Hearing scheduled for former seminary principal

AMERICAN FORK — An Oct. 13 preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Michael Jay Pratt, 37, the former LDS seminary principal accused of developing a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student.

Pratt, 37, faces 21 charges, including forcible sodomy, object rape and forcible sex abuse — a combination of first- and second-degree felonies.

Attorneys for Pratt told Judge Christine Johnson in 4th District Court Tuesday that they were ready to proceed with the case after reaching an agreement with the prosecuting attorney to share information about cell-phone records and text messages between Pratt and the alleged victim.

On Sept. 11, Pratt's attorney, Dusty Kwai, filed an additional request for more of the girl's records, including e-mails, messages sent on social networking sites like Facebook, medical records and school attendance records; copies of diaries or books of poetry; and access to all personal computers in her home.

Johnson has yet to rule on the motion, or Deputy County Attorney Christine Johnson's response asking that the request be denied. But Kwai said that shouldn't hold up the proceedings.

"I would like time to respond to her objections," Kwai said. "But I also believe that we can set this matter for a preliminary hearing. We do not need that discovery for a preliminary hearing."

Johnson said she would hear arguments for the outstanding discovery request at the time of the preliminary hearing.

— Marc Haddock