Law
and Motion day at 1st District: Dozens of moments in
court
By Lisa
Christensen
March 18, 2008 | LOGAN -- As most people go about their
day, filling it with work or school, they seldom think
of another segment of society which fills the courtrooms
and struggle to retain their freedom. Monday's Law and
Motion day at the 1st District Court was an opportunity
for those recently charged with crimes to come before
a judge and settle the matter in court.
Robert Leland Bersonnet, 19, was one such case to
come before before Judge Thomas Willmore, coming to
request placement on the list for drug recovery earlier
than scheduled. Sentenced for six months for drug-related
charges, Bersonnet has been in jail since Jan. 24 and
said he has been taking every available class and program,
including Alcoholics Anonymous, Anger Management, Substance
Abuse and In-house Substance Abuse.
His request came after being allowed to go to his
grandmother's funeral recently. He said through that
experience, he has realized that he needs to be around
home more to help out his family. Willmore agreed, warning
him to straighten out his life.
"If I see you again, I have no choice but to send
you to prison and everything you've told me will have
been a bunch of bunk," he said.
James Barker, 31, of Smithfield, pleaded mot guilty
to a Class C misdemeanor for speeding in a school zone.
There was some confusion regarding why the case was
before the 1st District Court as there was no record
of any legal action in the Smithfield Court.
"Are you sure you were convicted?" Willmore said.
A pre-trial for the contested misdemeanor was set
for April 2.
The court session was not just for new charges. Colby
Lee Harris, 30, serving jail time on seven felony and
seven misdemeanor counts, requested to be released on
his own recognacance until his trial in May. In a letter
sent to the judge, he cited having minor children who
need him as a reason for his release.
Willmore said that, although he admired Harris' proactivity
and found his reasons for release valid, release could
not be granted because of the nature of Harris' felony
probation. Harris is also required to appear in court
in Wyoming on unrelated charges. This was one of the
major factors in his waiving of his 6th Amendment right
of a speedy trial.
Joseph Grant Norris, 27, of Wyoming, came before the
judge without a lawyer on one count of driving under
the influence and one count of having a blood-alcohol
content of more than .08, both class B misdemeanors,
and failure to maintain control of a vehicle, a class
C misdemeanor. Willmore said the charges could be taken
care of at the time but strongly suggested that Norris
get an attorney and go over options for how to best
plead to the charges.
"These are all very serious charges," he said.
Norris said he would find his own lawyer and appear
in court again after he and his lawyer discussed different
legal options about the case. After finding several
scheduling conflicts with Law in Motion days and Norris'
job in Wyoming, a hearing was set for April 14.
Law and Motion days for the 1st District Court are
every Monday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at
1:30 p.m.
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