A plea deal possible in robbery, kidnapping

PROVO — Lawyers might be close to a resolution in the case of a man who allegedly vaulted over a counter at a check cashing store, tackled the clerk and demanded money at gunpoint.

Junior Pale Fea, 28, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, all first-degree felonies in the Jan. 7 incident at Orem Cash Valley.

Fea was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon, but at the request of his attorney and the prosecuting attorney, the hearing was delayed for another two weeks to allow continuing discussion about a possible resolution.

Orem City Prosecutor Mike Barker, who is handling the case because of a conflict of interest involving the Utah County Attorney's Office, said the main factor in reaching a resolution will be agreeing on a potential sentence.

However, if the sides cannot reach agree before March 22 — the new preliminary hearing date — they will go forward, and to a trial if necessary, Barker said.

Fea has been in the Utah County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bail since Jan. 7.