/content/news/state/story.aspx News from the state of Utah en-us Copyright 2012 Newport Television LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:00:01 -0700 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:54:53 -0700 News http://www.centralmediaserver.com/ktvx/abc4logo.jpg /content/news/state/story.aspx 72 50 15 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Sentencing-set-in-drivers-license-fraud-case/FIdTHp15UEGMGxuHZ11sZw.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/FIdTHp15UEGMGxuHZ11sZw.cspx SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Utah woman who pleaded guilty to a bribery charge for helping illegal immigrants obtain fraudulent driver's licenses is set for a sentencing hearing.

Evevia Nez faces up to five years in prison when sentenced Monday in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.

In a deal with prosecutors, the 47-year-old Kearns woman pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of receiving or soliciting a bribe in December. Three other charges were dropped.

Investigators say Nez worked at a Salt Lake City driver's license office and was paid $150 for each license she provided in 2008 and 2009.

Immigrants would come to Nez's window without taking a service ticket and say they were referred to her by Pablino Gomez-Plancarte.

He was also charged, but has not been located by authorities.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


]]> _Utah News Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:41:00 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Utah-inmates-may-be-force-fed-under-proposed-bill/g8bchr4RnE-cm8IQeCJgEg.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/g8bchr4RnE-cm8IQeCJgEg.cspx SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah inmates could be forcibly given food or water if their life is in imminent danger under a bill set for consideration by the Utah House.

Republican Rep. Derek Brown says a panel that includes the sheriff, a doctor and a mental health practitioner would decide whether to force feed an inmate for up to three days.

The panel created by House Bill 194 could decide against force feeding or the inmate could appeal the order to a judge.

The bill is set for consideration Monday and could be debated this week.

Utah American Civil Liberties Union attorney Marina Lowe says hunger strikes are a form of protest protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The bill was prompted by the starvation death of an inmate in Salt Lake County last year.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


]]> _Utah News Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:37:00 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Wallisch-takes-home-Dew-Cup-at-Snowbasin/GTp0fTHxuk69lBLewWDjIQ.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/GTp0fTHxuk69lBLewWDjIQ.cspx OGDEN (ABC 4 Sports) - Nick Goepper won the men's freeski slope Finals at Sunday's Winter Dew Tour Toyota Championships with his score of 95.00 and he was also voted the Mitch Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

In his winning run, he stepped things up and did a switch double 14 instead of a switch double 12 he did in his first run.

His run started with a 450 on 270 out on top rail, front swap backside 450 out on A-Frame, on the cannon box he did a switch 2 on rodeo 450 out. For the jumps, he started with a switch left double 10 Japan and finished with a switch right double 14 mute.

"I’ve been so close all year, but to finally get the number one spot feels awesome," Goepper said.

Tom Wallisch took home the Dew Cup and also won Toyota Athlete of the Year with his second-place finish and score of 92.25. He was ranked first overall with wins at each of the previous two Dew Tour stops, and he was the last to drop in to the finals with the only shot of bumping Goepper off the podium. Wallisch has come back in his second run to take the win at each of those events. But today in Utah, he was able to increase his score by one point, but it wasn't enough to overtake the 17-year-old Goepper.

"I’m not much of a go for broke, last run huck yourself, try something new kind of guy," Wallisch said. "I’d rather see skiing be smoother. Just full, complete, good runs. I never really try to huck myself second run. I just go for cleaning it up. Making is as smooth as possible. And it’s worked for me in the past, so I’m going to keep doing it."

His run went like this: switch lip 2 pretzel 2 on the down rail, to switch on frontside switchup backside 450 out, to switch on to cannon rail backside pretzel 450 out to switch. He hit up the jumps with a switch left double cork 1080 Japan to switch right double cork 1080 Japan.

Defending Dew Cup champ Bobby Brown finished third with 91.00 after his second run that started with a switch 2 to pretzel 2 on first rail, switch on to switchup inward 2 out on second, cork 630 on cannon then right double 12 to switch double 14 on the last two jumps.

"I was struggling on the course the last few days," Brown said. "I’m just stoked that I’m on the podium, and Goepper and Wallisch killed it today. I’m just happy to end the Dew Tour on the podium." ]]> _Utah News Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:02:23 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Abouo-leads-BYU-to-dominating-win-over-Pepperdine/ULxvJg7mjEmaTx1GHMAwSQ.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/ULxvJg7mjEmaTx1GHMAwSQ.cspx PROVO (ABC 4 Sports) - Senior Charles Abouo led the BYU men’s basketball team to an 86-48 win over the Pepperdine Waves at the Marriott Center on Saturday.

Abouo led the game with a season-best 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting. He hit a career-high five three-point baskets and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. The 38-point margin of victory was the best for the Cougars (21-6, 9-3) this year.

“I’m really happy for our guys," head coach Dave Rose said. "I think the players worked really hard, especially this week with the bye, and it paid off. We played really well both individually and collectively.”

Junior Brandon Davies added 13 points and seven boards, while freshmen Matt Carlino and Anson Winder each contributed 10 points. Carlino also dished out six assists.

Senior Noah Hartsock moved into third on the career blocks list at BYU with three on the night to total 167 for his career, passing up Russell Larson.

The Cougars jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first 3:22 of the game and started 4 of 4 from the field and 3 of 3 from beyond the arc. Pepperdine (8-17, 2-12) hit a three to make it 12-5, after which BYU went on a 19-2 run over the next eight minutes to take a 31-7 advantage.

Abouo led the Cougars in the opening half with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Hartsock added nine first half points. BYU made six threes in the half, the most the team had hit in a game since playing San Diego on January 16. The Cougars went on to made six more in the second half for 12 total, the most since Jan. 7 vs. San Francisco and more than the last three games combined.

“Our guys spent a lot of time on the three-point shooting," Rose said. "With the bye they had fresh legs and were able to control the pace of the game.”

Damarcus Harrison hit a trey to make the score 39-12 with 5:38 left in the half. Pepperdine outscored BYU 13-7 in the final five minutes of the half to narrow the deficit, but the Cougars still held a 46-25 lead heading into the locker room.

The Cougars opened the second half by outscoring Pepperdine 21-4 in the first seven minutes. Davies highlighted the run with two big dunks, while Abouo put the Cougars up 67-29 with his fifth three at the 12:48 mark.

Ten BYU players saw action in the final seven minutes of game time. Every player that entered the game for the Cougars scored at least three points and helped push the lead to a game-high 46 with 3:03 left in the game.

BYU will travel to California to take on San Francisco on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm MST. ]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:15:00 -0700 Abouo leads BYU to dominating win over Pepperdine http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Lillard-scores-22-as-Weber-State-wins-20th-game/FH2UN2VLSUaVL3BOD43boQ.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/FH2UN2VLSUaVL3BOD43boQ.cspx OGDEN, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Weber State had five players in double figures and won their 20th game of the season with an 84-75 win over Eastern Washington Saturday night at the Dee Events Center. The 'Cats improved to 20-4 overall and 12-1 in Big Sky play with the win.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 16-4 lead but Eastern Washington responded with a 13-4 run to cut the lead to three with 7:50 to play in the first half. The Eagles cut the lead to two points but the 'Cats responded with an 11-0 run and led 41-30 at halftime.

The Eagles started the second half on a 12-4 run and cut the lead to three with 15:37 to play. Then WSU responded with a 12-4 run and the Eagles were never closer than five points the rest of the way.

"I was really proud of our toughness and attitude tonight," said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. "I knew this was going to be a really tough test for us and it was. I was really pleased with our rebounding and how we hung in really tough."

The Wildcats pulled down 44 rebounds, outrebounding Eastern Washington 44-35. The 'Cats improved to 14-0 when outrebounding their opponent.

The Wildcats had a season-high 32 free throws, finishing the night 32-35 from the line. The 'Cats continue to lead the nation in free throw percentage, now at 81 percent.

Eastern Washington outshot the Wildcats 38 percent to 37 percent from the field and was 13-30 from the three-point line.

Damian Lillard, the nation's leading scorer, led the Wildcats with 22 points. He finished the night 4-13 from the field and was a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line. Lillard also had six rebounds and four assists.

Byron Fulton came off the bench to add a season-high 16 points and also led the 'Cats with nine rebounds. Scott Bamforth finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Kyle Tresnak had 12 points and seven rebounds and Kyle Bullinger had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Weber State remains in a tie with Montana at 12-1 in league play with three games remaining. The Wildcats will have all three of their conference games on the road while Montana plays all three at home, including the final game of the season Feb. 28 against Weber State.

The Wildcats will play at Montana State Wednesday night before returning home to host UT Arlington in a Sears Bracketbuster game next Saturday, their final home game of the regular season.


]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:02:44 -0700 Lillard scores 22 as Weber State wins 20th game http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Sandys-Louie-Vito-wins-Dew-Cup-Title/Xpmn6W3fQ0WgHFCEPKYtEg.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/Xpmn6W3fQ0WgHFCEPKYtEg.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Men’s snowboard superpipe finals at the Toyota Championship in Snowbasin was nothing short of historic. Louie Vito accomplished his season goal, earning consecutive Dew Cups with a score of 98.00, the highest in Winter Dew Tour history. Iouri Podladtchikov led Vito by two points in the Tour standings before dropping into the pipe. The matchup didn't disappoint, as the two went run for run with their best tricks in the 615 foot long superpipe, thelongest ever built for competition, before finishing within a point of eachother. Vito’s run began with a double crippler, followed by a double Michalchuk, front double 1080, cab double 1080, and frontside 1080, ending with a cab 720.

After learning his score, Vito credited his competitors abilities with helping him reach that level. “I don’t pay attention to scores,” he said. “I’m just trying to put down the run that I’m happy with and have the riders around me push me.” Vito finished second at both the Nike Open in Breckenridge and Pantech Invitational in Killington before taking the top spot in Snowbasin. "I get tired of being second,” he said. “I’m stoked to be consistent but I wanted to at least get on top of the podium this year. I did and what better place than where I’m living now in Utah, at the Toyota Championships, to walk away with the Dew Cup."

The crowd at the women’s snowboard superpipe finals was held in suspense as Kelly Clark dropped in for her second run. Gretchen Bleiler was holding the top spot after scoring a 94.25 and looked to the top of the pipe as Clark dropped in and blasted out of the pipe with a huge frontside air, followed by a backside 540 and a frontside 1080 that made the crowd roar. She continued with a cab 720, frontside 540 and a stylish backside air, to score a 95.00 and edge out Bleiler for the win and the Dew Cup.

“I really had to stay focused on what I came up to do today,” said Clark after the close win. “Some of my favorite contests that I can remember are when Gretchen and I go head to head and run to run.” Third Dew Cup in hand, Clark said, “Dew Tour puts on some of the best venues that we go to. For me it’s all about the conditions of the halfpipe, and this is one of the best pipes I’ve ridden all year. I’m happy to do so well and to win the Dew Cup.”

Closing out the evening under the lights, it was time to switch gears to freeski finals at the record-setting pipe. David Wise landed a solid first run, scoring a 94.50 that could not be topped by anyone through the remainder of the contest. He started his run with a switch double cork 1080, followed by a rightside 900, a leftside 900, an alley oop 540 tailgrab, and a double cork1260. “I’m on a hot streak for sure,” said Wise after his win. “It’s fun to be out here enjoying the sport. Just being able to land runs and enjoy doing what I do has been awesome. And that’s honestly what’s made the difference for me.”

KevinRolland edged out Torin Yater-Wallace by a quarter of a point to land in second place, earning his second consecutive freeski superpipe Dew Cup. "This feels really great especially because I didn't win at the last Dew Tour stop,” said Rolland, after being awarded the Cup. “So there was a little bit of trouble in my mind. I tried to do my best and get the Dew Cup.”

Women’s freeski superpipe finals awarded the first women’s freeski Dew Cup to Devin Logan, after her aggressive run blew away the competition with a score of 90.00. Already holding the lead, she dropped into her second run down the pipe, starting with a japan grab to a 540 tail grab, followed by a flare, mute grab, alley-oop critical grab, 720 mute, ending with a switch alley-oop 540. Logan was able to land seven tricks due to the superpipe’s 615-foot length. “I’m so excited,” exclaimed Logan following her win. “I can’t describe my feelings right now. It’s hit, but not really. I’m just in amazement right now. I’m so happy with everyone skiing and myself.”

]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:20:09 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Powell-sons-memorial-held-in-Hunter-Park/JU2yVJsxZUq1b_sL2DaJyQ.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/JU2yVJsxZUq1b_sL2DaJyQ.cspx WEST VALLEY CITY- (ABC 4 News) Family, friends and well wishers in the community gathered in Hunters park to say good-by, and mourn the loss of Charlie and Braden Powell.
The two brothers, ages 5 and 7, were at the center of a fierce custody battle between their maternal grandparents Chuck and Judy Cox and their father Josh Powell.
The memorial service was held at Hunter park where their mother Susan Powell would take her afternoon walk with the boys and watch them play. Several of their neighbors attended and remembered seeing in the park like it was yesterday.
Now purple ribbons hang from the trees and members of the community want to create a memorial in the park for Powell and her kids.
 
]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:10:00 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Late-run-helps-New-Mexico-State-down-Utah-State/ACdZe9sU30CqhmGfJ2cePQ.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/ACdZe9sU30CqhmGfJ2cePQ.cspx LOGAN (ABC 4 Sports) - Wendell McKines had 20 points and nine rebounds and New Mexico State used a 15-3 run over the final 4:07 of the game in posting an 80-69 road win at Utah State Saturday afternoon in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.

New Mexico State improves to 18-8 on the season and 7-3 in Western Athletic Conference action with the win, while Utah State falls to 13-13 overall and 5-6 in league play with the loss. For USU, it was its third home loss of the season marking the first time since the 1995-96 campaign that an Aggie team has lost three or more home games.

Sophomore guard Preston Medlin led four Utah State players in double-figures with 16 points, while sophomore guard/forward Danny Berger scored a career-high 14 points. Junior forward Kyisean Reed added 11 points, while senior forward Morgan Grim finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a career-high four assists.

Utah State took its only lead of the second-half at 66-65 with 6:00 remaining following a free throw from Reed. From there, New Mexico State controlled the game as Utah State went 0-of-4 from the field and committed four turnovers down the stretch.

Utah State finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from both the field (26-52) and three-point line (10-20), but was just 7-of-13 (.538) from the free throw line. New Mexico State shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the field (30-54) and 63.6 percent from three-point range (7-11), both season-highs for a USU opponent. NMSU was also 13-of-21 (.619) from the charity stripe.

Utah State also got out-rebounded for the first time in five games (34-21) as its 21 rebounds were a season-low. USU did have 20 assists, its third-most in a game this year. Both teams finished with 10 turnovers and four blocked shots.

After three ties and four lead changes early on, New Mexico State broke a 12-12 tie to lead 23-17 with 9:58 to play in the half. Utah State then scored 12 straight points to take its largest lead of the game at 29-23 with 7:00 remaining in the half and later led 33-27 before NMSU finished the first-half on an 11-0 run as USU did not score for the final 4:53.

Berger led Utah State with 10 first-half points, while Medlin and sophomore forward Mitch Bruneel each scored six.

New Mexico State scored the first four points of the second-half to lead 42-33 and the visitors later held a 47-40 advantage before Utah State went on an 8-2 run to get within one. NMSU maintained a small advantage over the next eight minutes before USU scored four-straight points on a pair of Medlin hoops to knot the score at 65-65 with 6:44 remaining.

Utah State steps out of conference for a pair of home games next week as it hosts Montana Tech, an NAIA school out of the Frontier Conference, on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7 pm., followed by an ESPNU BracketBuster game against former Big West Conference foe UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. The game against the Gauchos will be televised live on KMYU TV. ]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:38:32 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Mitt-Romney-wins-Maine-caucuses-by-slim-margin/YVH9a_WIq0CT7U8164vp-Q.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/YVH9a_WIq0CT7U8164vp-Q.cspx PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster says Mitt Romney has won the Maine caucuses by a slim margin, giving him a much needed boost following losses in three other contests in the past week.
   
The former Massachusetts governor defeated Ron Paul, the only other GOP hopeful competing in the state. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich did not actively participate in the contest.
   
Party leaders announced the results Saturday. The caucuses began February 4 and continued through the week. Some Maine communities have yet to hold their caucuses, though party leaders say they don't plan to count those votes.
   
Romney easily won the Maine caucuses in 2008.
   
Maine has 24 delegates to the party's national convention - 21 of them were at stake in a process that began with the caucuses.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:15:00 -0700 http://www.abc4.com:80/content/news/state/story/Family-teachers-remember-Powell-boys-in-Washington/U1ZIY4QbaUykPHMWIoU3zg.cspx?rss=1451 http://www.abc4.com/s/U1ZIY4QbaUykPHMWIoU3zg.cspx TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - More than a thousand people mourned the deaths of Charlie and Braden Powell at a public funeral Saturday, nearly a week after the young boys' father killed them and himself in a gas-fueled blaze.
   
"We want to celebrate their innocence today," said the Rev. Dean Curry, lead pastor of Life Center Church in Tacoma. "We want to be grateful for the moments we had with these children."
   
The boys' grandfather Chuck Cox thanked police, social workers, teachers and everyone who cared for Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, as well as people who had prayed for the boys after they died.
   
It "helps us to know that there are good people in the world - good people who fight against evil," Cox said.
   
At the front of the church's sanctuary, the boys were in a single casket topped with a large flower arrangement that included daisies, roses and sunflowers.
   
"We know that they're with their mother," Cox said, remembering his daughter, Susan Powell, who has been missing for two years and is presumed dead.
   
The boys' father, Josh Powell, was in the middle of a custody battle with Cox when he torched his rental home in Graham last Sunday.
   
Josh Powell was a person of interest in his wife's disappearance in Utah two years ago, and prosecutors consider the fire an admission that he killed her.
   
Cox gained custody of the children more than five months ago after police arrested Josh Powell's father, Steve, on voyeurism and child pornography charges.
   
The kids were arriving for a supervised visit when Josh Powell blocked a social worker from entering the home. He then attacked the boys with a hatchet and torched the house, authorities said.
   
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said Saturday that Josh Powell's body will be released to a cousin Monday.
   
About 1,200 people attended the boys' funeral at Life Center Church in Tacoma. Many of them wore purple and blue ribbons in memory of Susan, Charlie and Braden.
   
Two teachers shared their memories and read letters from other instructors who had interacted with the boys.
   
Charlie was remembered as a boy fascinated with science and insects, often trying to sneak worms or caterpillars into the classroom. He was about to get glasses and loved to write, dreaming up plans to market his books.
   
"At an early age, Charlie displayed a keen intellect and compassionate heart," said Tammy Ougheon, Charlie's kindergarten teacher in Utah. "He was an amazing young man."
   
His younger brother, Braden, preferred cars and trains, teachers remembered, and last Halloween got to dress up as a Transformer. Braden, teachers said, loved to be tickled.
   
"Braden walked through the doors every day with a big smile on his face," said Kristie King, an instructor at a YMCA where Braden was enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program.
   
King said Braden "had a heart of gold, always wanting to show affection."
   
"Braden liked to hold his teacher's hand and not let go," she said.
   
Three projection screens inside the church showed photos of the boys: pictures of them smiling with their mother, laughing with their grandparents and playing outside.
   
"We are grateful for the opportunity that we've each had to have felt the joy that these two small children have brought into our lives in their short lives," family member Kirk Graves said in the funeral's closing prayer.
   
People started lining up outside the church more than an hour before the service was set to begin.
   
Tony Deponte, 39, said he was in "total shock" when he heard of the boys' deaths.
   
"The first thing I did was stop and pray for these children," said Deponte, of Tacoma. "The whole community is feeling their loss."
   
Amanda Morse, of Seattle, was standing outside the church, holding her 5-month-old son, Ronan. She said she wanted the family to know that they weren't alone.
   
"It was a tragedy that shouldn't have happened," she said.
   
A private interment will take place Monday at Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


]]> _Utah News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:58:00 -0700 Family, teachers remember Powell boys in Washington