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Show Former North Star Counselor Craig Fisher Is Released PANGUITCH Former North Star counselor Craig Fisher 23, was released from Garfield County Jail Friday evening following news that his certificate of probable cause for an appeal from the Appellate Court had been granted. It was the first inkling that Fisher's appeal of his conviction could potentially be successful in the Appellate Court. Fisher had been incarcerated since December 1996 following his conviction in Richfield of neglect and abuse of a disabled child in the case which had drawn nationwide attention. Fisher was a counselor in the North Star wilderness program for troubled teens when a 16-year-old youth in the program died of natural causes on Mar. 30, 1994. In Sixth District Court on Monday, Fisher's attorney Kent Winward of Ogden told Judge K.L. Mclff that he had merely to dictate the terms of Fisher's release under the least restrictive guidelines. The judge had earlier denied Winward's requests to have his client released from jail pending the appeal of his conviction. (See Former iNorth Star Counselor Is Released On Page 4A) i Former North Star Counselor Released From Front Page Mclff asked for details on the judgment and probation in the North Star case, but Winward insisted that the terms of Fisher's probation were not at issue, but rather the terms of Fisher's release under the statute which provides that, with a substantial likelihood of a successful appeal that could result in either a full dismissal or reversal of earlier rulings, the release should take place under the least restrictive terms. Mclff reviewed the statute Winward referred to, then asked Garfield County Attorney Wallace Wal-lace Lee for any restrictions he felt were needed. Lee stated that there were some allegations of further misconduct by defendant Fisher" prior to his conviction in the North Star case. He said they were "of a sensitive nature" and requested a restraining order to prevent Fisher from approaching the property of Kevin Peterson and Jennifer Brewer in Escalante and that charges against Fisher may take place. The judge granted Lee's request. Fisher was ordered to report regularly to the Sheriffs dispatcher dispat-cher in Panguitch and to be available avail-able for a court appearance if required. |