Schanze to have jury trial

WEST JORDAN — A lawyer for Dell Buck Schanze, a computer-business entrepreneur known for his exuberant commercials, insists his client wants a jury trial because "it is a matter of principle" for Schanze to fight misdemeanor charges filed against him.

"We maintain he's innocent of all these charges," defense attorney James "Mitch" Vilos said on Friday. "He's very confident he's going to win this case. We're going to trial because we believe he'll be acquitted."

Vilos met Friday with prosecutor Christopher Bown and 3rd District Judge Royal Hansen to review a jury questionnaire, jury instructions and plans to argue motions in the case. Schanze was not required to be there. A three-day trial is set to start May 10.

Schanze, 36, faces a class A misdemeanor charge of using a dangerous weapon, and two class B misdemeanors of reckless driving and giving a written false statement to police.

The charges stem from a May 21, 2005, incident in which prosecutors claim Schanze drove recklessly through a residential Draper neighborhood, was followed by outraged neighbors and later brandished a gun at them.

For his part, Schanze insists he took the weapon out only because he was threatened by one of the men, who had picked up a rock. Vilos said his client's celebrity makes the case more complicated, but he praised the judge for allowing a confidential jury questionnaire intended to weed out people who cannot be open-minded about the case.

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