, said, "We view this as a very deep human tragedy for everyone involved.

But they refused to answer any questions about the investigation or the medical examiner's report.

The report says "it is possible that the [Taser] is a primary or contributory cause of death" and that certain factors increased the risk. Among those was that the Taser's electric darts were not impeded by clothing, so they penetrated into muscle very close to the heart.

"Sometimes two and two equals four; and I think that's what the ME's report said, that he was killed by the tasering," said Cardall family attorney Karra Porter. "What the family wanted, and still wants, is for a more thorough investigation of what happened."

Cardall family's response to report

As for the Cardall family, Porter said they are disappointed but not surprised by the report. She said the investigation failed to address "key evidence" in the case from an eyewitness account of the tasing.

"The prosecutor's office makes no effort to explain the clear contradiction of Officer Thompson's claim that Brian was running at him with the account of both the eyewitness and Anna Cardall that Brian took only a single step towards Thompson," said Porter in the statement.

Porter also told KSL News, "They really still don't explain why Officer Thompson tased Brian again when he's sitting on the ground."

In addition, Porter said the report failed to address the fact that Thompson "got out of the car with his Taser already drawn" and that Thompson "knew that Brian had no weapon."

"In light of the county attorney's decision, the family will discuss their options for ensuring that the full truth emerges regarding Brian's death," said Porter. "I think they also want to feel reassured that steps are being taken to prevent other senseless deaths in the future." [CLICK HERE to read the full statement from Karra Porter].

More than 400 people have died over the years after being tased by police.

As Porter alluded to, the Cardall family is contemplating further legal action. They're also upset that Cardall's wife was detained at the county jail for more than an hour right after her husband died and wasn't even allowed to get a diaper for their baby.

Response from Nami Utah

Meanwhile, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Utah says the Cardall case shows how important it is that all Utah law enforcement officers receive crisis intervention training.

Sherri Wittmer of NAMI Utah says Utah has one of the best CIT programs in the nation, and it includes how to deal with people who are mentally ill.

Officer Douglas Paulsen Arrested for Enticing Minor

A West Valley police officer assigned to Hunter High School as a school resource officer has been arrested in Layton after investigators there say he arrived for a prearranged sexual rendezvous with someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy.

Douglas L. Paulsen, 41, has been charged in 2nd District Court with six counts of dealing in material harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony, and one count of enticing a minor over the Internet, a class A misdemeanor.

A detective posing as a 15-year-old boy answered an online sex ad in early September that allegedly was posted by Paulsen, said Layton Police Lt. Garrett Atkin. The detective and Paulsen allegedly began exchanging e-mails.

"During their conversations, the adult male sent the undercover detective pornographic images," Atkin said.

Atkin said Paulsen and the "boy" set up a meeting at the Layton Hills Mall with the understanding that they would move to another location to engage in sex. When Paulsen arrived at the mall, he was taken into custody without incident.

Atkin said he could not release additional details about the case, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Paulsen has worked with the West Valley Police Department for several years. His most recent assignment was working as the school resource officer for Hunter High School.

"Based on the allegation our officer is facing, we have placed him on paid administrative leave," said West Valley Police Capt. Anita Schwemmer.

West Valley police had little to say about the investigation Wednesday, referring all questions to Layton police.

As for his duties at the high school, Schwemmer said her department did not believe any student there was victimized.

"He actually has been a school resource officer at Hunter High School for several years," she said. "We've never had any complaints, rumors or information that has caused us any concern or any unethical behavior on his part at the school. We are interviewing individuals at the school to make sure there was no inappropriate behavior there."

Ben Horsley, spokesman for the Granite District, also referred questions about the case to the two police departments. However, he noted, "We don't believe our students have been impacted."

Paulsen was released Wednesday from the Davis County Jail following an initial court appearance.
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http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=8220332

Lt Manny Escoto Charged with Contempt of Court

A Uintah County police lieutenant has personally apologized to the judge who filed a contempt-of-court complaint against him.

Naples Police Lt. Manny Escoto has been accused by 8th District Judge A. Lynn Payne of disregarding instructions given to him after the judge signed a search warrant in late July. On Wednesday, Escoto told Payne he misunderstood the judge's decision to limit the scope of the search warrant in question. He offered to resign immediately from the police force as a demonstration of his remorse.

Payne, who said he'd never held an officer in contempt in his 22 years on the bench, rejected Escoto's offer, saying that wasn't what he wanted. He made Escoto promise not to resign.

In a Sept. 15 complaint, Payne said Escoto appeared in his chambers seeking a warrant to access information on a cell phone. Authorities were investigating allegations that an unnamed juvenile had engaged in sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl. They believed the phone contained text messages, images and videos related to the juvenile's alleged sexual activity with other possible victims, according to the search-warrant application.

"Although the proposed warrant only requested the search of the cell phone, it was apparent to the court that Lt. Escoto also sought authority to search the records of Alltel Inc.," Payne wrote in his complaint, noting the cell-phone company was not a party in the case.

"The court informed Lt. Escoto that the court would not authorize a search of the records of Alltel Inc.," Payne continued, "and that an investigative subpoena would have to be issued to obtain the records."

Payne said he called the prosecutor involved in the investigation, Mike Drechsel, and spoke with him while Escoto was still in the judge's chambers. Payne said he reiterated the need for a subpoena to access phone-company records, and Drechsel agreed to prepare the required paperwork.

The judge noted that the conversation with Drechsel took place on speakerphone, allowing Escoto to hear what was said by both parties.

"The court signed the warrant, and when handing the warrant to Lt. Escoto, the court asked Lt. Escoto if he understood that the warrant only authorized the search of the cell phone and did not authorize him to search the records of Alltel Inc.," Payne wrote. "Lt. Escoto indicated that he understood."

The judge said Drechsel later informed him that Escoto had served the search warrant on Alltel, which Payne said was done "without the authority of the court" and "in violation of the court's specific directive not to do so."

Naples Police Chief Mark Watkins said he has conducted an informal investigation into the judge's allegations against Escoto, his second in command.

The chief said Escoto maintains that he believed Payne had authorized him to serve the warrant on Alltel "that one time" for the purpose of securing text-message records, which are only accessible for 10 days. Watkins said the lieutenant believed that the judge's order that a subpoena be secured for phone-company records would apply to future investigations.

"He follows the rules," Watkins said. "That's what leads me to believe there was a misunderstanding."

Payne has set an Oct. 28 date for a hearing on the matter.

Brian Cardall Dies After Being Tasered

Brian Cardall, an expectant father for the second time, was tasered by police after wandering along a Utah highway. He was a recently diagnosed bipolar patient who didn’t exhibit many symptoms of his disorder. But that night he was in a fairly confused state on the way back from a wedding party. His pregnant wife, Anna, said that Cardall had been under high stress due to his pursuit of a Doctora degree after winning a competitive scholarship at Northern Arizona University. The couple had pulled off the highway so that he could take medications. While in a confused state, Cardall decided to leave the car, remove his clothes and began walking in the middle of the highway. He was screaming unintelligible words. Anna called 911 to get help in getting him off of the highway.

When police responded, they apparently saw Cardall as a threat at one point in the confrontation. According to analysis of the 911 tapes and statements made by the officer at the scene, Cardall refused 42 seconds-worth of verbal commands to lay down on the ground. That is when the officer decided to use the taser. His account says that even after he went down, Cardall still came at the officer. He tasered him again. Although emergency medical technicians immediately came to the aide of Cardall, he subsequently died from the electrical shocks.

While there is little doubt that Cardall did not obey the officer’s commands and may have posed a threat to motorists and others while in his confused state, this could speak volumes as to the need for more training for officers dealing with suspects that have mental health issues. The officer at the scene was put in a very difficult situation. Perhaps, with the Salt Lake City’s crisis intervention training that is supposedly one of the best in the country, the officer could have recognized Cardall’s symptoms. Cardall is heard pleading with the officer not to shoot him. Cardall could also be heard asking for his medicine, and Anna relayed to the 911 operator he had a mental illness. Could that information have changed the officer’s tactics? Instead of instigating further excitement to a man who was asking for help in his confused state, would the officer have been able to calmly talk him off of the road? For now, we will never know.

Former Officer Ken Hammond Gets 90 Days for Sexual Battery

As the judge called his case number, Ken Hammond stood up from the audience and began the long walk to the podium to face his sentence.

He passed the sort of people he had once arrested as an Ogden police officer — people facing charges for DUI, assault and domestic problems. This time, he was the one facing a charge.

The ex-cop who was hailed as a hero for stopping the killing spree at the Trolley Square mall was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Tuesday, having pleaded no contest to a class A misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.

"There are a lot of good people who do bad things," 2nd District Judge Pamela Heffernan told him.

Hammond, 35, was ordered to report to the Weber County Jail on April 29. He will be allowed out of jail to go to work each day, and he will remain on probation for a year. He was also ordered to pay a $370 fine, undergo a mental-health evaluation and pay for counseling for his victim.

Hammond was originally charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, a third-degree felony, but struck a plea deal with Weber County prosecutors. In 2005, the officer responded to a disturbance at an apartment where a 17-year-old girl had been staying with her friend. He ran background checks and left, but returned two hours later.

Prosecutors said that the girl performed oral sex on Hammond, at the encouragement of others at the apartment.

"This case is not the fault of the victim. The law protects a 17-year-old girl from a 32-year-old," prosecutor Sandra Corp said. "As a police officer, he was in a position to know this was wrong."

Hammond said nothing during his sentencing and declined to talk about it outside of court. Supporters flooded the judge with letters, including one from Stacy Hanson, who was shot during the mall massacre. Hanson wrote that if it weren't for Hammond's actions, he would be dead.

Hammond was decorated as a hero for his role in ending the 2007 shooting rampage at the Trolley Square mall. The officer was off duty and on an early Valentine's date with his wife when Sulejman Talovic, 18, entered the mall and began shooting.

Five people were killed and four were wounded before Hammond got into a shootout with Talovic, keeping him distracted until Salt Lake police arrived. Talovic was shot and killed by police.

On Tuesday, as Hammond stood silently before the judge, his lawyer, Brenda Beaton, said, "He has been punished already." She noted Hammond's notoriety and the "media onslaught" that has followed him since his heroic actions at the Trolley Square mall. Hammond quit the Ogden police force and will never be a police officer again in Utah.

The alleged victim in the case did not show up to speak, and in a letter, supported a sentence that is proportionate to what others facing a misdemeanor charge would receive, Beaton said. She reported the actions years after they occurred.

Hammond also is facing a civil lawsuit from another woman accusing him of misconduct.

Heffernan said that because Hammond was a police officer and on duty, his case was more egregious. His actions at Trolley Square, she said, "to some degree are irrelevant in this case."

Beaton said that if sentenced to jail time, Hammond would become an immediate security risk.

"In light of the fact that you are recognizable, that makes you more vulnerable," Heffernan said, giving Weber County authorities options for his jail sentence. "They will determine what is most appropriate and safe."
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http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story/Ken-Hammond-Sentenced-To-90-Days-For-Sex-Charge/ozjuCsFo0ES3CTe9BLupew.cspx

Former Deputy Steve Romero Charged with 10 Counts of Child Exploitation

CACHE COUNTY, Utah

A former Cache County Sheriff's deputy is in jail with charges of 10 counts of child exploitation. The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force says Steve Romero was arrested in Las Vegas without incident. Investigators say they got a tip in January that Romero had child pornography on his home computer. They interviewed him, searched the computer and allegedly found what they were looking for.

"It does impact me personally that a law enforcement officer would be engaged in this kind of behavior, just as it would a teacher or a minister, anybody who works with young kids," said Ken Wallentine of the Utah Attorney General's Office.

Romero will be brought back to Cache County to face charges.
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http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-cache-county-sheriffs-deputy-arrested-on,0,2300042.story

Lawsuit Claims Utah Officers Used Excessive Force

Jury selection begins tomorrow in federal court for a trial stemming from a lawsuit that claims excessive force involving a Taser.

It stems from a traffic stop June 10, 2005, when Utah Highway Patrol says Anthony Rogers was spotted driving with a broken tail light. Troopers say he subsequently ran a red light and was interrogated for possibly driving under the influence.

He failed his sobriety tests and was about to be arrested, but that's when Rogers' attorney Michael Studebaker says the story took a disturbing turn.

He says, "Through the video we learned that actually at different times the Utah Highway Patrol/Riverdale Police officer used a Taser multiple times on Anthony, including while he was in handcuffs and in the back of a trooper's car. They actually took him out of the vehicle to Taser him some more."

In total, Rogers claims he was tased four times. More specifically, dash-cam video shows Rogers being tased twice as he's restrained by three officers. Then later, he is pulled from a police cruiser after he yelled and hit his head against the window of the car. Rogers' testimony indicates he was tasered two more times.

UHP says it was the Riverdale officer who tased him, but a spokesman for the Utah Highway Patrol denies excessive force was used.

"He was belligerent. He would not respond to our officers' commands," says Sgt. Jeff Nigbur. "And that is when he was out of cuffs and also after the fact when he was cuffed."

Nigbur says Rogers then tried to escape several times. Studebaker believes he has indisputable video evidence. He says, "Definitely, the video's there. I don't know how they can say he's out of control or not in restraints. There's three different officers on him, and when they go to execute the Taser on him just the first time, they actually have to jump off of him."

Riverdale police are declining comment pending the outcome of the court case.

Rogers is suing for damages.

Officer Tony Lunceford Arrested for DUI

A Spanish Fork police officer has resigned after being arrested for drunken driving Sunday morning.

Officers from the Spanish Fork Police Department were dispatched around 1:30 a.m. after a car slammed into a powerbox near 3420 West Riverbottoms Road in Spanish Fork, said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden.

When they spotted the car, they called troopers with the Utah Highway Patrol to avoid a conflict of interest since the driver, Tony Lunceford, was a Spanish Fork officer, said Roden.

Troopers arrested Lunceford and his wife, Janalee, on suspicion of driving under the influence, having an open container in a vehicle and having tinted windows. Janalee was also in the vehicle and admitted to driving the car after the accident, Roden said.

Lunceford was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest, and later submitted a letter of resignation, according to assistant city manager Seth Perrins. He had been working for the Spanish Fork Police Department since July 2004.

Corrections Officer Accused of Stealing Money

A peace officer spent the weekend on the wrong side of jail bars after being accused of stealing a woman's Social Security money. Rick Nichols, 46, was booked into the Utah County jail on Friday on suspicion of felony theft. The jail released him Monday morning after Nichols posted bond.

Nichols is a corrections sergeant at the Utah State Prison. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Angie Welling said Nichols was not allowed to resume work, but no decision has been made about his permanent status. Saratoga Springs Police Cpl. Aaron Rosen said a woman on June 2 reported losing a day planner that carried $1,100 cash. The Social Security Administration provided the money and the woman planned to pay for a surgery with it, Rosen said.

The planner was found in a post office box in Lehi. The money was missing, Rosen said. Police reviewed a surveillance recording from a Smith's market in Saratoga Springs. Rosen said the video showed the woman placing her planner on a display stand.

Nichols, wearing his prison uniform, took the planner from the stand and walked out of the store, Rosen said. Police identified Nichols when last Friday he called police to report finding the planner and the money, Rosen said.

Rosen said police believe Nichols called because he learned he was a suspect. Nichols could not be reached for comment on Monday.