By BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The son of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert chased a woman and circled her car several times before she sought a stalking injunction against him, according to newly unsealed court documents.
Aiona Butters was granted the temporary order against 39-year-old Nathan Herbert in August.
"He has followed me many times, circling my vehicle both on foot and in his vehicle, has chased me on foot, has inappropriately touched himself while watching me from behind the gym," Butters wrote in her injunction request unsealed Monday.
Nathan Herbert's attorney Scott Card has disputed the allegations.
Butters' request said she feared for her safety.
"He is MORTIFYING and my greatest fear is that I, or some other victim will end up dead because his dad is governor and everything Nathan does gets pushed under the rug! I am pleading that he not be allowed near me or my family, he is dangerous!!!," Butters wrote.
Butters' sister Talei Weingarten was previously granted a stalking injunction against Nathan Herbert, who was charged with criminal stalking in the 2005 case.
The charge was dismissed in 2008 after Nathan Herbert made a plea in abeyance, meaning he had to complete a life skills course and not have any contact with Weingarten.
Card initially asked that the case involving Butters be sealed, in part, to protect the Herbert family's privacy.
"Specifically, respondent is the son of a prominent political figure in the state of Utah, and respondent fears that his father's political career and reputation will be negatively impacted by potential media reports portraying petitioner's baseless allegations as facts," Card wrote.
An August hearing on whether to seal the case was mostly closed to the public. The governor issued a brief statement then that said: "Nathan is an adult. He is my son, and I have confidence in him and I stand by him. Beyond that, I will not comment on these allegations."
It did little to quash public scrutiny. The day after the hearing, the governor took the unusual step of opening his monthly news conference by saying he thought the allegations were without merit.
He also said he would like to be by his son's side, but his political position made that impractical.
A court filing shows that Card asked that the case be unsealed on Sept. 8, although it does not explain why. A message left with Card by The Associated Press on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
