Time running out for plea deal

A Green River Police officer who has been charged with murder after a two-year-old boy in his care died, has until Friday to make a plea deal.

Jacob Anglesey, 35, who was charged with first-degree murder, was going to change his plea in the Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery at a change of plea hearing in June, but when it was time for the hearing, it was announced a deal hadn’t been reached after all.

Since then, an order after pretrial document has been filed in the Third District Court. This pretrial document states “Cold Plea Deadline: The deadline for any change of plea pursuant to a plea agreement is Aug. 25, 2017. After that date, the court will not accept any plea agreement or any change of plea other than a plea of guilty.”

This document also states any anticipated motions must be heard prior to Aug. 25 as well.

The trial is scheduled to start Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. Both the state and the defense are anticipating the trial to last 15 days. Due to the expected length of the trial, 12 jury members and three alternates will be selected at that time.

The document also states “due to the notoriety and subject matter of the case, 150 jurors will be summoned for jury selection.” One hundred will be summoned Sept. 11 and an additional 50 can be summoned Sept. 12, if a quality jury pool isn’t obtained on Sept. 11.

The Case

Anglesey, was placed on administrative leave, after he was indicted for a first-degree murder charge Feb. 3, 2016, in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James in front of a grand jury.

At that time, the jury convened to determine whether or not there was enough probable cause to charge Anglesey with first-degree murder, which stemmed from the 2009 death of Konnor Allen, a 2-year-old boy. Allen was the son of Phylicia Rasdall and Corry Allen.

The jury trial was scheduled to take place in February of 2017, but Anglesey requested the trial date be continued. His request was granted by Third District Court Judge Richard Lavery. The jury trial is now scheduled to start Sept. 11, 2017, at 9 a.m.

In an article titled “Child’s death under investigation,” in The Green River Star’s March 18, 2009, edition, “The male child, Allen, had suffered a head injury and was transported by ambulance to the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County; and subsequently Life Flighted to Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Allen died from the injury. An autopsy was conducted by the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The article also states, the person reporting accident was an off-duty police officer who was at the residence at the time of Allen’s injury. This officer was later identified as Anglesey. In 2009, Anglesey reported the child was injured in a fall.

According to information released by the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office, after the incident, the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office was notified and they contacted the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct an investigation. DCI presented its initial findings to a special prosecutor, requested by then Sweetwater County Attorney Brett Johnson, and appointed by the Sweetwater County Commissioners on March 12, 2009.

After reviewing the investigation, the appointed special prosecutor declined to initiate charges, but the case remained open with DCI.

In 2015, DCI agents presented their findings and expert reports to Sweetwater County Attorney Daniel Erramouspe, the release states. The investigation presented alleged inconsistent statements from Anglesey as to the cause of Allen’s injuries, and the medical exam report. Also included were medical reports citing the injuries to Allen were caused by non-accidental trauma.

Anglesey, who worked at the GRPD for years, was best known as the police department’s K-9 handler.

 

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