Defense attorney James Slavens looks over a binder before the beginning of the hearing. The Preliminary hearing for Ruben Chavez-Reyes was held in the fourth district court in Fillmore, Utah on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Slavens was killed in a car crash Wednesday evening.
Paul Fraughton, Paul Fraughton
FILLMORE — A Utah defense attorney who has handled several high-profile cases in the state was killed in a traffic accident Wednesday.
James Slavens, 54, of Fillmore, was exiting I-15 at the Fillmore exit just after 10 p.m. when he failed to negotiate the curve on the off-ramp, said Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson. He overcorrected, slid out of control and overturned, Johnson said.
Slavens, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and killed.
The accident remained under investigation Thursday, but Johnson said excessive speed and alcohol appeared to be factors.
Slavens recently represented death row inmate Michael Anthony Archuleta, 50, who was convicted in 1989 in the murder of a Southern Utah University student. Last week, Archuleta filed a petition in federal court asking to overturn his conviction. He and co-defendant Lance Conway Wood were convicted in separate trials in the 1989 torture death of SUU student Gordon Church.
At one point, Archuleta was scheduled to be executed in April by firing squad before receiving a reprieve pending his appeal.
Slavens also represented Ruben Chavez-Reyes, who was sentenced to prison in 2010 for obstruction of justice. Chavez-Reyes gave a ride to Roberto Miramontes Roman after Milllard County Sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox was shot and killed.
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Not wearing a seatbelt? When will people learn?
Drinking and driving, not wearing seatbelt, maybe one tied to the other, who knows? The article doesn't say anything about a family, but I'll bet there's someone who will be grieving for this man, besides his clients.
A death like More..
Jim will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to him. He was a wonderful father, friend, and family man. He gave a voice to those who were sometimes to able to speak for themselves. He fought for those many people would rather not know. He saw the More..