Show D2 The Salt Lake Tribune Cornered Mediation Program Is Drawing the Praise Of Utahs Top Jurists BY BRIAN MAFFLY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The teen-ag- e car thief teared up when his victim a Salt Lake City teacher told him how badly she needed the station wagon he had stolen last October The single mom depended on her car to get her children to school and to the hospital when her ill son had convulsions she told the d boy last month during an experimental mediation session Damage to the station wagon was estimated at $7000 but the victim promised she would forgo part of the restitution if the boy performed well academically and participated in activities e This encounter is part of the 3rd District Juvenile Courts victim-offendmediation program which has won high praise from Utahs top jurists After a year of success in Salt Lake County the program is being set up in neighboring Wasatch Front counties said Kathy Elton a program coordinator with the state Admimstration Office of the Courts This program has great potential for getting youth out of the juvenile red-heade- Very impressive resume except you spelled genius wrong FOR THE RECORD after- -school face-to-fac- CAR CHASE ENDS IN CRASH Two men with five outstanding warrants played cat and mouse and chicken with a cadre of Orem Provo and Brigham University police cruisers before crashing into a pair of motorists at 1200 N State Street in Orem David P Keith 36 and Randy J Leek 21 both of West Valley City were allegedly driving a car stolen from Payson when they were spotted by a BYU patrol officer at 11 am in a Provo church parking lot Provo officers reported the pair were seen breaking into parked cars When they spotted the BYU officers the two men sped away at speeds estimated at 100 mph At one point the men pointed their car directly at an oncoming Orem officer chasing them on a road The Orem officer swerved into a ditch Minutes later Keith and Leek ran a red light and crashed into two vehicles causing minor injuries After the accident the pair fled on foot but were swiftly corralled The allegedly stolen car was full of stolen car stereos and equipment Conner said Bank Tellers Ruse Keeps Forger Waiting for Police The southpaw forger knew he was a genius the minute he switched to his right hand and wrote the name Samuel Smith on the blank check "Dont be greedy he snickered Only make it for three hundred and fifty bucks When the phony Smith finished with check 8002 it looked genuine right down to the account holders signature Methamphetamine boiled through his blood and buoyed the 34- year-ol- 10th-grad- e d into dropout a false sense of security At 10 min- utes noon before he en- tered the bank with the brisk swagger of a well-to-d- o stockholder Once inside the fraud artist scanned the field of available tellers and made his selection Third window down he thought Most definitely the one who would cash the stolen check without an ounce of suspicion At ease he took his business to Amy who looked like she belonged on the cover of Teen Magazine "Good afternoon he said flashing a smile that hadn't visited a toothbrush since Nixon was in the White House I need to cash this check Amy had been with the bank two years She was also a college criminology student Check 8002 caught her attention Discreetly the A-- l employee reviewed the days list of reported stolen checks and found out she was holding one Disguising her mistrust Amy continued with the transaction Ill need to see a photo ID she politely told the man He was prepared Pictured on his latest fake identification card was himself as squeaky clean Sam Smith "Thank you Mr Smith the young woman said with a reassuring nod Ill need to get an OK from my supervisor for this amount It wont take long When the assistant manager was informed of the situation he notified the police and reported a possible forgery in progress Relieved to know that the cops were on their way Amy went back to her waiting patron and offered up a believable excuse for the stall My boss is on the phone with his pregnant Takes Bath Still Tied Up In Court Ex-Own- er BY BRIAN MAFFLY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Emil Langeland thought he was getting a bargain when he bought a slightPorsche Carrera ly battered year-ol- d for $31000 from a Salt Lake City auto dealer That was before he had it towed away for repairs Langeland eventually discovered that the sports cars gas tank was filled with water and its high-tec- h electronics were ruined More than five years later Langeland had spent approximately another $50000 money he paid mechanics to repair extensive water damage and lawyers to sue Monarch Motors for allegedly failing to inform him that the Carrera convertible had been salvaged from the bottom of an Arizona lake Langeland last month won a favorable ruling from the Utah Supreme Court which could help him win his lawsuit against Monarch and its manager Jose Luis Llavina The case which has bounced from the trial court to the Utah Supreme Court will be returned to 3rd District Judge Sandra Peuler for further litigation But Langeland might be grasping at straws: Monarch has since ceased doing business and insurance regulators have placed the dealers bonding company in receivership Langeland a Salt Lake City man who owns a flooring wholesale business visited Monarch Motors in the summer of 1992 to look at Porsches built by a German company famed for its precision sports cars On Aug 2 he and Llavina negotiated the discounted price on a 1991 Porsche Carrera II Cabriolet which was worth at least $70000 new Langeland claims he specifically asked Llavina if moisture in the car was the result of flooding The salesman said that the vehicle had been left out in the rain with the top down The water damage could be fixed for several hundred dollars and body damage to the front end would take another $7000 Llavina allegedly said The new owner towed the Carrera to a body shop then sent it to a Provo Porsche dealer to get it running A mechanic found one expensive electronic component after another damaged according to Langeland system sooner and keeping them out Chief Justice Michael Zimmerman told lawmakers during his Jan 19 State of the Judiciary Address "It also has the added advantage of giving victims your constituents a much greater sense that the system cares about them Last year 94 youthful offenders went through mediation They learned about their crimes from the victims perspective and negotiated restitution The process makes a strong positive impact on offenders Zimmerman said They must sit down with their victims and understand the results of their acts in very personal terms That has changed their behavior In the case of the stolen car the victim said she was hesitant to meet the boy who drove off with it This kid could figure out where I lived said the victim who asked that her name not be used I have three kids and no Dobermans or baseball bats But when she met the delinquent she was convinced of his remorse and took an interest in his welfare The youth told her he had been walking home late one night when he broke into her parked station wagon Two weeks later the car was recovered near the apartment where the boy lives The interior was torn apart and the young thief promised to pay "The process makes a strong positive impact on offenders They must sit down with their victims and understand the results of their acts in very personal terms That has changed their behavior Michasl Zlmmtrman Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice for the damage I work with kids I can tell the phoWe set ny baloneys said the victim up a contract Hes going to high school next year Hes not a great student but hes very intelligent The deal is he is going to work part-tim- e e in the summer and pay back a little at a time He loves football If he makes the team we knock off some of the restitution For every A he gets we knock off $200 for every B its nection Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez has seen mediation repair rifts in neighborhoods The judge handled the case of a young burglar who met with his neighbors whose home he had The boy had nothing plundered against the people he victimized and vowed to do work on their behalf It put them at ease so they wouldnt have to sleep with one eye open Valdez said The judge and other officials hope the program can be expanded from property crimes to include violent offenses Feuds between street gangs could be put to rest if antagonists are brought together to work out their differences in a neutral setting They want to save face by retaliation said Valdez What they really want is someone to step inside and stop it If we nip it in the bud it doesnt have this ripple effect through the rest of the community full-tim- $100 The woman is among the more than 90 percent of participating victims who reported a positive experience with mediation I made the right decision she said I hope other people given this opportunity dont hide their head Participating youths are about half as likely to and they are also more likely to pay their restitution "It gives them an opportunity to take responsibility in a really personal way Elton said It gives them a con They kept calling saying Are you sure this hasnt been in water? he recalled Then the mechanics discovered the liquid in the gas tank was not fuel Thats when we realized what happened By then we were into the car $15000 I was to the point of no return Langeland said The thing that irritates me is all I wanted was the money back" Langeland researched the car through a database maintained by Porsche to learn its history An hour after the first owner drove the Carrera away from a Scottsdale Ariz dealership the buyers girlfriend was driving it around a lake at high speed Langeland said She lost control on a curve and crashed into the water She escaped but the Porsche sank 30 feet At an auction Llavina bought the damaged sports car which was encumbered with a salvage title then shipped it to his Salt Lake City lot on 300 West Court documents alleged he laundered the vehicles title through Idaho to obtain a clean title in Utah Llavina 39 was being prosecuted at the time for communications fraud in- volving an unrelated complaint through the state motor vehicles division The charge however was dismissed At his deposition Llavina testified he did not know the Porsche had been submerged until Langeland informed him months after the sale It is difficult to believe Monarch could deny it with a straight face" countered Langelands attorney Todd Winegar in court filings "Monarch was an experienced auto dealer deald ing in wrecked cars including cars Monarch would never purchase such a car without knowing its basic history" Ryan GalbraithThe Salt Lake Tribune Emil Langeland didn't know his Porsche spent time on a lake bottom and now the seller Monarch Motors has gone out of business The dealer continues to deny misleading Langeland who must have known he was taking a risk on the Carrera according to Llavina s lawyer Todd Richardson Langeland walks into a place of business that has nothing but salvaged and wrecked cars Richardson said He buys this car and it doesnt turn out to be what everyone thought it yer Todd Richardson of the outstanding requests several months later The defense attorney faxed Winegar unsigned responses then moved to amend them months later Langeland sought a default judg- ment arguing Monarchs was Llavina said he made only $1100 in the deal He offered to settle the case for that sum but the plaintiff declined Langeland spent about $27000 fixa figing the Carreras electronics ure Llavina said was excessive and sold the car in 1995 for $35000 Two years earlier Langeland filed his lawsuit and his attorney sent Monarch a set of request for admissions g a legal move to establish undisputed facts But Monarch missed the y deadline to reply Winegar reminded Monarchs law 4-- time-savin- 30-da- Notice to Video Professionals In Broadcast Government Corporate and Educational Television Production water-damage- Panasonic Broadcast & Digital Systems Company cordially invites you to attend llext Generation Television Glass Act will Waive up to $10009 off your Insurance Deductible Insurance approved pricing Fast Free Mobile service to your home or office Call Now for Details FREE State Satety Inspection Gte Act ADMsonolA-- Digital Video Solutions sponsored by TV Specialists Tuesday February 4 fcjoty Gloss loi Ftee Inc to be held With Every Windshield1 533-884- 9:30 141! a m Seminar (SsaiplMknsOiftssMiOtoEijSJ Minutes later thats where I found him seated comfortably in front of the New Accounts desk I took the man into an empty office and after his rights were read began the interrogation I talked He lied When the account owner confirmed that the check was one of several that had been stolen from her vehicle last week the culprit finally confessed He was then placed in the backseat of my patrol car It was hot The bank sign read 90 degrees I needed a cool drink before we took off for jail I cruised into h d the lane of the nearest outlet and ordered two Sprites The teen-age- r at the window noticed that I had a prisoner handcuffed inside my cage Your drink is on the house officer he proudly stated but that guy in the back will have to pay "Its my treat I told him He just wrote his last check and 2 1 7 th 00 pm Outline &USi!I535dMH' Welcome and Introduction to the Digital Video Future Ted Bollinger Vice President TV Specialists Inc Information Reception in Salt Lake City! Digital Video Production and Acquisition DSP Cameras DVCPRO and DVCPRO50 Jim McGowan Panasonic District Sales Manager Friday February 20th 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: The University of St Augustine for Health Sciences is hosting an Information Reception on Fnday February 20th The Occupational and Physical Therapy Program Directors will introduce you to our Masters Degree programs All interested parties are welcome to attend Follow-u- p interviews will be held on Saturday February 21st from 830 AM to 3:30 PM Next Generation Digital Video Solutions 1080i 525p 16:9 HDTV HD 5 D-- Tom James 150 W 500 S Salt Lake City Utah (801) 532-334- Panasonic Broadcast Sales Digital Nonlinear Editing Solutions Postbox Elite DVedit and news BYTE Jim Brawner Panasonic Postbox Specialist RSVP with Susan Marsolais at Reception Site: Salt Lake Cty Hilton fast-foo- RSVP for either morning or afternoon session 486-575- 7 Seminar provided courtesy of TV Specialists Inc and Panasonic 4 University of St Augustine The University Is located on Florida s northeast coast and the intracoastal waterway in historic St Augustine Florida Paul St John Fleming is a veteran of law enforcement in Salt Lake County His opinions are welcomed at pflemingsltribcom his own 20-ye- Web Site: wwwusaedu TV Specialists ' ttt Beil infousaedu il A if foot-draggi- should be punished by entering the plaintiffs version of the facts into the court record The Utah Supreme Court at first disagreed but then reversed itself last month Litigation must come to an end sometime and the rifles of procedure are intended to provide an orderly schedule for moving cases along not to squander legal judicial and financial resources by generating lawsuits within lawsuits to determine whether the rules must actually be followed Justice Richard Howe wrote in a 1 decision released in January The courts will not come to the rescue of a party who flagrantly ignores these rules at the expense of a party who attempts to conform with them Little America Hotel the clueless check writer drive-throug- 193 Sports Car No Bargain After Costly Repairs Legal Fees Judgments wife" Im in no big hurry said Ill grab a chair 16 Youth Offenders Meet Victims Face to Face by Baldwin OREM MAN DUCKS BULLET A Orem man staring at a masked gunman flinched in time to escape the worst of a bullet directed at his head suffering only a scalp wound The man was smoking a cigarette outside the Miracle Bowl bowling alley 1153 S State Saturday at 11:53 pm when a man in a stocking cap and camouflage bandana shot him The victim sees the gun and ducks so the bullet did not penetrate the skull said Orem Lt Bob Conner He was luckier than lucky Investigators however said the victim and a man who fits the gunman's description were involved in a fist fight at the same bowling alley a month ago The victim was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in fair condition UTAH Monday February liitriliai leUiliJei ISO t 'lime ft Inc AiuiitVnlr-- Tech nuuwy Digital Em 2100 South (SOI) 4 |