New judge named in Utah CEO insurance case

A new wrinkle has emerged in the case of James Larry Hall II, 37, who has been accused by the Utah Attorney General's Office of stealing money during his previous work at an insurance agency he owns.

Third District Judge Deno Himonas, who was handling the case originally, recused himself last month to avoid a conflict of interest because Himonas learned that he knows someone connected to the case.

Hall's case has since been reassigned to 3rd District Judge Michelle Christiansen.

During an unusual turn of events at a Sept. 19 hearing, Himonas questioned whether prosecutors had sufficient evidence to show Hall had done anything illegal and the judge declined to accept a plea bargain. Instead, Himonas directed the prosecutor to return Oct. 7 with more evidence.

That court date has since been stricken and Hall's case is now on Christiansen's calendar for Oct. 31.

Hall recently became head of the Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for children's hospitals, but he resigned when the charity's board of directors learned in September of his legal woes.

The attorney general's office filed five second-degree felony charges against Hall: one count of theft, two counts of unlawful dealing with property by a fiduciary and two counts of communications fraud. He also is charged with one count of third-degree felony wrongful appropriation.

The charges do not involve the Children's Miracle Network, but instead stem from allegations surrounding Hall's work at a firm he owns, National Benefit Partners Insurance Agency. Prosecutors allege Hall stole money from insurance premiums for personal use.

Hall, however, has insisted that he has done nothing illegal, but was willing to take a plea deal to simply get the issue resolved, according to his attorney, Max Wheeler.

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Contributing: Associated Press

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com