Plea deal proposed in Bountiful teen's death

FARMINGTON — A convicted sex offender charged with child abuse-homicide in the death of a 16-year-old girl may be close to accepting a plea deal.

Lawyers in the case against Walter Andrew White confirmed on Thursday they are close to resolving the case.

"For the sake of the victim's family, we hope we'll be able to achieve that," deputy Davis County attorney Troy Rawlings said.

During his arraignment Thursday in 2nd District Court, White, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of child abuse-homicide, a second-degree felony; unlawful sexual activity with a minor, unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, dealing in harmful material to a minor, obstruction of justice and desecration of a body, all third-degree felonies.

Police and prosecutors allege White, who is a convicted sex offender, struck up a friendship with Samantha Mikesell that escalated to a sexual relationship. Bountiful police claim White made a suicide pact with the girl and took her up Mueller Park Canyon in July. Police said White told investigators the pair had been drinking and took anti-depressants. He woke up, she didn't.

A Davis County Sheriff's deputy found White wandering down the canyon, scratched and bloodied. Bountiful police investigating Mikesell's disappearance soon learned of her relationship with White and then found her body.

White is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 2. That's when prosecutors anticipate White will take the plea agreement.

"I anticipate that case is going to be resolved without going to trial," defense lawyer Todd Utzinger told reporters outside of court. He said several proposed plea bargains are being discussed.

Rawlings said he has met with Mikesell's family about the proposed plea deal.

"The resolution we're contemplating would be acceptable to the victim's family," he said.

White remains in the Davis County Jail with bail set at $200,000.

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