Man in standoff is held on $50K bail

PROVO — An ex-military man locked in a nearly four-hour standoff with police Thursday is being held on $50,000 cash-only bail, after a judge agreed with prosecutors that the man is a threat to the community.

"The state's big concern is the nature of the offense," Deputy Utah County Attorney Dave Sturgill said Friday morning during a bail hearing. "Until we figure out (all that) transpired and why it transpired, we believe he's a risk to the community."

Matthew Paul Graham, 34, a former Utah National Guardsman, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home in Eagle Mountain after he argued with and threatened his wife, then refused to come out and talk to police.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in 4th District Court, police indicated that Graham told his wife he was going to kill her and then himself, and that he had many guns in the house.

"Based on the prosecutor's (comments) and the circumstances and the public's safety ... I will set bail at $50,000 cash-only," said 4th District Judge Steven Hansen.

Graham, who appeared via video screen from the Utah County Jail, told the judge he had lived in Lehi for 10 years and Eagle Mountain for the past nine months.

When Hansen asked how he felt about the charges, he replied:

"I feel that my rights have been violated," and tried to explain what had happened Thursday afternoon, until Hansen and an attorney from the public defender's office advised him not to talk about the facts until he had a lawyer.

Police say the situation began just before 10 a.m. Thursday, when the family's LDS bishop called police saying he believed domestic violence was going on at the home on 6902 Cherokee Drive, according to the affidavit.

Police also learned that the couple's four children were in the home and that Graham had sniper training and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the affidavit.

Graham served a 16-month tour in Iraq from 2002 to 2003 with the 1457 Combat Battalion, said Capt. Karen Nuccitelli, spokeswoman for the Utah National Guard.

When Utah County sheriff's deputies arrived, Graham opened the door about 12 inches and stayed behind so the deputy couldn't see his hands, according to the affidavit.

The deputy reported that Graham was "very agitated," "hostile" and displeased that deputies were at his home, according to the affidavit.