PROVO — John Pinder, accused of slaying two people and blowing up their remains, may stand trial later this year in Provo, 100 miles and several counties from where June Flood and Rex Tanner died.
Pinder, 42, of Duchesne County, appeared before 4th District Judge Lynn W. Davis Monday as attorneys discussed a new trial date. Pinder faces multiple criminal charges including two counts of murder, a capital offense. After being moved from Duchesne County because of concerns over selecting an impartial jury, Pinder's case had been scheduled to begin Jan. 10 in Heber City.
But the date was postponed Monday, likely until July, and defense attorney Ron Yengich suggested Utah County might be a better place for the trial than Wasatch County because of lax security at the Heber courthouse. Yengich and 4th District Judge Ray M. Harding Sr. were concerned during the December murder trial of Jason Westergard that the relatively unsophisticated Heber courthouse compromised safety.
On Monday, Davis suggested jury selection for Pinder's trial could take place in Wasatch County but said jurors may have to drive to Provo for a trial that could last three weeks. The date has not been set, although attorneys proposed the trial begin July 6.
Investigators say Pinder killed Flood, 59, and Tanner, 48, at his Duchesne County ranch Oct. 25, 1998. The pair's remains allegedly were placed in a barrel and blown up before being scattered. Investigators have struggled to positively identify the victims because their bodies were mutilated.
But prosecutors from the Duchesne County Attorney's Office and the state Attorney General's Office believe they can bolster their case with information obtained from Pinder's former ranch hand, Filomeno V. Ruiz. In November, Ruiz pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, a first-degree felony, in connection with the deaths of Flood and Tanner.
In exchange for the plea and a promise to testify against Pinder, prosecutors dropped several other charges against Ruiz. Information Ruiz provided after his plea led attorneys to delay Pinder's January trial date.
Yengich told Davis Monday that Pinder's defense team has requested a more united front from prosecutors. The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office recently served a search warrant in the case that the Attorney General's Office did not even know about, Yengich said. He suggested lack of cooperation between the two entities made preparing a defense strategy difficult.
"We have asked that there be one group that we deal with regarding discovery (the exchange of information), and that's the Attorney General's Office," Yengich said.
Two assistant attorneys general were present at Monday's hearing, but no prosecutors from the Duchesne County Attorney's Office appeared.
Pinder waived his right Monday to a speedy trial and also waived any objection to Davis presiding over the trial. Davis presided over the preliminary hearing at which Pinder was bound over to stand trial.
Appearing in a red jail jumpsuit and accompanied by a deputy sheriff, Pinder said little at Monday's hearing. He was transported to the courthouse from the Summit County Jail.
Prosecutors said the trial's location would be decided later, after they discuss the possibility of trying the case in Provo with family members of the victims and with Duchesne County.
"It's a complicated case," Davis said. "I want to prepare, perhaps over-prepare, so there won't be a lot of surprises during the trial."