Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 7th, 2022 | Sex Offenders | By Travis Uresk 11/7/22 Utah Department Of Corrections/ Search for sex offenders in your area: https://sheriffalerts.com/cap_office_disclaimer.php?office=54438&fwd=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5pY3JpbWV3YXRjaC5uZXQvaW5kZXgucGhwP0FnZW5jeUlEPTU0NDM4JmRpc2M9

Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 6th, 2022 | DUI | By Travis Uresk 11/6/22 Vernal, Ut.- On 10/26/22, Chief Simper was contacted by the Naples Elementary School and was told a parent Stephanie Ann Mortensen showed up to the school to pick up her seven-year-old son, and they could smell alcohol on her. The Staff member told Chief Simper Stephanie was driving a small black car and drove off with her son in the backseat without a child seat. Chief Simper had dispatch put out an attempt to locate on Stephanie’s black car. Later, Simper was able to locate a license plate registered to Stephanie Mortensen matching the description the school had given and confirmed the status of Stephanie's driver's license as denied and an alcohol-restricted driver. Chief Simper parked in front of her home, and shortly after, the black vehicle passed by him. He saw the driver match the description of Stephanie. As Chief Simper went to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle turned North onto 200 E from 500 S. The car continued driving and turned East onto 400 S. Simper could see Stephanie moving items around inside the car. Simper activated his siren, and the car pulled over at 136 E 400 S, Vernal, Ut. Chief Simper approached the car and observed a seven-year-old boy in the back seat without a child restraint device. He asked Stephanie why she was driving with a denied license. She stated she had to pick up her son early from school and then grab lunch for a family member. Simper could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Stephanie's breath as she spoke. The Chief took her driver's license and asked why it took so long to pull over. Stephanie Stated it didn't, and she pulled over immediately when she saw his lights. Chief Simper told her he activated his lights on 500 S, and she stated she did not see them. He then asked her if there were any open containers of alcohol in the vehicle as he saw an open 12-pack of Natural Light beer on the passenger floorboard. Stephanie stated there would be, but they are not mine. Stephanie further stated she had not driven the car for a couple of days because it had been in a family member's possession. Simper asked if she had consumed alcohol today, and she said no. He asked when was the last time she consumed any alcohol, and she stated the night before last. He asked again if she had drank anything last night, and she stated maybe a few beers. Stephanie was then asked to step out of her car, and she refused. Simper told her he was giving her a lawful order to exit the car, and she complied. This is from the affidavit: I turned off my forward-facing emergency lights. Stephanie advised she had no medical conditions with her eyes, nor was she wearing glasses or contacts. When asked about any medical conditions preventing her from walking a straight line, she advised that she has equilibrium issues and nerve pain in her left leg that sometimes causes her to limp. The first test was conducted in front of my patrol vehicle. When Stephanie was advised we would be using an imaginary line, she stated she wanted to use a line. We moved to the sidewalk, and I had her use the line between the curb and the sidewalk. This area was level and clear of debris. Stephanie was wearing gray/black tennis shoes. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus: The stimulus used for this test was initially my right index finger, but due to my finger shaking from the cold, I restarted the test with my left index finger. I observed both eyes to be dilated equally and tracked in symmetry. I observed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. I observed distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes. I observed the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. 6 of 6 clues were observed. Nine-Step Walk and Turn: I instructed and demonstrated the test. The subject stepped off the line multiple times in both lines. The subject missed heel-to-toe multiple times in both lines. The subject stopped walking and raised her arm more than six inches from her body. 4 of 8 clues were observed. One Leg Stand: I instructed and demonstrated this test. No clues were observed. Alphabet Test: The subject went from A to Z correctly. I advised her to start on D and end on X. Subject went D, E, F.......O, P, Q, R, X. She advised she was finished and confirmed she was told to end on X. Letters missed S, T, U, V, W. Finger to Nose Test: This test was demonstrated. Multiple times she would miss her nose with her fingertip, and twice she began moving the wrong arm. I administered a portable breath test which tested positive for alcohol. I formed the opinion Stephanie was impaired to the point she could not safely operate a motor vehicle. I asked again how much alcohol she consumed last night, and she stated a 15-pack between her and a family member.' She also advised she had some mixed drinks. I advised her that she would be arrested for driving while under the influence. I asked who could come to the scene to pick up her child. She advised a family member could come to the scene. He was at work just down the road. I sent another officer to the home to get him. He arrived and took custody of the child and vehicle. I placed Stephanie into handcuffs, and Trooper Ryan transported her to the Uintah County Jail. Once at the jail, I observed the baker rule at 1252 hours by confirming her mouth was clear of foreign objects minus a tongue ring. During this time, she did not burp, regurgitate, or vomit. The DUI admonition was read, and she consented to a breath test resulting in 0.141 BrAC with 2.976 liters of breath. I issued her a copy of the results and completed the DUI interview questions. I booked Stephanie Mortensen on the above-listed charges. It should be noted the DUI charge should be 41-6A-503(2)(a) but it was not listed in the options.

Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 5th, 2022 | Reckless Driver & Drugs | By Travis Uresk 11/5/22 Vernal, Ut.- On 11/1/22, Uintah County Police got a call of a black GMC SUV passing traffic on the shoulder of the road, driving into oncoming traffic, and driving in the opposite lane. Officer Roth attempted to make a traffic stop in the area of 1500 South highway 40 on a vehicle matching the description of the black SUV. He first saw the vehicle in his rearview mirror performing an illegal lane change failing to use his turn signal and pass Officer Roth at a high rate of speed before applying his brakes to slow down to match the traffic flow. The driver failed to respond to the Officer's lights and sirens and caught up with the SUV at the intersection of 1000 South highway 40 that stopped in the center lane at a red light. The Officer gave the driver a lawful order to pull over to the side of the road in front of the Bull Ring store. When the light turned green, the male driver continued into Vernal at a high rate of speed. An approaching UHP Trooper radar indicated the speed of the black SUV at 102 MPH. The driver continued into Vernal, weaving in and out of traffic, almost causing two accidents. At this time, the UHP Trooper and Officer Roth stopped their chase of the SUV for safety reasons. A few moments later, both Officers located the SUV by taking the address from the plates off the vehicle and made contact with the driver at his home. The driver was identified as 32-year-old George Andrew Pena and taken into custody. An adult female at the home let the Officers inside the home, and when they entered the house, they could smell the distinct odor of marijuana. The female took the Officers to a pantry in the kitchen, where George kept his marijuana . The Officers found containers where George had stored his marijuana and a homemade bong from a soda bottle. During the inventory of the black SUV, the Officers found a wooden marijuana pipe with burnt residue in the bowl that smelled of marijuana. A search warrant was approved for George's home, where multiple items of marijuana paraphernalia were located. A records check was done on George, and his driver's license was not valid. George Andrew Pena was booked into the Uintah County Jail. I did a background check on George, and he is on a watch list, and his probation is indefinite.

Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 2nd, 2022 | Sex Offender & Drugs | By Travis Uresk 11/2/22 Vernal, Ut.- On 10/21/22, A Chrysler 300 was traveling North on SR 191, and a Chevy pickup was turning left onto SR 191 from 500 East. The Chevy truck failed to yield to the Chrysler, and the Chrysler hit the Chevy on the driver's side. Witnesses at the scene informed the Officer the Chevy pulled out in front of the Chrysler and could not stop. Witnesses also told the Officer they saw the male driver of the truck throwing items out of his truck into the bushes. As the Officer approached the truck, the driver's door was open, and he saw a black Rocky Mountain Cannabis container on the floorboard. When Officer Searle opened the container, a white oval pill was inside, later identified as Gabapentin. While speaking with the driver of the truck, he told the Officer his name was Joseph Scott King. Joseph told the Officer when he was entering the highway from 500 East, his truck stalled, and the car hit him. Officer Searle asked Joseph what he threw in the bushes, and he replied, "nothing." Joseph was then informed witnesses saw him removing items from his truck and throwing them in the bushes. King then told the Officer he removed a can of duster cleaner and hid it in the bushes. The Officer asked King if he had been inhaling the duster cleaner, and he said he wasn't but his female passenger had been. King was asked if he had been using marijuana, and Joseph replied he had a medical marijuana card and had used that morning. Officer Searle asked King if he had a prescription for Gabapentin, and he said he did not know about the Gabapentin in the marijuana container. Due to the circumstances, the Officer became suspicious King was driving under the influence and had him perform field sobriety tests and observed the following: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus: During the medical screening, King informed me he needed glasses but could see my finger. King informed me he was only taking medical marijuana as a medication. King informed me he had minor pain in his left shoulder and had surgery on his right foot two years ago. I observed King had equal tracking. During the test, I did not observe any clues. I did observe King had bloodshot eyes, and his eyes would twitch randomly during the test. Lack of Convergence: King's eyes converged equally on this test. Nine-Step Walk and Turn: I explained and demonstrated this test and asked King if anything was preventing him from performing the test. King informed me that he was cold. King performed the test and I observed the following clues. King failed to maintain the instructional stage position, took eight steps instead of nine of the first set, and performed an improper turn. I observed three of the eight clues on this test. One Leg Stand: I explained and demonstrated this test. I asked King if he could perform this test, and he informed me he could but was cold. On this test, I observed King sway from side to side. I observed one of the four clues on this test. Modified Romberg: King estimated the passing of thirty seconds in twenty-two seconds. During the test, I observed King sway from front to back and had consistent eyelid tremors in both eyes. I had King blow into my preliminary breath test, and he tested negative for alcohol. Officer Searle performed a records check on King and found he was on probation and a registered sex offender. The Paramedics on the scene had transported King's passenger to the hospital; she was only 14 years old. Kings Probation Officer told Deputy Pratt he was not supposed to be in contact with anyone under eighteen without his agent's written consent. Officer Searle asked King why he was out there with a juvenile. King replied, "she had called him to come to pick her up at the Honda Hills, and she was walking down a dirt road when he got there." The Officer asked King how he knew her, and he said she was a friend of an ex-family member. King was then placed under arrest and transported to Ashley Regional Medical Center for medical clearance and a blood draw. While at the hospital, Officer Searle spoke with the Mother of the female juvenile, and she explained her daughter was supposed to be with friends at the haunted woods and not with King. The Mother explained to the Officer that King had sexual relations with her daughter when she was only twelve. Officer Searle spoke with the juvenile with her Mother's permission. She informed the Officer that she and King were driving around doing donuts at the Honda Hills. He then asked her if she was inhaling the duster cleaner, and she said, "King and I both were." Officer Searle then began to ask her questions about her and King's relationship, and she said she was done answering questions. The Uintah County Sheriff's Office was contacted, and they agreed to investigate further into King's sexual relationship with the 14-year-old juvenile. King was booked into the Uintah County Jail on charges of driving under the influence with a juvenile in the vehicle, possession of a prescribed substance not in its prescribed container, obstruction of justice, possession and/or use of psychotoxic chemical solvents, and failed to yield the right of way. Vernal Sex Offenders:

Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 2nd, 2022 | Drugs | By Travis Uresk 11/2/22 Fruitland, Ut.- On 10/12/22, Deputy Cox was patrolling the Pinon Ridge area on old US highway 40 road around 34000 West at 2:45 am. This area is known for a lot of burglaries. He noticed a vehicle traveling West on old US 40, and the driver failed to signal in front of the Deputy as it turned left into a driveway. The Deputy activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop around 34100 West old US 40. As he approached the vehicle, the driver opened the door and identified herself as 49-year-old Marinda Ann Sundwall. She was very nervous and stuttered speech. The Deputy asked Marinda if there was anything illegal inside her vehicle, and she stated there wasn't. Deputy Cox asked if he could search her vehicle, and she said, "that would be fine." Marinda had two animals inside the vehicle, and the Deputy asked her to put the animals away so he could search the vehicle. When they both returned to Marinda's car, she became very nervous about the Deputy searching the vehicle. He explained his concerns and asked again for consent to search her car, and she paused. That's when Deputy Cox noticed an open container of alcohol in the back pouch of the driver's side seat with some of the beverage missing. Marinda then allowed him to search the vehicle at this point. The Deputy found a bag on the driver's seat and three items labeled THC wax. He asked Marinda if there was anything else she was concerned about him finding. Marinda admitted that she had a little bit of meth. Deputy Cox asked her to point it out. She pointed to a rubber ball that was a container. Inside the container was a clear red baggy with a white crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine. The white crystal substance was later tested and tested positive for methamphetamine. He also found a pipe with burnt marijuana in the same bag. Deputy Cox had dispatch run Marinda's driver's license, and it came back expired in May 2022. Marinda was arrested and booked into the Duchesne County Jail on 10/12/22 at 4:30 am.

Posted by Travis Uresk | Nov. 1st, 2022 | Sex Offender | Chicago, IL | By Holly Matkin 11/1/22 Chicago, IL – A registered sex offender who previously confessed to having molested as many as 75 women on various Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses during a period of just two months was out on bail for licking and grabbing other women when he allegedly groped yet another female victim late last month. David Buckner, 28, was charged with just four felony offenses in 2017 after he admitted he “probably” molested as many as 75 women on the CTA, CWB reported. But he was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to FOX News. The court ordered him to register as a sex offender and he was released back into the community on Dec. 29, 2020, CWB reported. Buckner was arrested again in June after two women alleged he had groped, squeezed, and licked them in the Magnificent Mile neighborhood, FOX News reported. He was arrested for those assaults, but the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office refused to file felony charges against him. Buckner was instead charged with misdemeanor battery and was again released onto the streets. He allegedly struck again on Oct. 9. Police said two women alleged Buckner touched them inappropriately while they were at the Roosevelt CTA station that day, FOX News reported. Buckner was charged with misdemeanor battery and was released from jail yet again. He allegedly proceeded to assault another victim – this time an 18-year-old woman – on the Loyola University campus near the Red Line station shortly before 2 p.m. on Oct. 26, CWB reported. The victim said Buckner grabbed the left side of her buttocks and other areas of her body, according to prosecutors. But he was again charged with only a misdemeanor offense, CWB reported. Furthermore, Cook County Prosecutor Jeff Allen said that the allegations leveled by the two victims in October were not recorded in the court clerk’s case management system “for whatever reason,” according to the news outlet. As a result, that matter was not assigned a case number, which prevented Allen from being able to file a violation of bail conditions against Buckner at the time of his most recent arrest. During his court hearing on Oct. 27, Buckner’s public defender touted his client’s service in the U.S. Marine Corps. She said Buckner lives with his wife and two children, and claimed he is taking his prescribed mental health medication. The judge prohibited Buckner from setting foot on the Loyola University campus and ordered that he be released on electronic monitoring in that case if he pays a $5,000 deposit toward his bail. Man charged in 4 attacks, admits to molesting dozens of women on CTA, authorities say By Nereida Moreno Chicago Tribune Jul 02, 2017 at 8:30 pm A man charged with attacking four women at or near CTA stops admitted to "probably" molesting about 75 women on the CTA in the past two months, authorities said Sunday. David Buckner, 22, was arrested downtown Friday on suspicion of trespassing on CTA property and was ordered held Sunday on $250,000 bond by Judge Donald Panarese Jr. at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. He faces charges of criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, aggravated battery of a transit employee, aggravated battery in a public place and criminal trespassing. At least four women have come forward to accuse Buckner of sexually attacking them at or near CTA property. On May 15, Buckner approached an 18-year-old woman standing at a CTA bus stop near North and Damen avenues about 6:30 p.m. and asked her if she wanted a hug, prosecutors said. Buckner grabbed her from behind after she started to walk away. He placed her into a bear hug, kissed her on the forehead and grabbed her buttocks, prosecutors said. The victim escaped onto a bus and reported the incident, which was captured on CTA surveillance footage. On June 20, Buckner approached a 23-year-old woman walking toward the CTA Green Line Garfield Station in Washington Park just after 10 a.m. and asked her how old she was, prosecutors said. When the victim asked why he wanted to know, Buckner replied that he is royalty and therefore able to date girls between the ages of 14 and 18, prosecutors said. He asked her if she wanted a hug and grabbed her buttocks from behind as she walked away from him. She later intervened when Buckner tried to harass another woman waiting for the train, prosecutors said. Buckner then grabbed the 23-year-old by the front of her shirt and sprayed her face and body with an unknown substance after she began screaming for help, according to prosecutors. Buckner fled the scene of the incident, which was partially captured on CTA surveillance. Police sent out a community alert a few days later in an attempt to help find the person responsible for the attack. Later that day, Buckner approached a 29-year-old woman who was climbing the stairs to the Damen Blue Line CTA station just before 11 a.m., prosecutors said. He asked her if she wanted a hug and and wrapped both his arms tightly around her after she declined. The woman eventually broke free, got onto a train and called 911. On Friday, Buckner forcefully grabbed a 21-year-old woman who was taking a work break near a CTA stop at 1600 N. Damen about 10:30 a.m. He grabbed her buttocks with his left hand and her breasts with his right hand after she refused to hug him and tried to pull away, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Buckner "kissed and licked" her face before fleeing the area. Part of the incident was captured on surveillance footage from nearby restaurants, authorities said. He was arrested on CTA property in the 100 block of West Randolph Street about 11:35 a.m., according to a police report. Buckner, of the 5600 block of North Western Avenue, was identified in photo and physical lineups and made admissions on all four cases, prosecutors said. He told officers he had "probably" touched about 75 women on the CTA, and that "it isn't sexual harassment unless the girls tell you no," prosecutors said. He also told officers he thinks that it is all right to touch the butt of someone of the opposite sex. Buckner was previously arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct on June 15 after police responded to a downtown Walgreens for complaints that he was harassing female customers, grabbing and touching them, according to authorities. Police records show Buckner has been arrested multiple times on misdemeanor charges this year: May 28 on a charge of disorderly conduct on CTA property at the O’Hare Blue Line stop May 24 on a charge of trespassing at the Grand Avenue Blue Line station April 20 on a charge of battery at a parking garage at 127 N. Dearborn St. On March 4 on a charge of battery at 180 N. Clark St. Man 'Probably' Molested Dozens Of Women On CTA, He Told Police: Reports By Kelly Bauer | July 3, 2017 10:38am DOWNTOWN — A man charged with sexual assault reportedly told officials he "probably" molested more than 70 women on the CTA in recent months. David Buckner, 23, of the 5600 block of South Indiana Avenue, has been charged with four counts of unlawful restraint, three counts of aggravated battery in a public place, criminal sexual abuse, two counts of battery to a transit employee and criminal trespass to land, police said. At least four women have contacted police about Buckner since mid-May, saying he had grabbed, groped, kissed and licked them, prosecutors said Sunday, according to the Tribune. One of the women said Buckner harassed her at the the Garfield Green Line Station on June 20, according to the Tribune. When she tried to stop him from harassing another woman, he sprayed something in her eyes and ran away. Buckner was arrested Friday and told police officers he "probably" touched 75 women on the CTA over the last two months and didn't think it was wrong to touch someone's buttocks if that person was of the opposite sex, according to the Tribune. Buckner told officers, "It isn't sexual harassment unless the girl tells you no," prosecutors said, according to the Tribune. Portions of several of the incidents were caught on camera, and Buckner was identified in lineups, according to the Tribune. Buckner's bail was set at $250,000, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 31st, 2022 | Sex Offender | By Travis Uresk 10/31/22 Duchesne, Ut.- On 10/7/22, Deputy Cox was patrolling on SR 87 around 400 North and noticed a vehicle with expired tags and made a traffic stop on the vehicle. Cox asked the driver for his license, and the driver began to read his license number out loud and then said he didn't have it with him. The Deputy identified the driver as 56-year-old Shawn Michael Laroque. Shawn stated he wasn't the registered vehicle owner and was just driving it to the repair shop up the road, and then he would walk back home. The Deputy ran his driver's license, and it was suspended. He had no insurance, and he was a sex offender. The Deputy approached Shawn and began to speak with him about his violations and then placed him under arrest for driving on a suspended license, failing to register as a sex offender, and having an expired registration. Shawn's vehicle was impounded. The impound driver stated he knew Shawn and had seen him driving around for the past 3 or 4 days. Shawn Laroque was transported to the Duchesne County Jail and booked. Today is his birthday, anyone want to wish this creep a happy birthday?

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 30th, 2022 | Drugs & Homicide | By Travis Uresk 10/30/22 Roosevelt, Ut.- On 10/10/22, Officer Barton was patrolling near Stewart's Market Place and observed a male he identified as 51-year-old Hoomphana Vanvilay, also known as Hung Minh Tran. The Officer was aware that Hoomphana had a no-bail warrant. Hoomphana was at the Echo car wash next to the vacuums across from Stewart's. Officer Barton pulled in next to Hoomphana and saw him handing something to a female in the passenger seat. The Officer saw Hoomphana putting a plastic bag with marijuana and a bag with cocaine inside the car. Officer Barton told him to stop and drop the bags. Hoomphana did and was placed under arrest and put in the back of his patrol car. Officer Barton found another bag with methamphetamine inside the car and a .22 caliber rifle in plain view. Barton took possession of the rifle. Hoomphana is a convicted felon and can not possess a firearm. During the search of the vehicle Officer Barton also found a meth pipe and a THC pen in the center console. Hoomhana was taken to the Uintah Basin Medical Center for medical clearance, and then transported to the Duchesne County Jail. Police say DNA solves 25-year-old Utah homicide case by KUTV Thursday, January 28th 2016 Salt Lake City — (KUTV) A 25-year-old cold has been solved, police say, with the help of DNA technology that led to the arrest of two people. Salt Lake City police said a resident in Roosevelt, Utah and another in Oklahoma were connected to the 1991 homicide case. Police say in may of that year, 26-year-old Youthaloth Oudanunh was killed after a fight at a dance on 1300 South, West Temple. Roosevelt resident, 44-year-old Hoomphanh Vanvilay, was arrested. Salt Lake City Police Department detectives traveled to Oklahoma, and with the assistance of local law enforcement there, arrested Vienphet Sundra, 47. Advancements in DNA analysis moved investigators to review the case using funds from the National Institute of Justice, a federal grant for solving cold cases with DNA, samples were tested. Police also said detectives re-interviewed people they say were involved with the case. Based on the DNA results and new interviews, the case was presented to the District Attorney's office on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Warrants were then issued for both of those later arrested. Detectives still want to interview Viengkeo Sundara, 48, as a person of interest and a possible witness in the case. Police hope the public will help locate him and urge anyone with information to call 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637 by starting text with TIPSLCPD and referencing case #91-47661. Third man charged in 1991 homicide at Salt Lake City community dance Recent tests show victim's DNA matches blood on knife, alleged attackers' clothes. The Salt Lake Tribune · June 8, 2016 A third man has been charged with murder in a slaying 25 years ago at a Laotian community dance in Salt Lake City. Viengkeo K. Sundara, 48, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder in the 1991 stabbing death of 25-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh. A $1 million warrant was issued for Sundara's arrest. In January, prosecutors filed murder charges against Sundara's brother, 47-year-old Vienphet Sundara, and 44-year-ols Hoomphanh Vanvilay. On May 19, 1991, Oudanonh was stabbed outside the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 South, where the local Laotian community was holding a dance. A witness testified last month at a preliminary hearing for Vienphet Sundara that Oudanonh had punched Sundara's brother in the face during a confrontation at a wedding party sometime before the dance took place. Witnesses said Oudanonh was stabbed after he left the building. He then stumbled back to the entrance and collapsed. A police officer who was providing security at the dance called in a description of the vehicle in which three suspects had fled, and a short time later an officer stopped a vehicle at the 900 South onramp to Interstate 15. The two Sundara brothers and Vanvilay were in the vehicle. Vienphet Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing and Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, according to court documents. A knife with blood on it was found inside the car. The charges against Viengkeo Sundara say that he had what appeared to be blood on his shoes. The three were arrested but released for lack of evidence. The new charges also state that, according to Vanvilay — who has pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter and agreed to testify against the other two defendants — he and the Sundara brothers confronted Oudanonh outside the dance. Vanvilay claims Viengkeo Sundara said, "Grab him," as Viengkeo Sundara grabbed one of the victim's arms and Vanvilay grabbed the other arm, charges state. Vienphet Sundara then pulled out a knife and stabbed Oudanonh. An autopsy showed that he died from a stab wound to the neck. Prosecutors said the case took years to file because witnesses were reluctant to speak to investigators. But recent DNA tests, not available at the time, show that Oudanonh's DNA was matched to the blood on Sundara's and Vanvilay's clothing and on the knife. Utah man sentenced to probation for his part in 1991 fatal stabbing at Laotian community dance By Aubrey Wieber | Feb. 9, 2018 After agreeing to testify against his two co-defendants in an upcoming murder trial, Hoomphanh Vanvilay was sentenced to probation Friday, and was to be released from jail. Vanvilay, 46, has spent the past 744 days in jail for restraining 25-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh while his friend fatally stabbed the man in the neck at a Laotian community dance in Salt Lake City in 1991. Vanvilay and his co-defendants — brothers Viengkeo and Vienphet Sundara — fled in a vehicle following the stabbing. A security guard at the dance called the vehicle’s description into police. A short time later an officer stopped the vehicle at the 900 South onramp to Interstate 15. Vienphet Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing and Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, according to charges. A knife with blood on it was found inside the car. Viengkeo Sundara had what appeared to be blood on his shoes, according to charges. The men were arrested but charges were dropped after police failed to find someone at the dance willing to testify, despite eyewitnesses. Charges were filed in 3rd District Court in January 2016 after DNA testing not available at the time of the slaying confirmed Oudanonh’s blood was on the knife found in the getaway car. All three men were charged with first-degree felony murder. But in May 2016, Vanvilay flipped on his friends and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of second-degree felony manslaughter and agreed to testify against the Sundara brothers. According to the charges, the 1991 altercation began when Oudanonh punched Viengkeo Sundara at the dance. When the Sundara brothers and Vanvilay confronted Oudanonh outside of the community center, Vanvilay claims Viengkeo Sundara said, “Grab him,” as Viengkeo Sundara grabbed one of the victim’s arms and Vanvilay grabbed the other arm, charges state. Vienphet Sundara then pulled out a knife and stabbed Oudanonh in the neck. “He thought they were committing an assault, but it ended up being an assault that killed someone,” Steven Shapiro, Vanvilay’s attorney, said during the sentencing. The hearing was brief. There were no statements from the victim’s family presented in court. Prosecutor Matthew Janzen said Oudanonh has a brother still living in Utah who has been in contact with prosecutors regarding the case. Vanvilay, of Roosevelt, declined to speak. Judge Todd Shaughnessy sentenced him to a one-to-15-year prison term, which was suspended. The judge gave Vanvilay credit for the two years and 14 days he had spent in jail on the case and ordered his release from jail. As part of a three-year probation, Vanvilay is required to “truthfully” testify against the Sundara brothers at their trial in May. He previously testified against them during preliminary hearings. Indictment 10/12/22

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 28th, 2022 | Theft | By Travis Uresk 10/28/22 Duchesne, Co.- On 9/24/22, A female noticed her checking account had gone into a negative balance. She discovered several fraudulent charges were made to her account, valued in the 100s of dollars. The victim of the stolen debit card believed her card was taken from her mailbox. She gave her bank statements to law enforcement to investigate who might have stolen her debit card. The statements contained information on dates, times, and locations where the victim's card was unlawfully used. Security camera footage was obtained from several of these locations. The suspects using the victim's debit card were identified in the video as Darci Gerhardt and Russell Sweat. The following are the unlawful financial card transaction dates, locations, and value amounts stolen on the bank statement: 1. 9-11-2022, Air stop located in Duchesne City, Utah, for $1.50 2. 9-18-2022, Smith's Food & Drug, located in Orem City, Utah, for $60.04 3. 9-18-2022, Shell Oil gas station located in Duchesne City, Utah, for $100.00 4. 9-18-2022, Chevron gas station located in Murray City, Utah, for $43.11 5. 9-20-2022, Chevron gas station located in Roosevelt City, Utah, for $110.82 6. 9-20-2022, Smith's Food & Drug, located in Murray City, Utah, for $42.89 7. 9-21-2022, Wasatch Eagle gas station located in Heber City, Utah, for $86.07 8. 9-21-2022, Ute Plaza Supermarket, located in Ft. Duchesne City, Utah, for $82.10 9. 9-21-2022, O'Reilly Auto parts located in Roosevelt City, Utah, for $70.41 10. 9-21-2022, Family Dollar located in Roosevelt City, Utah, for $219.73. 11. 9-22-2022, Harbor Freight, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, for $120.77 12. 9-23-2022, Walmart located in Heber City, Utah, for $158.58 13. 9-23-2022, Walmart located in Heber City, Utah, for $28.44 14. 9-23-2022, Walmart located in Salt Lake City, Utah, for $84.35 15. 9-24-2022, 7-11 gas station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, for $35.55 16. 9-24-2022, Family Dollar located in Roosevelt City, Utah, for $246.86 On 10/12/22, Darci and Russell were interviewed by police, who were seen on video footage using the debit card, but told police they thought they had permission from a person they named as "Duckie" to use the debit card. Neither Darci nor Russell provided much information about this Duckie person. They didn't know her last name but thought her first name was either Heather or Jennifer. Russell and Darci told police Duckie had been with them when they used the debit card and gave the card back to Duckie. In the video footage, Darci was the one that mainly used the debit card. Russell and Darci were both observed together when unlawfully using the card. A third person was never seen with Russell and Darci or any evidence of a person named Duckie described by Russell. Russell also stated another person named “Bobbert” was with Duckie. The Officer didn’t see evidence of this person named Bobbert either. Russell was booked into the Duchesne County Jail on 10/21/22. “If you’re going to be a liar, you should at least have the decency to be good at it.” - Lt. Joe Kenda Darci Gerhardt:

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 18th, 2022 | "Swatting" | First, What Is Swatting? Swatting is the deliberate and malicious act of reporting a false crime or emergency to evoke an aggressive response (often a SWAT team) from a law enforcement agency to a target's residence or place of work to harass and intimidate them. Alarmingly, swatting appears to be on the rise. Kevin Kolbye, a former FBI agent with expertise in swatting, estimates incidents have jumped from 400 cases in 2011 to over 1,000 in 2019. Unfortunately, the actual number is unknown because the FBI does not track swatting as a unique category of crime. Additionally, many local police departments fail to distinguish swatting from false police reports. The FBI has been aware of swatting for over a decade. Swatting emerged in online communities associated with gamers and hackers. For example, some gamers targeted their rivals by contacting 911 during livestreams to watch online while a SWAT team conducted a raid on their victims. But the targets of these attacks have never been limited to gamers. One of the earliest high-profile cases occurred in 2005 when Matthew Weigman directed police to the home of a young woman and her father in Colorado to punish her for refusing to have phone sex with him. In 2018, a caller falsely reported an intruder with a weapon at the home of David Hogg, a high-profile survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and gun violence prevention advocate, causing a SWAT team to respond. Swatting wastes resources and puts people in danger. These hoaxes take first responders away from actual emergencies, potentially endangering the safety of others. The extent of the financial burden these cases place on taxpayers vary. Following a swatting in Rochester, New York, Lieutenant Aaron Springer estimated the incident cost at up to $15,000. In Denver, a 2015 swatting cost law enforcement $25,000, while an incident in Long Beach, New York is estimated to have cost $100,000 in 2014. These online threats are serious; they can and have led to violence. Swatting puts the targets, responding officers, and other community members in harm’s way and sometimes results in their deaths. 'Swatting': How a Hoax Can Become Deadly By SARA KETTLER JUNE 21, 2022 On the night of December 28, 2017, Andrew Finch opened his front door in Wichita, Kansas, to find a SWAT team, guns drawn. When Finch didn’t raise his arms as directed, an officer fatally shot the 28-year-old. The police were at Finch’s home because they’d received an emergency call stating that a shooting had occurred, and a potential hostage situation was in progress. It was only after Finch was shot that police realized the call that had prompted their armed response was a hoax, a phenomenon known as “swatting.” Finch is thought to be swatting’s first fatality, but he wasn’t its last. And until the practice is reined in, deadly outcomes will remain a concern. In swatting, emergency services are told of a threat, such as a shooting, bomb or hostage situation, at a specific address. Often the caller, or “swatter,” uses technology like caller ID spoofing or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to make it appear that the call is from the same area code as the victim, or even from the victim’s own home. Unaware that the call is a hoax, police mobilize in response. Often a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team assembles, the inspiration for the name “swatting.” Adam Scott Wandt, assistant professor and vice chair for technology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is concerned legislation hasn’t yet addressed the tech behind the crime. “As a technologist, as an attorney, as a former law enforcement officer, it mystifies me how easy it is to do caller ID spoofing, and how legal it is in most circumstances for people to do so, as long as they’re not doing so with the intent to commit a fraud or a crime,” Wandt tells A&E True Crime. “I’m shocked Congress hasn’t addressed that yet.” Swatting has been happening for around two decades. It originated in the gaming community, but in addition to gamers, swatters have targeted celebrities, tech executives and others. Representative Katherine Clark, a Massachusetts Democrat, was swatted in 2016; the previous year she’d introduced an anti-swatting bill in Congress. (The bill did not pass.) In 2013, an FBI agent estimated that there were hundreds of swatting calls a year. No national statistics track swatting, according to the FBI, so the exact number of such calls is unknown. When Swatting Results In Death In December 2017, two men, Casey Viner and Shane Gaskill, were playing the video game “Call of Duty.” After arguing over a bet worth $1.50, Viner decided to swat Gaskill. Viner turned to Tyler Barriss, a man in Los Angeles known for making swatting calls. Because Gaskill had given Viner an incorrect home address, Barriss sent police to where Andrew Finch lived. Finch had no idea what was happening when police arrived at his home and he was killed by an armed officer. In April 2020, Mark Herring, who had reportedly been harassed because he wouldn’t sell his Twitter handle, @Tennessee, had police come to his house in response to a fake emergency call. Some swatting victims have suffered heart attacks from the terror of being swatted; in Herring’s case, his heart attack was fatal. “It’s not just the victim of the swatting that’s put at risk,” Elizabeth Jaffe, a professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, tells A&E True Crime. “Law enforcement is put in danger.” In Oklahoma in 2015, a swatting victim shot a police chief who was part of a team responding to a hoax swatting call. Shortly before the victim’s house was raided, the chief had put on a borrowed bulletproof vest that saved his life. The Penalties for Swatting After Finch’s death, Barriss, who’d made the fake emergency call, reached a plea deal and accepted guilt on 51 charges. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019. Viner, the gamer who’d asked Barriss to make the call, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstructing justice and was sentenced to 15 months behind bars. The police officer who shot Finch faced no charges. Following Herring’s death, Shane Sonderman, who’d shared Herring’s address online, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and received a five-year sentence. The person who’d made the swatting call was a minor living overseas who was not extradited. Swatters have faced charges in other cases, but it’s relatively rare. “I think that there’s probably a large number of [swatting] incidents that occur where there isn’t any kind of consequence,” Jaffe says. How to Combat Swatting In the absence of an anti-swatting federal statute, other laws could mitigate the practice. “At the minimum, the legislature in each state should pass acts making sure that if [caller ID] spoofing is occurring, that it’s not being used for damaging reasons to hurt anybody. And if it is, there should be a penalty behind it,” Wandt says. Swatters sometimes coordinate attacks in internet chatrooms. “Web hosts should have some liability for swatting if they are made aware of it and fail to take some type of action,” Jaffe says. The city of Seattle has set up a registry where people who think they may be swatted can add their addresses. This informs first responders that emergency calls for these addresses may be hoaxes. Other cities have adopted this practice, though it isn’t yet widespread. Another step individuals can take is to protect their personal information. “I think we’ve become way too comfortable in sharing our personal information in the open,” Wandt says. “And it’s going to be very easy, for somebody who’s very open, to figure out details about their lives and try to use those details to hurt them.” In December 2020, the FBI issued a warning that swatters could use camera-and voice-capable smart devices to target the public, so password protection is also important. Adapting emergency response practices may also deter swatting. “My general suggestion for law enforcement is if a call comes in from a cell phone that appears to be a potential swatting case or other type of case of concern, that they use their [Enhanced 911] geotracing to see exactly where the cell phone is,” Wandt says. Wandt says better training of emergency dispatchers is also key so that, at the same time they’re sending help to the scene, they can be scrutinizing calls to determine whether they’re legitimate. “Law enforcement and the public sector working together to find better solutions is really what’s needed,” Wandt says. Deadly 911 Call Of Swatter Tyler Barriss Serial 'swatter' Tyler Barriss sentenced to 20 years for death of Kansas man shot by police By Doha Madani March 29, 2019 A California man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for making a hoax 911 call about a hostage situation in Kansas that ended up with police fatally shooting an innocent man. Tyler Rai Barriss, of Los Angeles pleaded guilty in November to a total of 51 charges stemming from phony emergency calls he made, including one count of making a false report resulting in a death. He admitted to years of "swatting," the act of falsely reporting a serious crime with the aim of drawing a massive police response to the home of an unsuspecting target. Barriss agreed to serve 20 to 25 years in federal prison as part of a plea agreement, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of Los Angeles. “We hope that this will send a strong message about swatting, which is a juvenile and senseless practice," said U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister during a news conference. "We’d like to put an end to it within the gaming community and any other context. Swatting, as I’ve said before, is not a prank." On Dec. 28, 2017, Barriss contacted police to say he was at a home in Wichita, Kansas, where he said he had fatally shot his father and was holding the rest of the family hostage. Officers responded to the Wichita address and demanded that anyone inside the McCormick Street home come out. Confused, Andrew Finch, 28, stepped outside where he raised and dropped his hands several times before an officer opened fire, killing him, officials said. Who Is Tyler Barriss? By BRENDAN I. KOERNER OCT 25, 2018 Tyler Barriss' considerable legal troubles have become even more complex. Late yesterday, federal prosecutors in the Central District of California filed a criminal information document that accuses Barriss of a vast new array of crimes. The earliest date back to September and October of 2015, when prosecutors allege that Barriss phoned in a series of bomb threats to schools in Ohio, New Hampshire, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Illinois. (Barriss said that he “evacuated” these schools because his online Halo friends were students there, and he wanted to give them a day off class.) But the bulk of the 46 crimes detailed in the document occurred during the last four months of 2017, shortly after Barriss was released from Los Angeles County Jail after having served nearly two years behind bars. (He had pleaded no contest to two separate crimes: Making bomb threats against an ABC affiliate in October 2015 and violating a protective order that had been taken out by his grandmother in January 2017.) Those crimes run the gamut from bomb threats to swattings to bank fraud, and several involve unindicted coconspirators who are identified only by their Twitter handles: @Internetlord, @Tragic, @Throw, and @Spared. Prosecutors allege, for example, that Barriss called police in Dedham, Massachusetts, and claimed to be an ISIS member who had planted a bomb inside a local television station; that he swatted someone in Milford, Connecticut, at the request of @Internetlord; and that he accepted three payments of $10 each from @Throw in exchange for swatting people in Avon, Indiana, and Cincinnati. The bank fraud charge, meanwhile, centers on @Internetlord’s alleged use of a stolen credit card to buy a NASA hat for Barriss, who was living in a Los Angeles homeless shelter at the time. (Barriss conducted his campaign of terror from the computers at a nearby public library.) The filing of the criminal information document in California is part of a recent flurry of legal activity involving Barriss. On September 26, the pending trial in his involuntary manslaughter case, which had been scheduled to begin in a Kansas state court on October 1, was postponed until January 7. That same day, Barriss was formally transferred into the custody of the US Marshals. He’s now being held in a detention center in Newton, Kansas, about 25 miles outside Wichita, as he awaits trial in the federal District of Kansas for charges ranging from cyberstalking to wire fraud. (Shane Gaskill, whom Barriss allegedly intended to target in the Wichita swatting, and Casey Viner, an Ohioan whom prosecutors claim asked Barriss to carry out the hoax, are codefendants in the case; both have pleaded not guilty.) The California case appears likely to be rolled into the federal case in Kansas. Barriss’ federal public defender has already requested that the case be transferred to the District of Kansas, where Barriss would then plead guilty to the charges listed in the criminal information document. It is highly possible that a third federal case involving Barriss could be transferred in a similar manner: In May he was indicted in the District of Columbia for phoning in bomb threats to the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission. The growing legal pressure on Barriss comes amid increased state and federal efforts to combat the menace of swatting. In April, for example, Kansas governor Jeff Colyer signed into law the Andrew T. Finch Act, which increased the maximum penalty for swatting to 41 years. Two months later, US Representative Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, introduced a federal antiswatting bill. And Seattle police recently launched a program that invites people who think they might be targeted by swatters, such as high-profile Twitch streamers, to share their concerns with the cops, so that dramatic 911 calls involving their addresses can be handled with appropriate skepticism. The California charges may heap further misery on Barriss, but that doesn’t bring much satisfaction to the family of Andrew Finch. Finch’s mother, Lisa, has directed the bulk of her ire at the Wichita Police Department, which she believes acted with extreme recklessness on the night of her son’s death. She is suing the city and several of its police officers in federal court for violating Andrew’s civil rights. Barriss, meanwhile, is someone she rarely allows herself to mention. “I’m glad he’s caught—maybe that will save other people’s lives,” she says. “But why are they just now doing this? Why didn’t they stop him earlier?”

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 17th, 2022 | Assault | By Travis Uresk 10/17/22 Neola, Ut.- On October 10th, 2022, 52-year-old Wesley Kane Gilmore broke in through the back door of a Neola home and started threatening everyone inside. Both victims stated Wesley moved out about three weeks ago and came back through an unlocked backdoor, then walked to the female's bedroom and started punching the male victim in the face. They began fighting on the floor next to the bed. Wesley got up and went towards the female victim. The male victim said he pulled a gun out and pointed it at Wesley. Before Wesley left the home he backhanded the female across the face. Officers spoke to Wesley on the phone and asked him to return to the home to give his side of the story. But Wesley said he was out of town and headed towards Vernal and asked if he was going to jail. The Officer told him he couldn't give him a definite answer. Wesley said he would return to the home but never showed up. An assisting deputy went to the trailer park in Roosevelt where Wesley was living and ran the plates from a motor home that looked similar to the one described by one of the victims, and the plate returned to Wesley Gilmore. The deputy knocked on the door, and Wesley answered and was detained. Wesley claimed he didn't move out of the Neola home and his stuff was still there. The Officer told him all three residents stated that he moved out three weeks ago and was now living in the RV park. Officers asked Wesley his side of the story, and Wesley said, "I walked in the room, and a gun was pulled on me; after the gun was pointed at me, I hit the man." The Officer told Wesley he got a different story and saw the male victim had a swollen eye that was bloody and starting to bruise. Wesley Gilmore was placed under arrest for burglary and committing assault and transported to Duchesne County Jail. Wesley was also booked for an assault warrant for a previous case.

Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 13th, 2022 | Domestic Violence | Vernal, Ut. | By Travis Uresk 10/13/22 Vernal, Ut.- 10/3/22, Officer McCurdy was dispatched to a domestic detail regarding two individuals who were seen at the Vernal Urgent Care by Dr. Porter. Dr. Porter told Officer McCurdy he treated the husband's injuries from being hit with a shovel handle by his wife, Ashton Swett, the night before. Dr. Porter mentioned that Kyle had a broken hand and tried to tell Kyle he needed to report the incident to Law Enforcement. Dr. Porter went on to note that he evaluated Ashton Swett for bruises on her arms, hands, face, and eye. Ashton also didn't want Law Enforcement to get involved. Officer McCurdy drove to the Swett home on North Vernal Ave. and spoke with Kyle and saw his hand was wrapped up, indicating he had sustained an injury. Officer McCurdy asked Kyle what had happened to his hand. Kyle said, "his wife had hit him with a shovel handle and a piece of metal the day before." He also said he needed surgery because it "busted" it all the way off. Kyle told the Officer his wife tried to hit him inside the home, and when trying to leave, he was hit with the shovel handle in the doorway. Kyle stated he was able to take Ashton to the ground and remove the shovel handle from her, and pushed her to the side, where she apparently fell off the steps of the home. While the Officer was speaking with Kyle, Ashton arrived home, and Offer McCurdy asked her what had happened the day before. Ashton said, "she went to the Dr. after being in a fight." Ashton stated she was "pissed off" but couldn't remember what had happened and wouldn't elaborate on what had occurred at their home. Officer McCurdy asked Ashton multiple times for her side of the story, but she would only say they both went to the Dr., and it was none of his business what she was getting an X-Ray for. The Officer noticed Ashton had bruising on both arms and her face. After speaking to Kyle and Ashton, the Offer determined probable cause to arrest Ashton Swett for aggravated assault for being the predominant aggressor and transported her to the Uintah County Jail.