Despite recommendations from attorneys on both sides and his own tearful plea to the court, former local TV newscaster Douglas Jardine was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail for his sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
Jardine, 41, pleaded guilty last month to two counts of attempted unlawful sexual conduct, both class A misdemeanors. The unidentified victim, known only as a "family friend," told police she had intercourse with Jardine on two occasions earlier this year.
With his wife of more than 20 years in the audience, the former co-anchor of KTVX Channel 4's "Good Morning Utah" apologized to his family, the victim and her family and his former TV colleagues and audience.
"I understand that I am not a victim. I created a victim," Jardine told 3rd District Judge J. Dennis Frederick. "I stand before you today and I am totally humbled. I am full of remorse."
Jardine said he made a "terrible" decision and accepted responsibility for his actions.
"I could have and should have stopped this relationship before it started," Jardine said. "I could have and should have stopped this relationship at any time, and I didn't."
Defense attorney Tom Branch requested his client be sentenced to community service at best and in-house detention at worst. Branch urged Frederick to realize that Jardine has already been punished — he has lost his job with KTVX and his standing within his church, has been "maligned" by the press and has been forced to take odd jobs to support his wife and three daughters.
"We want to make sure the court knows the extent of what he is going through," Branch said.
Prosecutor Susan Hunt agreed Jardine had been through a lot and acknowledged he took matters into his own hands by turning himself in but said he also betrayed his friends' trust by having sexual relations with their daughter.
"It's extremely egregious to not only drag a young 17-year-old girl into a sexual relationship, but to do it when you're almost 25 years her senior and married is worse," Hunt said.
Neither the victim nor her family attended Friday's sentencing, but Hunt said they wanted Jardine to serve a "substantial" jail term. Hunt asked Frederick to follow the presentence report recommending Jardine serve 60 days in jail; however, she offered home confinement, 200 hours community service and a $5,000 fine as an alternative to jail time.
But when it came down to it, the judge said Jardine's position of trust and authority with the victim's family and the girl's vulnerability warranted more than probation or community service.
"There needs to be acknowledgment publicly for these crimes," Frederick said, ordering Jardine to pay a $500 fine and counseling costs for the victim, complete a sex-offender treatment program and avoid contact with all females under age 18 other than his daughters.
Jardine, who will report to jail Monday morning, exited the courtroom quickly Friday without stopping to comment on the sentence.
But Hunt considered Frederick's decision a victory. "The judge is making it clear that under no circumstances is this acceptable, no matter who you are."
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com