Show narryji t Delta Utah $1800 In out ol county 8 months $1000 On Advance) Senior Citizens (65 and older) $1500 Copy 50 in USPS county $1800 out of County 0 Vol 78 No 8 Aug 27 1987 Hamilton guilty of second! degree m murder Following three and a half hours of woman deliberation the four jury found George Wesley Hamilton guilty of second degree murder The case has been one of the most homicide cases in the state’s history The jury’s verdict was as it had to be a unanimous one Following the announcement Judge Ballif commended the jurors and then discharged them Sentencing will take place in Fillmore on September 16 Until that time Hamilton is in the custody of Sheriff Ed Phillips in Millard County As he had during the entire trial George Wesley Hamilton remained silent and expressionless during the reading of the verdict Members of his family however reacted emotionally His Korean wife Sun Sin cried out “It’s not fair! It’s not fair” and his daughter Vickie also sobbed and cried out in protest Members of Sharon Sant’s family expressed relief and satisfaction “I’m glad we won It was an excellent job of legal work” said Robert Sant the victim’s father “I feel very sorry for them” he added referring to Hamilton’s family When asked how they felt about Bott’s release Mary Sant sister of Sharon said “There is no justice there with Bott getting off But it’s not the fault of the police The Millard County police did a hell of a job” Robert William Bott who admitted to sexually abusing and helping to was mutilate Sharon Sant’s body released from jail at the beginning of last week due to a mix up surrounding the question of immunity Due to conflicting stories from Bott the prosecution was forced to reduce the murder count against Hamilton from first to second degree Also dismissed before the end of the trial were the counts of aggravated sexual assault and forcible sexual abuse Because George Wesley Hamilton was the person on trial not Robert William Bott the jury was not apprised of the immunity confusion nor of Bott’s admissions Nor was Bott’s blood type ever given during the trial On Wednesday August 19 and Thursday August 20 defense witnesses r included old Joseph Duenne Guerrero former of Hamilton Loretta Hamilton sister of the defendent Colleen Hamilton of the defendent and Utah Department of Transportation workers Guerrero testified that the woodmaul shown to him did not splitting belong to Hamilton He also stated that the defendent used only a chain saw or an axe when chopping wood that Bott always wore tennis shoes (investigators earlier testified that only one footprint--thof a tennis found at the scene of the crime) and that he once was a passenger in the Hamilton truck when Bott drove Hamilton’s sister and testified to dates when the defendent was in each of their homes for an extended period of time Two employees of the Utah Department of Transportation testified to seeing a plastic garbage bag and a suitcase or attache case beside the road Then one testified Bott was seen carrying the bag and the case several miles north of Parowan shortly before the February arrests of Bott and Hamilton Defense Attorney Marcus Taylor maintained that as authorities closed in on the two suspects Bott became and was moving the “apprehensive missing body parts to secret them in a more secure location” (The missing body parts have never been found nor have the garbage bag and suitcase) Closing arguments were presented on Assistant Utah Thursday afternoon Attorney General John Soltis who had assisted Millard County Attorney Warren Peterson spoke for the prosecution He used an analogy of a solid steel bar versus a cable stating that the cable has individual strands or fibers As the fibers come together the cable becomes stronger than the bar “That’s what the Soltis prosecution has attempted- -” said “bringing the fibers together to present this case” Mr Soltis reminded the jury that the 1979 beer bottle found at the crime scene “is screaming at you with the fingerprint of the murderer— Hamilton’s fingerprint” He went on to say that the exhibited maul was the blunt instrument that had caused the death at Cove Fort and then was used to dig the grave The path of the brutal mutilation murder was then recreated using photographs and other pieces of evidence were recounted Referring to beer cans found at the crime scene carrying dates later than the murder Mr Soltis said “The man who murdered Sharon Sant had to go back He couldn’t stand it He had to go back to look at what he’d done” Marcus Taylor for the defense noted that August is the anniversary of the tragic incident “There has been tremendous effort on the part of many many people to see justice while dealing with a matter of great weight In this case we have a tragedy Let us not have another one” The jury was urged by Mr Taylor to look at the actions of Robert William Bott Such actions were leaving the Paragonah ranch where he had worked going to Salt Lake City and ' registering in a motel there using a false address Witnesses has testified that when Bott returned he had gotten rid of his personal belongings which included clothes and tennis shoes And “We don’t know for sure what was in the bag or suitcase” stated Taylor “It is just consistent with events As investigators closed in and narrowed on Bott and Hamilton did Bott become nervous and do something with the clothing and body parts? Maybe we’ll never know It’s just consistent” Mr Taylor then compared Bott’s actions to those of the defendent George Wesley Hamilton “Did he (the defendent) rush off? Did his cowboy boots come up missing Mr Bott’s tennis shoes did Were those tennis shoes blood spattered? I submit to you that they were” Further questioned by Mr Taylor was the maul left at the scene of the crime Would a killer go through such great lengths to conceal the crime and then leave such obvious evidence as a bloody bottle a maul and beer cans? Mr Soltis for the prosecution had the last remarks He stated that there was no evidence that anyone had returned to the crime scene to clean up There was however evidence that Mr Hamilton had returned to the scene “The important issue” said Mr Soltis “is where was Mr Hamilton? People who commit crimes do not commit the perfect crime” Following the jury’s verdict Mr Soltis said “Justice was served in this case The or more hours of effort spent investigating should be I think the Millard complimented County Sheriff’s Department and the county attorney’s office did a great job” Millard County Attorney Warren Peterson commented “We didn’t There was a grant Bott immunity reason for that” When asked his reaction to the decision Mr Peterson said “I felt it was the appropriate one The jury did the job we had hoped it would do” Both Mr Peterson and Millard County Sheriff Ed Phillips met with the media on the first floor of the courthouse after the verdict had been rendered The sheriff admitting that the chain of events and the inability to tell their side of the story had been for all of us” He said “frustrating that although the media probably did as well as they could reporting had “been fairly well limited” Sheriff Phillips went on to say that the case had been an extremely difficult that had extended over two years “I couldn’t be prouder of the people who work for me” he said “To the extent possible I think justice was done” What about Bott? “We will continue to keep tabs on Bott’s whereabouts” Attorney Peterson addressed the issue of immunity saying that there had been a misunderstanding between the Millard County Deputy Attorney and Milton Harmon attorney for Robert William Bott Once it “was understood” that immunity was granted the situation could not be corrected The way immunity could have been granted to Bott was transactional immunity which would be absolution for the crime “I could not in good conscience do that” said Peterson Since Bott was no longer held as a witness he had to be released There was hot evidence to recharge him and the foensic psychiatrists involved with Bott did not feel the suspect met the criteria for being put in a state hospital (The criteria are: one must be a danger to self or a danger to others) The prosecution did not want Bott released for “we know Bott participated” Warren Peterson stated that it is the Utah statute that is wrong “Justice was not done What happened justified capital offense We are I working with a very poor statute have not given up on Bott I did not emgrant him immunity nor will I” phasized the county attorney A team of experts from the FBI’s behavioral unit for violent crimes was called to the crime scene by the Millard County Sheriff Department to reconstruct the scene The team’s findings were practically identical to those found by the Sheriff’s deputies The conclusions made by both vestigating teams were that Sharon Sant was picked up and taken to the It is ranch where she was assaulted believed that she was alive and capable The when taken from the ranch murder and mutilation took place at the Cove Fort site It is further believthe to returned murderer ed that the crime scene for according to the experts it is common for a sex offender to return to the scene and boast about the incident in the third person What about the cost of the trial? Warren Peterson said that he had “no idea of cost It is a tremendous burden financially” At the close of the media interview Millard County Deputy Attorney Dexter Anderson said “I am happy for the conviction It was the best we could do Both he and under the circumstances” Mr Peterson agreed that the information given by Bott during the time of the misunderstood immunity was information the state didn’t have before so little difference was made “In fact it helped” Delta taxpayers paid $5443000 in 1985 Federal Income Taxes Come to Millard Mule Rendezvous Come one come all to the Millard Mule Rendezvous Labor Day Weekend September 4 and 5 It will begin Friday at 10:00 am at the Events for the Fillmore Fairgrounds olds day include: Yearlings Halter Mature Saddle Type 3 years and older Halter Mature Pack Type 3 years and older Most Colorful Mule any age Western Pleasure Open Western Pleasure Green Western Riding Open and Green Pole Bending and Barrel Racing Following all these activites there will be a break with a Dutch Oven Freeze and an f Off So if you’re a good cook come and test your skills Also horseshoe7:00 pm the ing will be going on At Grand Entry with our queens will take Continuing with activites on SaturMule day there will be: Jacks all ages Mothers (mares exposed to jacks) Yearlings two year olds saddle type champion class Western Trail Green Western Trail Open Green Reining Bridle Reining Diamond Hitch Box Hitch Undressing the Mule for Kids This under 8 then again for kids will lead us into the Auction so come and see what’s auctioning off The Grand Entry will begin at 7:00 pm followed by Line Dancing to will be please the crowd Next there Working Pack Train with 2 mules Working Pack Train 3 mules or more Then comes the Mule Braying Contest so get your vocal cords ready! The last scheduled events are Working Cow Team PenWorking Dog Exhibition ning Pack Race Double Mugging Team Roping Pack Scramble We have some special acts going on at all times Come out and support us and join in for the fun PS Don’t forget the Breakfast at 7:00 am Saturday on the Millard County Courthouse lawn place The full schedule of events continues with Musical tires Keyhole Steer Stop(a Working Dogs exhibition ping treat!) Balloon Race Branding Race Trailer Race with a dance at the Legion starting at 9:00 pm This will top off Friday night! Saturday we would like everyone who rides or drives a team to come and participate in our All Horse and Mule Parade starting at 10:00 am Meet at 2nd North and Main It’ll be on Fillmore’s Main Street going up to 1st South and Main then turning toward the Fairgrounds where the show will Our Grand Marshal is Lee continue Nelson author and writer of Storm Testament and others Taxpayers in Delta paid $5443000 in federal income taxes for the 1985 tax year and the sum averaged $2908 for each federal income tax return filed in Delta last year These were some of the facts reported in a Utah Foundation study based on an analysis recently and by the Economic completed Statistical Unit of the Utah State Tax Commission According to the Foundation report taxpayers in Delta filed 1872 federal income tax returns for the 1985 tax year and reported gross income totaling Thus the gross income in $44247000 Delta for that year averaged $23636 per return and this compares with a statewide average of $21227 Throughout the state Utahns paid $1833000000 in federal and state income taxes based on 1985 tax returns that were filed in 1986 Total income tax collections for the year were $90 million or 52 percent more than the amount reported for the preceding year The Foundation report notes that the percentage of reported gross income in Utah going for federal and state income taxes rose steadily from 137 percent in 1970 to 163 percent in 1981 This crease in the effective tax burden was largely the result of “bracket creep” which placed a heavier tax burden on individuals and families during this period of rapid inflation Between 1981 and 1984 the proportion of reported gross income going for income taxes declined This reduction was brought about by the Federal Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which reduced federal tax rates in 1982 1983 and 1984 As a result the percentage of gross income in Utah going for federal taxes declined from 131 per3 percent in 1984 and cent in 1983 to 1985 This decrease in federal taxes was partially offset by an increase in the state income tax percentage from 32 percent of reported gross income in 1981 to 36 percent in 1985 Leamarado Days QUEENS: Marie Fowler 1st Rasmussen Tina Miller 2nd Attendant MULE I Attendant Queen Patti will be holding their Leamington Leamarado Days on Monday September 7 1987 Rodeo sign up is on August 31 after 5:00 pm Monday Call Spence Butler at Homemaking a la Carte Homemakers School scheduled The Chronicle Progress is preparing for Homemaking a la Carte Homemakers School to be held in the Delta South Elementary School on Friday September 18 1987 at 7:00 pm Free cookbooks coupons and dozens of prizes will be a small part of the fun at the school With the support of area merchants the Chronicle Progress will present home economists Rebecca S Brown and Mishelle Tobeck conducting the two and one half hour recipe demonstration program including and recipes for both conventional microwave ovens Admission is free and everyone is invited Ms Brown a resident of Madison works as the Associate Director for Homemakers Schools Inc Madison Wisconsin a part of Rural Gravure Service Inc A graduate of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a BS in Home Economics she has Degree previously traveled through Montana Nebraska and Colorado Wyoming North and South Dakota Ms Brown has handled correspondence investigations and complaints with the Better Business Bureau Inc in Lincoln and she has had additional experience in retailing food service and cooperative extension work A resident of Seattle Washington works as a Home Ms Tobeck Economist for Homemakers Schools Inc Currently she travels Washington Idaho California Nevada Oregon miles anand Utah driving nually to maintain a hectic schedule Ms Tobeck received a degree in Foods from Seattle Pacific and Nutrition Seattle University Washington Previously she was employed as a with service representative passenger Tours Fairbanks Alaska she Princess worked as assistant volunteertour coordinator for the Seattle Art Museaum and she has experience as an assistant salesperson administrative and in physical worker cannery therapy Plan now to grab a seat for the 1987 Homemaking a la Carte Homemakers School All audience members will be able to follow the recipes demonstrated in their own free 1987 Homemakers Schools cookbooks Everything from main dishes to desserts will be prepared on stage with a lighted mirror system to assure good viewing Food prepared during the evening twenty bags of free packets for all pargroceries ticipants and numerous door prizes will be given away during the evening |