Note: All posts on this case can be displayed simultaneously HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.
The case of Gregory Nathan Peterson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints charged with 23 felonies involving four victims including seven counts of rape, three counts of object rape, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, nine counts of forcible sexual abuse, forcible sodomy, assault, burglary and sexual battery, has abruptly ended with disturbing finality. On October 23rd, 2012, Peterson was found dead in his cabin in Heber City, Utah. Suicide is suspected. Peterson was also facing one count of forcible sexual abuse involving a fifth victim in Wasatch County. KSL news video embedded below (looks like they changed their embed code, eliminated user-defined size, and shrunk the default size):
Peterson had just posted $2 million bail on October 19th with the help of All Out Bonds. But because Peterson's ankle monitor was not registering properly, a bail bondsman was dispatched to check on him. The bondsman entered the cabin located about eight miles east of Heber City in an area called Timberlake Estates, and found Peterson dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Multiple weapons were found inside the cabin. Peterson's attorney also had been unable to reach him.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said his office and the Wasatch County Attorney's Office filed charges against Peterson because they felt they had strong cases. "This was an important case to us, it was an important case to our victims. We've always felt very comfortable with the basis of our charges and this is just a tragic end in this respect. We believed our victims and we believed in the strength of our case and that's why we filed it. This was an important case to us, it was an important case to our victims. We've always felt very comfortable with the basis of our charges and this is just a tragic end in this respect", explained Gill.
Meanwhile, Peterson's attorneys, Jerry Salcido and Cara Tangaro, said that his family is in mourning and that Peterson always maintained his innocence and was confident that a jury would acquit him. He felt the media reporting was one-sided. Peterson was an enterpreneur, a member of the LDS Church, and a prominent GOP activist and fundraiser, as described in this previous post. His suicide would tend to speak louder than his protestations of innocence. Information on Church doctrine and policy on suicides is available after the jump.
Showing posts with label Gregory Peterson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gregory Peterson. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Wasatch County Finally Files Sexual Abuse Charges Against Gregory Nathan Peterson, Bail Now $2 Million; Peterson's Father A Convicted Sex Offender
Note: All posts on this case can be displayed simultaneously HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
Since the arrest of former Utah GOP activist Gregory Nathan Peterson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on July 18th, 2012, three additional women have stepped forward claiming abuse, according to Wasatch County Sheriff Todd Bonner. At least two of those cases were presented to the Wasatch County Attorney's Office to consider potential charges.
And on Monday August 13th, Wasatch County Attorney Scott Sweat filed a new charge of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse against Peterson in Wasatch County’s 4th District Court, which means there was probable cause found in the story of at least one of the three additional women. This means Peterson has now been accused of offending against five different women. The new charge was filed on the eve of a two-day preliminary hearing to be held August 14-15 in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City before Judge Judith Atherton, who will decide whether Peterson should stand trial on the charges. KSL news video embedded below:
Update: On August 14th, three of the victims testified; their testimony was summarized in this KSL story. On August 15th, the fourth victim testified, after which Judge Judith Atherton ruled that there was sufficient evidence to order Peterson to stand trial on the 25 charges. She also raised his bail from $750,000 to $2 million. An arraignment hearing is set for August 24th, while Peterson will make his first court appearance on the Wastach County charge on August 29th.
Peterson is still held in lieu of bail; earlier efforts to get bail reduced failed. Peterson has declared through his lawyers that he's "100 percent innocent" Here's the list of the other charges:
-- Seven counts of rape, a first-degree felony
-- Three counts of object rape, a first degree felony
-- Two counts of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony
-- One count forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony
-- Nine counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
-- One count burglary, a second-degree felony
-- One count assault, a class B misdemeanor
-- One count sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
In a lengthy seven-page profile of Peterson, the Deseret News reveals that Peterson's father, Jackie Leroy Peterson, is a convicted sex offender himself. Jackie Peterson has been in the Tecumseh Prison in Nebraska since 2000. Now a registered sex offender, he was sentenced to serve between 30 and 50 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a child. His first parole hearing is scheduled for 2014. If he is not paroled early, he could be released in December of 2024. Jackie Peterson's 2000 conviction was the second time in two years that he was convicted of sexually assaulting the same victim. He was originally sentenced to probation, but was then sent to prison after sexually assaulting the same victim again.
Talk about the apple falling way too close to the tree.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
Since the arrest of former Utah GOP activist Gregory Nathan Peterson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on July 18th, 2012, three additional women have stepped forward claiming abuse, according to Wasatch County Sheriff Todd Bonner. At least two of those cases were presented to the Wasatch County Attorney's Office to consider potential charges.
And on Monday August 13th, Wasatch County Attorney Scott Sweat filed a new charge of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse against Peterson in Wasatch County’s 4th District Court, which means there was probable cause found in the story of at least one of the three additional women. This means Peterson has now been accused of offending against five different women. The new charge was filed on the eve of a two-day preliminary hearing to be held August 14-15 in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City before Judge Judith Atherton, who will decide whether Peterson should stand trial on the charges. KSL news video embedded below:
Update: On August 14th, three of the victims testified; their testimony was summarized in this KSL story. On August 15th, the fourth victim testified, after which Judge Judith Atherton ruled that there was sufficient evidence to order Peterson to stand trial on the 25 charges. She also raised his bail from $750,000 to $2 million. An arraignment hearing is set for August 24th, while Peterson will make his first court appearance on the Wastach County charge on August 29th.
Peterson is still held in lieu of bail; earlier efforts to get bail reduced failed. Peterson has declared through his lawyers that he's "100 percent innocent" Here's the list of the other charges:
-- Seven counts of rape, a first-degree felony
-- Three counts of object rape, a first degree felony
-- Two counts of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony
-- One count forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony
-- Nine counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
-- One count burglary, a second-degree felony
-- One count assault, a class B misdemeanor
-- One count sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
In a lengthy seven-page profile of Peterson, the Deseret News reveals that Peterson's father, Jackie Leroy Peterson, is a convicted sex offender himself. Jackie Peterson has been in the Tecumseh Prison in Nebraska since 2000. Now a registered sex offender, he was sentenced to serve between 30 and 50 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a child. His first parole hearing is scheduled for 2014. If he is not paroled early, he could be released in December of 2024. Jackie Peterson's 2000 conviction was the second time in two years that he was convicted of sexually assaulting the same victim. He was originally sentenced to probation, but was then sent to prison after sexually assaulting the same victim again.
Talk about the apple falling way too close to the tree.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Accused Kidnapper And Rapist Gregory Nathan Peterson Arraigned In Utah's Third District Court; Bail Remains Set At $750,000
Note: All posts on this case can be displayed simultaneously HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
Accused kidnapper and rapist Gregory Nathan Peterson was formally arraigned on July 23rd, 2012 before Judge Ann Boyden at Utah's Third District Court on the 25 different charges against him involving four female victims. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes as Peterson was advised of the charges against him and his attorneys asked for a hearing to discuss lowering his bail. A bail hearing before Judge Katherine Bernards-Goodman has been set for July 25th.
Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Joseph Hill defended the $750,000 bail amount as being in line with a case of this magnitude, and said the alleged victims are being cooperative. He noted that the fact that there are multiple alleged victims makes it a strong case. In contrast, defense attorney Cara Tangaro said the bail request is completely arbitrary and based primarily upon his perceived ability to pay it. She will ask for a reduction in bail on July 25th; earlier on July 20th, she suggested that $100,000 is more typical. Peterson is also being represented by Gerald Salcido. KSL news video below:
Update July 25th: Bail remains set at $750,000. Defense attorney Cara Tangaro said Peterson would voluntarily hand over his passport and would avoid dating websites and LDS singles wards if the judge were to reduce his bail to $25,000 cash, or $200,000 bondable bail, but Salt Lake County prosecutor Joseph Hill countered that Peterson had shown a complete inability to control his urges. Judge Katherine Bernards-Goodman agreed that anyone charged with these types of crimes would have to be considered a flight risk, and refused to lower bail.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said he reviewed a fifth woman’s case involving allegations from August 2009, but declined to prosecute because he could not prove that she didn’t consent to having sex with Peterson. The fifth woman, Gill said, told Peterson she felt uncomfortable, and that was the only thing she said. No other prospective victims have come forward since Peterson's arrest.
One of the victims originally reported the assault to Wasatch County Attorney Scott Sweat, but Sweat, a Republican, declined to prosecute. The victim's persistence in contacting the Unified Police in March is what cracked the case open, and Deb Henry has launched a petition campaign asking the US Attorney for the State of Utah, David B. Barlow, to appoint an out-of-state independent investigator to examine the failure to prosecute Greg Peterson, and any political pressure that was exerted to that end. Access the petition at this link:
http://www.stoptheviolenceutah.com/
Peterson, who was arrested on July 19th, is an enterpreneur, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has been a GOP activist and fundraiser, as described in this previous post. On July 20th, his attorney Cara Tangaro said her client proclaimed that he is 100 percent innocent of the charges, and that nothing illegal happened between him and the four women involved.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
Accused kidnapper and rapist Gregory Nathan Peterson was formally arraigned on July 23rd, 2012 before Judge Ann Boyden at Utah's Third District Court on the 25 different charges against him involving four female victims. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes as Peterson was advised of the charges against him and his attorneys asked for a hearing to discuss lowering his bail. A bail hearing before Judge Katherine Bernards-Goodman has been set for July 25th.
Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Joseph Hill defended the $750,000 bail amount as being in line with a case of this magnitude, and said the alleged victims are being cooperative. He noted that the fact that there are multiple alleged victims makes it a strong case. In contrast, defense attorney Cara Tangaro said the bail request is completely arbitrary and based primarily upon his perceived ability to pay it. She will ask for a reduction in bail on July 25th; earlier on July 20th, she suggested that $100,000 is more typical. Peterson is also being represented by Gerald Salcido. KSL news video below:
Update July 25th: Bail remains set at $750,000. Defense attorney Cara Tangaro said Peterson would voluntarily hand over his passport and would avoid dating websites and LDS singles wards if the judge were to reduce his bail to $25,000 cash, or $200,000 bondable bail, but Salt Lake County prosecutor Joseph Hill countered that Peterson had shown a complete inability to control his urges. Judge Katherine Bernards-Goodman agreed that anyone charged with these types of crimes would have to be considered a flight risk, and refused to lower bail.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said he reviewed a fifth woman’s case involving allegations from August 2009, but declined to prosecute because he could not prove that she didn’t consent to having sex with Peterson. The fifth woman, Gill said, told Peterson she felt uncomfortable, and that was the only thing she said. No other prospective victims have come forward since Peterson's arrest.
One of the victims originally reported the assault to Wasatch County Attorney Scott Sweat, but Sweat, a Republican, declined to prosecute. The victim's persistence in contacting the Unified Police in March is what cracked the case open, and Deb Henry has launched a petition campaign asking the US Attorney for the State of Utah, David B. Barlow, to appoint an out-of-state independent investigator to examine the failure to prosecute Greg Peterson, and any political pressure that was exerted to that end. Access the petition at this link:
http://www.stoptheviolenceutah.com/
Peterson, who was arrested on July 19th, is an enterpreneur, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has been a GOP activist and fundraiser, as described in this previous post. On July 20th, his attorney Cara Tangaro said her client proclaimed that he is 100 percent innocent of the charges, and that nothing illegal happened between him and the four women involved.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Utah GOP Activist Gregory Nathan Peterson Accused Of Kidnapping And Raping Women Met Online, Charged With 23 Felonies
Note: All posts on this case can be displayed simultaneously HERE, with the most recent post appearing first.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
A prominent Utah County GOP activist and fundraiser has been arrested and charged with 23 different felonies associated with the kidnapping and raping of four different women during a 13-month period. Prosecutors say Gregory Nathan Peterson kidnapped and raped women that he met online. He had profiles on at least two online dating sites, LDSSingles.com and LDSLinkup.com, but prosecutors have not disclosed which online services he used. This is a major story with reports published by the Salt Lake Tribune and KSL Channel 5 and KTVX Channel 4 and two stories by the Deseret News (the crime and his political ties). KSL news video embedded below:
The incidents took place on March 26th, July 2nd, and December 11th, all in 2011, and the most recent on April 21st, 2012, each one with a different victim. The July 2nd incident was the most serious. Prosecutors say Peterson arranged to go to a movie and dinner with a woman he met online. He allegedly drove the woman from Sandy to his cabin in Heber City against her will, displaying a handgun and threatening to have the woman deported because of an expired visa if she did not cooperate. Peterson the allegedly held the woman hostage at his cabin overnight and sexually assaulted her. The next day, he took her to his mother's house in Lewiston, Cache County, where she was held hostage for two days and repeatedly assaulted. Then Peterson followed the same woman to her Salt Lake County home and sexually assaulted her again.
Here's the list of charges:
-- Seven counts of rape, a first-degree felony
-- Three counts of object rape, a first degree felony
-- Two counts of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony
-- One count forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony
-- Nine counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
-- One count burglary, a second-degree felony
-- One count assault, a class B misdemeanor
-- One count sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
The rape and kidnapping charges are first-degree felonies that carry sentences of up to life in prison. He's currently being held in Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.
Update October 19th: Greg Peterson released on $2 million bail in the Salt Lake case, and his next court hearing is scheduled for November 2nd.
A prominent Utah County GOP activist and fundraiser has been arrested and charged with 23 different felonies associated with the kidnapping and raping of four different women during a 13-month period. Prosecutors say Gregory Nathan Peterson kidnapped and raped women that he met online. He had profiles on at least two online dating sites, LDSSingles.com and LDSLinkup.com, but prosecutors have not disclosed which online services he used. This is a major story with reports published by the Salt Lake Tribune and KSL Channel 5 and KTVX Channel 4 and two stories by the Deseret News (the crime and his political ties). KSL news video embedded below:
The incidents took place on March 26th, July 2nd, and December 11th, all in 2011, and the most recent on April 21st, 2012, each one with a different victim. The July 2nd incident was the most serious. Prosecutors say Peterson arranged to go to a movie and dinner with a woman he met online. He allegedly drove the woman from Sandy to his cabin in Heber City against her will, displaying a handgun and threatening to have the woman deported because of an expired visa if she did not cooperate. Peterson the allegedly held the woman hostage at his cabin overnight and sexually assaulted her. The next day, he took her to his mother's house in Lewiston, Cache County, where she was held hostage for two days and repeatedly assaulted. Then Peterson followed the same woman to her Salt Lake County home and sexually assaulted her again.
Here's the list of charges:
-- Seven counts of rape, a first-degree felony
-- Three counts of object rape, a first degree felony
-- Two counts of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony
-- One count forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony
-- Nine counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
-- One count burglary, a second-degree felony
-- One count assault, a class B misdemeanor
-- One count sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.
The rape and kidnapping charges are first-degree felonies that carry sentences of up to life in prison. He's currently being held in Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.
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