Shurtleff, Swallow make first appearances in court

SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah Attorneys General Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow appeared in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City Wednesday afternoon. These first appearances mark a first in Utah history.

On July 15, both men were arrested at their homes and then booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Bail was set at $250,000 each. Both men were allowed to leave the jail, without paying bail, on partial release.

Charges against both are related to allegations of patterns of unlawful activity, soliciting or accepting bribes, accepting gifts where prohibited, tampering with evidence, among other counts tied to suspected corruption.

Wednesday’s hearing was brief, as both men stood together for the first time in public since their arrests. Third District Judge Royal Hansen, presided as both waived the reading of their charges.

Both men have proclaimed innocence throughout this entire process.

As reported by the Deseret News, Shurtleff said outside the courtroom, “There’s no plea. What would I plead to? No, there’s nothing to plead to. When I say these are frivolous, false charges, I absolutely mean it.”

Swallow has been more reserved with his statements saying on more than one occasion that he is looking forward to the process and proving his innocence in court.

The Aug. 18 court appearance is set in front of Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills, the same Judge who is assigned to the state’s prosecution of Mark Sessions Jensen, the man who accused both Swallow and Shurtleff of the crimes on which they are now facing charges.

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10 Comments

  • True Utah July 31, 2014 at 4:06 am

    Shurtleff and Swallow, two representatives of of the people who voted for them on the sole basis of being republican and mormon. How many more corrupt republican mormon politicians does Utah have?

    • Rachel July 31, 2014 at 8:48 am

      I think that the problem is that they are politicians and it seems that all politicians are corrupted to some extent, regardless of religion or party lines.

      • sing4money August 1, 2014 at 9:49 am

        You are correct Rachel, But is unsettling because especially in Utah, when someone does something unbecoming to mankind, the first thing these guys do is play the “brethren” card.

    • Mormon Hero July 31, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      I’m surprised mormon women aren’t asking these guys to father their children. Don’t they just adore these corrupt men of their own religion?

  • True Utah July 31, 2014 at 4:08 am

    Who have they bribed to keep them out of jail?

  • Dana July 31, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Every time Shurtleff makes a public appearance, he has another walking aid. Next time we see him he’ll be in a wheelchair, maybe even a hospital bed. And what a whiner he turned out to be.

    • Bender July 31, 2014 at 12:41 pm

      Unfortunately, this will end with Shurtleff donning an atomic powered exoskeleton and then wreaking sweet vengeance on his persecutors.

    • sing4money August 1, 2014 at 9:47 am

      Oh I thought you meant the aid I saw last time……his innocent little daughter. He should be ashamed. He doesn’t get it…even if your daughter asks to go, as a parent (the protector) you say NO. He is such a tool. But even more alarming is the fact that mom allows her daughter to be put out by dad.

  • Sheeple August 1, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    Which one is in line to be the next prophet?

  • Kathleen August 3, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Shurtleff refused to help me when my polygamous ex husband was going after me in court to take away all of my children. I wonder how many other victims he refused to help because of payoffs from the polygamists? I am surprised that his helping polygamists break the law with impunity has not been exposed to the public yet.

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