Former Children's Miracle Network exec headed to trial in fraud

The former top executive of the Utah-based Children's Miracle Network who is charged with multiple felonies accusing him of misusing funds while he managed an insurance agency appears to be headed to trial.

James Larry Hall II, 38, stood in front of the third judge who has been assigned to the case since charges were filed in February. Hall is charged with theft, two counts of communications fraud and two counts of unlawful dealing with property by a fiduciary, all second-degree felonies. He also faces one count of wrongful appropriation, a third-degree felony.

The case had already been appointed to two other 3rd District judges who both recused themselves, citing conflicts of interest.

"I know this has gone before a few of my colleagues, so I took some time and fully went through the file, and I didn't see any conflicts, so I will keep the case and we can move forward," Judge Ann Boyden said Monday during a pretrial conference.

A four-day trial is scheduled for the first week in June, while a final pretrial conference was set for May 18.

Hall resigned from his position at the Children's Miracle Network in September, but the case does not involve the charity. It focuses on allegations of wrongdoing by Hall at the National Benefit Partners Insurance Agency in 2003.

— Ethan Thomas