The House agreed to set up a special attorney general fund to pay for expensive defense fees for indigent defendants. But Garfield County taxpayers will still be hard-pressed to come up with tens of thousands of dollars to pay the defense attorney bills of eight North Star Expedition employees.
The eight were accused of criminal child abuse in the death of 16-year-old Aaron Bacon of Phoenix, who collasped and died March 31, 1994.Rep. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch, said the eight all said they couldn't afford their own attorneys. Since charges were filed, one has pleaded guilty and two other defendants agreed to combine their defense. That leaves the county paying for six defenses. "We've already gotten a (defense attorney) bill for $50,000 and the trial isn't until March," said Hatch. "They're guessing this could cost $500,000 in attorney fees, and it could break the county financially if we (in the Legislature) don't help out."
Hatch's bill would set up a $200,000 defense attorney fund for indigent people charged with major crimes.
"This North Star case has nothing to do with the county, the program (for troubled youth) was licensed by the state and the death occurred on Bureau of Land Management land," said Hatch. "Only the county taxpayers have to pick up the expense."