The Utah Court of Appeals has affirmed kidnapping, sexual abuse, assault and burglary convictions of a former Mr. Utah bodybuilder.
Timothy L. Betha, a two-time Utah bodybuilding champion, was convicted in the November 1995 attack of his girlfriend, Shani-Rae Denny, after she asked him to move out.A week later, he followed her home from work, punched her and insisted they get back together.
She refused and got a protective order against Betha on Dec. 8, 1995. Five days later, Betha borrowed a friend's Jeep and 9mm Beretta handgun, broke into Denny's apartment and slashed her furniture and clothing with a knife.
When Denny returned from work he hit her in the head repeatedly with the butt of the gun and dragged her to the Jeep, continuing to beat her. Then he drove to several different locations, sexually assaulting her four times.
Betha then drove to Provo, hid the gun at an apartment and eventually dropped Denny off at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center early the next morning.
He was convicted in October 1996 of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and criminal mischief and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Betha's attorneys appealed, arguing that 3rd District Judge Leslie Lewis shouldn't have allowed jurors to see graphic photos of Denny's injuries taken at the hospital emergency room or hear of Betha's prior conviction, charging both were prejudicial.