From Deseret News archives:
Feds open legal office in southern Utah
"I remember when I first ran for the Senate in 1976, Washington County had 15,000 residents, now we have about 140,000 residents," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who spoke at a Monday news conference announcing the additional federal presence in St. George. "It's taken over a year to get this office here, but we've finally done it. It's a major accomplishment."
Brett Tolman, U.S. attorney for Utah, said two full-time attorneys, a secretary and paralegal would initially man the office set up in temporary quarters inside the Washington County Attorney's Office.
"We will continue to build on the relationships we have between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies," Tolman said, noting approval for the new office came from Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prior to opening the St. George office, federal agents had to transport prisoners from St. George to Salt Lake City for all court appearances. With the addition of the local office, all stages of criminal proceedings other than grand jury matters, trials and sentencing hearing can be conducted in St. George.
"This is indeed a great day for southern Utah. We talked about this for over a year," Matheson told a small crowd of law enforcement and criminal justice attorneys present at the press conference on the grounds of the St. George Town Square downtown.
"When you have the kind of growth we've seen here, coupled with the location of St. George along I-15, you need to have a cohesive federal presence," said Matheson. "This closes the circle."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Kohler, who already is working in St. George, said his office is actively pursuing and prosecuting several cases that originated in the region. Among the federal cases being prosecuted are an armed bank robbery and multiple cases of possession of child pornography.
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com
Recent comments
I just hope they aren't going to start charging people with federal...
Tumbleweed | April 8, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...

