Comments about ‘Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says allegations against his son are 'without merit'’

Herbert, IF your son hadn't pled no contest to previous charges, I'd believe your "no merit" claim.

2002, 2004, 2005, 2008...and now 2010?

Let's unseal ALL those records, and decide for ourselves.

A long-delayed case against Nathan Herbert concluded quietly Tuesday morning when prosecutors dropped an assault charge and Herbert pleaded no contest to stalking. The stalking plea is being held in abeyance and the charge could be dismissed if Herbert complies with conditions of a plea agreement. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he believes his eldest son will be vindicated on charges of stalking a woman. Herbert's 39-year-old son, Nathan, appeared in court Wednesday in Provo to face a civil stalking injunction. Nathan Herbert is accused of harassing the younger sister of a woman he was charged with stalking in 2005. An October hearing is scheduled on his attorney's request to seal the new case (as in hide it, cover it up, fool people later on). Under Utah's stalking statute, a person is "guilty of stalking who intentionally or knowingly violates a stalking injunction." It's called "BUSTED" from money, greed, corruption, above the law, (ignore us common people unless they need your votes), career politician's who will take money from any special interest and say or do anything. It's called a cover up and pay off to I bet.

While this is an unfortunate event for the accused family and the Herbert's it really should not get any more news coverage than the thousands of similar cases that happen in our state.

Thank you Governor for refraining from making this a public issue. Despite anyones efforts to make this relevant- it is not relevant to anyone but those personally involved.

This is Utah- the sons of the rich and well connected are always "innocent" no matter what they do and who they do it to.

will_a: that's your belief, not the public's. We can choose to scrutinize ANYONE who has been charged with a crime.

You're either part of the defense team, Herbert's team or are uninformed as to the past actions of this man.

Tell us this, will_a:

A young man (with diagnosed brain damage) was just put in prison for touching a nurse while his wife was in labor.

YET, Herbert's son has managed to escape punishment, had his records sealed AND committed offenses against three separate women -- without even spending a night in jail.

THAT is why this is about the Herbert family: the absolute travesty of a politically-connected family being able to hide the criminal actions of their son.

I hope the Deseret News and other SLC newspapers are successful in getting ALL of the records unsealed.

Unfortunately the wheels of justice turn slowly and it's not until October a few weeks before the November election that just a hearing on the sealed hearing petition is to be heard. Thus, the public will never have the opportunity to know how an elected official and his adult son might have to deal with proceedings that may or may not effect the govenor's performance in office before deciding to elect such a person into office. The public doesn't get all the facts to vote in an informed manner. The voters will just have to vote as best they might based on insinuations and gossip.

How can we expect Herbert to manage our state when he can not manage his own family?

He needs to learn to say "no comment." His 39-year-old son doesn't need daddy to swoop in to the rescue. He's a big boy now - time to stand on his own two feet.

VIDAR: his kid is an adult. Is Gov. supposed to be holding his hand and putting him in time-out when he's in his 30's?

Gary Herbert's comment that children and, at least to some extent, spouses are somehow "off limits" is false. Spouses and children of elected officials are not off-limits. He is also wrong when he said "I think that's what most people would expect in a civilized society, particularly here in America."

When your children, spouse and family commit crimes and are arrested the public not only has a right to know but also the right to hold it up to scrutiny.

Just because he's your son doesn't mean he is any more off limits than the son of a neighbor.

If my neighbors son repeatedly committed crimes and is charged with crimes and my neighbor didn't disown him and not allow him to live with him or visit him I would be outraged.

You have a charged 5 times with stalking three separate women and yet you want us to leave that be. I'm sorry. You have a choice, Gary. Do you love your stalker son who stalks other people's children and make comments disparaging his victims and accusing them of being malicious or do you disown your criminal son. Its your choice

@Will A.:

You thanked the governor for "notmaking this a public issue"?

Unfortunately you're about 180 degrees off, there.

If Gov. Herbert had wanted to avoid this being a public issue, he'd have said "No comment." And left it at that.

Instead, it appears he went on a rant about how picked on his poor kid is. Ignored the previous convictions (and make no mistake, a plea in abeyance or a no contest pleas IS a conviction). Badmouthed the victims.

I don't think any judge in this state is going to miss the message he's sending. He may have made perfunctory comments about not wielding undue influence, but his behavior suggests the very opposite. He might have just as easily taken out a billboard across from the courthouse: "Don't you dare convict my kid, or its your butt."

Next time, Governor, just say "No comment."

@ VIDAR - Oh yeah, like you can control everything that anyone in your family does.

That is the most simple minded comment I've heard.

@ Peacful Warrior. Your not very peacful! Disown him? Or not visit him? What kind of parent are you??? I'm glad you weren't mine.

Party of "Family Values", are they related to Kennedy's?. A stalking case against 39-year-old Nathan Herbert was temporarily sealed on Wednesday by 4th District Judge James Taylor in Provo. The case was filed by Aiona Butters, whose sister Talei Weingarten, had previously been granted a stalking injunction against the governor's son. Nathan Herbert has a court record that includes disorderly conduct and a dismissed assault charge. Nathan Herbert was charged with criminal stalking in the 2005 case against Weingarten, but that charge was dismissed in 2008. Nathan Herbert made a plea in abeyance in that case, meaning he had to agree to certain conditions to have the charge dismissed. That included completing a life skills course and not having any contact with Weingarten. Butters' and Weingarten's parents, Bob and Maraia Weingarten, said that Nathan Herbert began stalking Butters' after their other daughter moved to Hawaii. They said the stalking has gone on for years and Herbert shows up at the gym their daughter uses. For the second time in five years," UT Gov. Gary Herbert's (R) son Nathan Herbert, 39, "has been slapped with a civil injunction on claims of stalking and harassment.

The Gov. Is waiting to see what it will cost and to whom the payment is to be made to.
Yes there is 2 sides to every story, One The Gov's son and the other the Cops that most likely are all lies.

No merit? Sounds like his term in office.

Showing up at the gym in and of itself doesn't sound like stalking to me. If he shows up at her workplace, home, church or other places he has no reason to be at, then it's stalking. Public places like gyms, stores etc COULD be coincidental. I've run into friends on many occasions and have joked we need to have correlation meeting to see where we're going to be this week. I want to hear details from both sides before deciding.

@Reasonable Person: of course you can scrutinize whoever you want, it just shows a lack of character on your part. Americans will continue to be more interested in stuff like this and Tiger Woods affairs and gossip columns. Unfortunately, this story will mean more to you than real issues like public lands, water rights, and education funding.

My point is: This is a case of the media making a story and political enemies trying to get an edge, but in the end we should be looking at real issues.

@mornixuur: Actually the Governor gave a calm short comment on the issue, your post is what I call a rant. Not to mention lies...you claim he badmouthed the victims. Really? Show me in the article where he did that.

I am a regestered republican, a d a precintchair. ourbut I will not vote for Herbert. I have had it with polititions that want to be the ruleing class but are devoid of class.

Herbert says he intends to say out of this matter, and then inserts himself into the middle of it by saying the assertion is without merit. Put up or shut up, Gary.

AND keep the heck out of something that is none of your business. Your son is an adult. This is the business of the legal authorities, and NOT you.