Attorney appointed for man accused of killing Millard County deputy

FILLMORE — A defense attorney with experience in capital murder cases has been assigned to represent the man accused of killing Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox.

Roberto Miramontes Roman, 37, appeared Wednesday in 4th District Court with his attorney, Stephen McCaughey. McCaughey has represented defendants in roughly 25 capital cases.

Roman is charged with aggravated murder and evidence tampering in the Jan. 5 slaying of Fox, 37, during a traffic stop on a rural road east of Delta. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Investigators have said Fox stopped Roman shortly after he had sold drugs to her brother, Ryan Greathouse.

Roman reportedly was armed with two assault rifles and had told Greathouse he would shoot any police officer who tried to stop him, according to a search warrant.

A status conference is scheduled for March 15.

Fox's husband and other relatives left after Roman's hearing without talking to reporters.

After the hearing, McCaughey said he is not familiar with the details of the case but is looking forward to the challenge of representing Roman.

"These are the kind of cases as a criminal defense lawyer you want to have," he said.

McCaughey was appointed after Roman indicated in a previous hearing that he is indigent.

Both McCaughey and Roman's brother, who attended the hearing with their parents, said Roman appears to be doing fine in jail. McCaughey said he expects to request to have the case moved to another jurisdiction at some point.

Ruben Chavez-Reyes, 36, who was arrested with Roman Jan. 6 in Beaver and has been charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the slaying, also made his first appearance in court.

Investigators say the Cadillac that Roman was allegedly driving when Fox stopped him is registered to Chavez-Reyes, and a Corvette discovered in Salt Lake City hours after the shooting, with one of the license plates from the Cadillac, also may have belonged to Chavez-Reyes.

Chavez-Reyes said he wants to hire his own attorney, but he has not yet made efforts to do so because he first wanted to hear how he would be charged.

Judge Donald Eyre ordered that Chavez-Reyes remain held on $50,000 cash-only bail in the Millard County Jail and set his next hearing for Feb. 17. He also could be held on an immigration detainer.

A judge has ruled that a probable cause statement prosecutors used to jail Chavez-Reyes should not be made public.

The Deseret News has voiced its opposition to Eyre's decision and requested a hearing on the judge's order. The News has also asked to be notified of any further attempts to seal court records.

Millard Chief Deputy County Attorney Patrick Finlinson has said prosecutors would not discuss additional evidence in the case and said "all records relating to the investigation" would not be made public.

e-mail: pkoepp@desnews.com