Prominent defense attorney James Valdez charged with domestic violence

SALT LAKE CITY — A prominent Utah defense attorney will be playing another courtroom role as he faces a felony domestic violence charge stemming from a fight on his birthday.

James Valdez, 61, was charged Wednesday with one count of domestic violence aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.

Police say Valdez repeatedly punched his wife and pulled her hair during a May 23 incident at his birthday party at their Millcreek home.

Valdez's wife told police she lost consciousness and awoke in the home's foyer with her "hair a mess and a big gash on her face," according to the charges filed in 3rd District Court.

Police and medical personnel responded to the home and took the woman to St. Mark's Hospital.

The victim's son said Valdez called him and asked him to check on his mother. The son said he saw his mother's hair falling out "all over" the hospital bed, the charges state.

A hospital administrator told police doctors treated the woman for a minor head injury, a probable nasal fracture and a facial wound that required stitches.

During a decades-long career in the Utah court system, Valdez has been involved in several high-profile cases, including acting as one of death row inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner's original defense attorneys.

Early this week, police sought an arrest warrant, and Valdez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday. He was later released on $25,000 bail.

Valdez was originally booked for investigation of aggravated assault, domestic violence assault, threats against life or property, and damaging a communications device, all misdemeanors. He has only been formally charged with aggravated assault.

Valdez is a brother of 3rd District Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez.

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