Allgier pleads not guilty to murder, 7 other charges

SALT LAKE CITY — Curtis Michael Allgier, a heavily tattooed white supremacist accused of killing a Utah State Prison guard, pleaded not guilty Monday to the charges leveled against him.

Allgier, 30, stood before 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan and pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and seven other charges in connection with the shooting death of corrections officer Stephen Anderson, 60, who had taken Allgier to a hospital for medical tests in 2007.

Prosecutors say Allgier shot Anderson in the head and chest during an escape attempt and then fled University Hospital on foot. Allgier is accused of using the weapon to steal a vehicle and then leading police on a high speed chase on I-80, I-15 and I-215 at speeds exceeding 100 mph. When the vehicle's tires were spiked, Allgier continued to flee on foot, eventually running into an Arby's restaurant near 1700 South and Redwood Road.

There, police say, Allgier pointed a gun at the head of an Arby's employee before a patron was able to wrest the gun from him.

Allgier is facing charges of disarming a peace officer, aggravated escape, aggravated robbery, three counts of attempted aggravated murder — all first-degree felonies— and possession of a dangerous firearm, a second-degree felony.

A scheduling conference for his case has been set for May 7.

— Emiley Morgan