Arraignment of a Layton teenager on attempted murder charges in the August attack on a Utah Highway Patrol trooper was delayed a week so terms of a plea negotiation can be worked out.
Jared Valentine, 18, 631 E. 20th North, was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in 2nd District Court on attempted murder, burglary, and theft charges. Valentine's attorney, Richard Echard, told Judge Rodney S. Page a plea bargain has been worked out with prosecutors, but some details remain to be settled and asked that the case be continued one week.The judge agreed, setting a Nov. 1 arraignment date. A co-defendant in the case, Michael Polete, 17, 610 E. 20th North, Layton, was arraigned on an attempted homicide charge last week and is scheduled for trial Nov. 30.
The two are charged with firing several shotgun blasts at UHP trooper John T. Mitchell, 28, early in the morning of Aug. 8 in Layton.
Mitchell was pursuing a vehicle for running a stop sign when the blasts hit his car's windshield, radiator and front tire, disabling it. Mitchell was slightly injured by flying glass and debris, but was not struck by any pellets.
Polete and Valentine were arrested about a week later by Nevada law enforcement authorities after a daylong search in the desert near a ranch house outside Elko, Nev.
In other court action Tuesday, Polete's attorney, Stan Smedley, withdrew from the case, and a public defender, Steve Vanderlinden, was appointed as his new defense attorney. Smedley said Polete's family does not have the financial resources to retain him and Polete qualifies for a public defender.
Smedley argued unsuccessfully in Layton Circuit Court before Polete was bound over to district court that Polete, 17, is a juvenile and the case should be transferred to juvenile court.
But the circuit court ruled that because of the seriousness of the crime, Polete's previous juvenile record and because he will be 18 shortly, he should be tried as an adult.
Because the victim in the shooting was a law enforcment officer on duty, the two are charged with attempted criminal homicide, a first-degree felony that carries a prison term of five years to life.
Valentine also faces burglary and theft charges in the burglary of a convenience store in Layton the same night. A safe, containing more than $1,000, was stolen from the store, according to court records.
case, Michael Polete, 17, 610 E.20th North, Layton, was arraigned on an attempted homicide charge last week and is scheduled for trial Nov. 30.
The two are charged with firing several shotgun blasts at UHP trooper John T.Mitchell, 28, early in the morning of Aug. 8 in Layton.
Mitchell was pursuing a vehicle for running a stop sign when the blasts hit his car's windshield, radiator and front tire, disabling it. Mitchell was slightly injured by flying glass and debris, but was not struck by any pellets.
Polete and Valentine were arrested about a week later by Nevada law inforcement authorities after a day long search in the desert near a ranch house outside Elko, Nev.
In other court action Tuesday, Polete's attorney, Stan Smedley, withdrew fromthe case, and a public defender, Steve Vanderlinden, was appointed as his new defense attorney. Smedley said Polete's family does not have the financial resources to retain him and Polete qualifies for a public defender.
Smedley argued unsuccessfully in Layton Circuit Court before Polete was bound over to district court that Polete, 17, is a juvenile and the case should be transfered to juvenile court.
Cut the circuit court ruled that because of the seriousness of the crime, Polete's previous juvenile recprd amd because he will be 18 shortly, he should be tried as an adult.
Because the victim in the shooting was a law enforcment officer on duty, the two are charged with attempted criminal homicide, a first degree felony that carries a prison term of five years to life.
Valentine also faces burglary and theft charges in the burglary of a convenience store in Layton the same night. A safe, containing more than $1,000, was stolen from the store, according to court records.