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Show Evidence Tampering Charged Salt Lake Couple Pleads Guilty Salt Lake City residents Denice Martinek and Steven Carl Anderson pleaded guilty in - Coalville's Third District Court Wednesday to obstructing justice, a class "B" misdemeanor punishable punish-able by a prison term of up to six months. Judge Larry Keller delayed sentencing for six months while the defendents are observed by the court. The charges stem from a June incident at the Pine Canyon Inn at Coalville where Ron Jacobsen, a guest at the inn, was stabbed by Debra Young, a companion of Martinek and Anderson. Although Young admitted at her August trial she stabbed Jacobsen, a jury acquitted her of attempted criminal homocide. Summit County Attorney Bob Adkins, who prosecuted the case said he is still "baffled" by the verdict. The County Attorney said the incident was apparently related to drugs. Adkins said Jacobsen apparently traveled to Salt Lake the evening of the stabbing to purchase marijuana at Mar-tinek's Mar-tinek's apartment. According Accord-ing to Adkins, Jacobsen left without paying for the substance and returned to Coalville. Martinek, Anderson Ander-son and Young took off in pursuit and cornered Jacob-sen Jacob-sen in his room about twenty minutes after his arrival, according to Adkins. He said the three apparently apparent-ly tried to extract either the money or marijuana from Jacobsen and, during a struggle, Young plunged a knife into the victim's chest. At Young's trial, Dr. Wayne Bosworth testified the victim could have died had he not received prompt medical attention. Both Martinek and Anderson Ander-son refused to testify for the prosecution during Young's trial, Adkins said. According to Adkins, Martinek Mar-tinek was initially charged with tampering with evidence evi-dence in the case because she admitted throwing the knife from the car between Coalville and Morgan. Adkins said the knife was never found, making a hole in his case against Young. Anderson was originally charged with tampering with a witness, according tro Adkins. Anderson convinced the others to flee the scene and according to Adkins, Anderson concocted the groups' alibi, which was told to a Morgan County deputy sheriff. Adkins said they told the deputy, who pulled them over west of Coalville, they had been in Evanston. Adkins said obstruction of justice is a lesser charge, but is similar to witness and evidence tampering. |