Information is gleaned from court records, police reports and interviews with the Sanpete County Attorney’s Office. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Editor’s Note: Due to changes in how state courts provide media access to sentencing reports, the reports for June and July have been delayed. That issue is now resolved, and we are including the reports for June, along reports for August 10th through 17th. July reports will be covered in our next log.
June, 2022:
Cynthia Ann Hazel (Lemon), 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing, offering, or arranging distribution of a controlled substance, second-degree felonies each.
Charges of Possession w/intent to distribute, second-degree felony, Possession a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony, Driving with a measurable amount of controlled substance in system, a class B misdemeanor, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor, were dis- missed with prejudice.
Ms. Hazel was pulled over in Manti. During a search of her person, the officer discovered a crystal-like substance that was later discovered to be methamphetamine. At the scene, she admitted that she would test positive for meth and that she uses and sells the substance.
A subsequent search of camping trailer used by her and her husband turned up more meth and drug paraphernalia as well as a .22 caliber revolver. Police extracted communications from her cell phone which discussed purchasing, transporting and delivery of controlled substances.
Ms. Hazel was on probation at the time of her arrest. Her probation was revoked, and she was placed on 36 months probation for the current violations. She was fined and ordered to complete the Odyssey House program. If she fails that program, she will automatically be given a prison sentence.
Jeremy Randy Roberts, 51, pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, second-degree felonies each. Charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended, revoked or denied license w/prior conviction were dismissed with prejudice.
On or about Sept. 4, 2021, an officer with the Gunnison police department, tried to pull Roberts over for a driver’s license violation. Roberts drove to his home and tried to run inside but was detained by the officer. A search revealed drug par- aphernalia on his person and Roberts admitted to having controlled substances in his vehicle. Inside the vehicle officers discovered Methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana. Roberts did not have a valid driver’s license and had prior convictions for possession and distribution of a controlled substance.
Roberts had a prison term of 0-5 years on the first charge suspended but was given 150 days in jail for the second. He was fined $1,140 and placed on probation for 36 months. If he completes 18 months of successful probation, he was given permission to request early termination.
Jacquline Faamanatuga, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a financial transaction card, a third-degree felony. The judge suspended a 0–5-year prison sentence and sentenced her to 30 days in the county jail. She was placed on 36 months’ probation to be supervised by Adult Probation and Parole.
Donald John Lloyd, 44, pleaded guilty to child abuse – intentionally inflicting serious physical injury, a third-degree felony, 2 counts of domestic violence with a weapon that caused serious injury in the presence of a child, class A misdemeanors, aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, and assault, a class B misdemeanor. Several other charges related to those crimes were dismissed by the court.
Two prison terms of 0-5 years were suspended by the judge. In the alternative, Lloyd was sentenced to 120 days in the Sanpete County jail. All fines were suspended. Lloyd was placed on 24 months supervised probation and was ordered to obtain a substance abuse evaluation at his own expense. If Lloyd does not complete probation successfully, the court will reimpose the prison term sentences.
Armando Garzon, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of failure to stop or re- spond at the command of police, a class A misdemeanor. A charge of failing to obtain a driver’s license was dismissed. Garzon was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement and fined $750. He was placed on 24 months of supervised proba- tion. The judge said that he could ask to be released from home confinement after 45 days if he has a record of perfect compliance.
Dallas Brown, 20, entered a plea-in-abeyance to one count of possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, marijuana. Brown’s guilty plea will be held in abeyance for 24 months contingent upon his strict compliance with the terms of his plea agreement. Should he fail, he will be resentenced to the full term allowed under law.
Corrina Dee Rigby, 59, pleaded guilty to 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance. A similar third charge was dismissed as was a citation for failure to wear or properly adjust a safety belt.
Rigby was a passenger in a vehicle that was searched after a police officer viewed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Drug residue found in Rigby’s purse. She submitted to a urine test which came back positive for cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine. Rigby admitted she had consumed the drugs at a friend’s house in Mt. Pleasant.
Judge Marvin Bagley accepted Rigby’s third-degree felony guilty pleas and suspended two indeterminate to 5 years prison terms. He imposed a sentence of 120 days in the Sanpete County jail, fined her $950, and placed her on 36 month’s supervised probation.
Justin Lee Hansen, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a peace officer or military service member in uniform, a class A misdemeanor. Charges of criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed.
Hansen was observed by a police officer going through other people’s property. The officer recognized him and said Hansen appeared to be under the influence of illegal narcotics. Hansen told the office that he was blind from COVID and that he could stay with his father who was close by. The officer allowed him to proceed, but he walked straight into a fence and seemed confused about where he was. As Hansen tried to navigate, he struck another officer who was standing directly in front of him by walking into the officer at full-speed.
Hansen was transported to his father’s house and the father said his behavior was not normal. He expressed the opinion that Hansen was under the influence of an illegal controlled substance.
Hansen was placed under arrest, whereupon he told officers that he had a syringe in his pocket that he had consumed Meth with a day and a half ago.
Hansen was sentenced to 364 days in county jail, of which 359 days were suspended. He was fined $750 and placed on 24 months of court probation. He was ordered to participate in substance abuse therapy as directed by his probation officer.
Fred Lole Fotuovaatiu, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of prohibited items in a correctional or mental health facility, a second-degree felony. The offence was committed while Fotuovaatiu was a prisoner at the Central Utah Correctional Facility. He was sentenced to an indeterminate term not to exceed one year, which is to run concurrent with the sentence he is currently serving at the Utah State Prison. All fines were suspended.
Michael Elmo Spencer, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of prohibited items in a correctional or mental health facility, a second-degree felony, when he was found to be in possession of a shank (homemade knife) by prison guards. The charge was amended to a 3rd degree felony at sentencing. He was sen- tenced to an indeterminate term not to exceed 5 years which is to run concurrent with the sentence he is currently serving.
Crystal Rainie Lambertsen, 40, pleaded guilty to a single count of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, a third-degree felony. Charges of driving on a suspended license w/prior convictions, ignition interlock violation, and failure to operate within a single lane were dismissed.
Lambertsen, who was on probation at the time of the current arrest, was ordered to complete her previously ordered 62.5 days in jail, at the end of which she will be allowed to continue 23 months of probation.
August, 2022:
Stephen Sage Kennedy, 20, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second-degree felonies each. Three other identical charges were dismissed.
Sanpete County Deputy Breezy Anderson was alerted that CyberTipline had received a snapchat report of apparent child pornography within the jurisdiction, with a total of 8 files. An Internet Crimes Against Children investigator revealed that they had identified 6 pornographic images and 2 videos of children ranging from young adolescents to possibly as young as 2-3 years of age.
Deputy Anderson obtained a warrant which she served on CentraCom for account information associated with 3 IP addresses registered to Kennedy. CentraCom staff informed her that the FBI had previously served a warrant on the IP accounts. Anderson ran Sage’s name through UCJIS (a Utah criminal database) and found that his driver’s license address matched the IP address information given to her by CyberTipline. She also found that he was on probation.
She contacted Stephen’s probation officer and learned that Stephen’s Xbox account had previously been suspended for pornographic material. Stephen’s grandfather had recently come to the probation officer with an I-pad which he said he had found Stephen viewing porn on.
A warrant was obtained and Stephen’s residence in Ephraim was searched. Law enforcement found several electronic devices, searched them, and placed Stephen under arrest.
During a jail interview, Stephen admitted to obtaining and viewing multiple pornographic images of adolescents whom he stated were under the age of 18, but not younger than 13.
Stephen was sentenced to three indeterminant terms of not less than one 1 year nor more than 15 years. The sentences are to run concurrently. He was imme- diately conducted to the prison at Gunnison.
Ryker Paul Hewitt, 36, pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of a controlled substance schedule I/II/analog, A third-degree felony. Hewitt has two prior possession convictions, one out of 3rd District Court – Salt lake, in 2021, and one out of 6th district court – Manti, in 2020.
An indeterminate term not to exceed 5 years in state prison was suspended by Judge Marvin Bagley but a sentence on 90 days in Sanpete County jail was im- posed. Hewitt was fined $950 and placed on supervised probation for 24 months following completion of the jail sentence. He was ordered to obtain a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days of his release and must successfully complete any recommended treatment.
Michael Patrick McClain, 47, pleaded guilty to a single count of criminal trespass within a dwelling, a class A misdemeanor. Charges of criminal mischief – intentional damage, defacing or destroying property, intoxication, and disorderly conduct were dismissed.
McClain was placed on 14 days of home confinement and fined $750. He was placed on 12 months supervised probation and was ordered to stay away from his mother’s home unless approved by the state.
Alapeti Leiofi, 26, a prisoner at the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gun- nison, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated assault by prisoner, amended from a first-degree felony to a class A misdemeanor.
According to a probable cause statement filed in the case, Leiofi attacked a fellow prisoner without provocation with a shank (homemade knife).
He was sentenced to an indeterminate term not to exceed one year in the Utah State Prison which is to run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving.
Shantel Renea Clark, 32, pleaded guilty of a single count of possession of a controlled substance, schedule I/II/analog, a class A misdemeanor.
Clark was on probation when she showed up at the jail for a visit with her pro- bation officer. The officer had her take a routine drug test which came back positive for methamphetamine. Her positive test was a violation of a pre-trial agreement.
Clark was fined $375 and placed on 24 months supervised probation. She was ordered to obtain a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days and to pay for and complete any recommended treatment.
Vern L. Houchin, 46, pleaded guilty to a single count of distributing/offering/ arranging distribution of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony and a single count of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs (DUI), a class B misdemeanor.
In April, Houchin was pulled over for a burned-out head light and was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A search of his vehicle discovered a significant amount of methamphetamine, a scale, small plastic baggies and other items used in distribution. The officer also smelled alcohol on his person.
Houchin admitted to drinking alcohol just prior to the traffic stop. An open container of alcohol was discovered in the vehicle. Houchin failed a standard field sobriety test and was arrested and transported to the jail.
Houchin was sentenced to an indeterminate term in state prison not to exceed five years on the third-degree felony distribution charge, which was suspend- ed. He was sentenced to 180 days on the class B misdemeanor DUI charge of which 178 days were suspended with credit given for time served. He was fined $1,460. He was encouraged by the court to enter and complete substance abuse treatment.
James Hadley Clayton, 32, pleaded guilty to a single count of theft with a value of more than $1,500 but less than $5,000, a third-degree felony. A class A misdemeanor charge of burglary of a vehicle was dismissed.
At the time of his arrest, Clayton had two prior theft convictions out of the 4th district court – Provo against his record. He was sentenced to an indeterminate term not exceeding 5 years, which was suspended, but a 45-day sentence in county jail was imposed. He was fined $750 and placed on 36 months of probation supervised by adult probation and parole. He was also ordered to successfully complete a treatment program.
James Henry Koyle, 44, pleaded guilty to 1 count of obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor. Another count of criminal mischief was dismissed
Koyle was sentenced to 60 days of home confinement and fined $750. The judge placed him on 18 months of supervised probation. During his home confinement, Koyle can only leave his home for work, medical appointments or to attend church, therapy appointments or school.
Heidi Leigh Henry, 43, pleaded guilty of a single count of possession of a controlled substance within a correctional facility, a class A misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 6 months of home confinement w/ankle monitor and placed on 36 months of supervised probation during which she cannot consume or possess al- cohol or illegal drugs nor associate with any person using, possessing, or consum- ing alcohol or illegal drugs.
