PROVO -- A defense attorney was arrested over the weekend after a raid on his Provo home turned up what police said was thousands of dollars worth of stolen property -- including more than 100 guns.
Dean N. Zabriskie, 56, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of fraud and obstruction of justice early Saturday. No charges have been filed.Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson asked 4th District Judge Steven L. Hansen in a bail hearing Monday morning to set "substantial" bail, saying Zabriskie is a risk to flee. Zabriskie appeared in court from the jail via a video link.
Hansen set bail at $10,000 cash or bond. Zabriskie was released late Monday morning. He's scheduled to appear in court again May 11.
Utah County prosecutors allege Zabriskie has helped a client evade police while the man, Gerry Branigan, committed a string of burglaries in Southern California. They further allege Zabriskie suggested places for Branigan to burglarize.
Branigan was convicted of child sexual abuse in Provo four years ago but skipped town prior to being sentenced, Bryson said during the hearing.
The FBI recently arrested Branigan in San Diego on charges of child sexual abuse and burglary, according to Bryson. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City also is involved in the case.
Zabriskie traveled to California after the arrest, removed allegedly stolen items from his apartment and brought them back to Provo, Bryson said.
Utah County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at Zabriskie's house Friday night and early Saturday.
Police seized 101 firearms, a large amount of jewelry, paintings and art work and $60,000 in cash, Bryson said. A National Crime Information Center check on some of the guns showed them to be stolen, he said.
Officers reportedly found a packed overnight bag. "It's usually an indication someone is going someplace and needs cash," Bryson told the judge.
Bryson also said that according to FBI surveillance, Zabriskie has vacated his law office.
Attorney Mike Petro, who represented Zabriskie Monday, said prosecutors are trying to "boot-strap" Branigan's criminal record to Zabriskie. He did conceded Zabriskie took the guns to his home because they weren't allowed in a storage unit.
Zabriskie, Petro told the judge, did not suggest locations for Branigan to rob nor did he help him hide from police. In fact, Zabriskie has visited California only three to four times the past 10 years despite having family who live there, he said.
Prosecutors have no evidence to indicate Zabriskie, a father of 13 children, six of whom live at home, will leave the area, Petro said.
"It's not like he was packing to go anywhere," he said of the overnight bag.
Furthermore, Zabriskie has not moved out of his office, Petro said, adding the FBI was watching the wrong office. Zabriskie's office is located at 3507 N. University Ave.
"There's not one piece of furniture that has been taken out of that office," Petro said.