Salt Lake Organizing Committee official Doug Arnot began a 10-day stint in the Salt Lake County Jail Thursday morning for his conduct in a road rage assault on March 29, 2000.
Third District Judge Dennis Fuchs Wednesday sentenced Arnot, 49, to six months in jail, suspending all but 10 days. Arnot must also pay $450 of a $1,850 fine, complete 200 hours of community service and one-year probation.
Arnot, SLOC's managing director of operations, pleaded guilty in October to class B misdemeanor assault for causing "substantial bodily injury" to Richard D. Van Orden, 32.
According to court documents, Arnot narrowly missed Van Orden while attempting a left turn off West Temple onto 300 South as Van Orden was walking north on West Temple in the crosswalk. The two men exchanged words. Witnesses told police they saw Arnot proceed through the intersection, turn the vehicle around and continue the dispute with Van Orden.
At least two witnesses saw Arnot lean through the window, grab Van Orden by his tie and punch him several times in the face, Salt Lake City Prosecutor Langdon Fisher said Wednesday.
"He was yanked off of his feet with enough force to pull him out of one of his shoes," Fisher said, adding Van Orden's necktie was so tight it had to be cut off by paramedics. He also said Van Orden was unable to defend himself in the altercation because he was "weighed down" by two shoulder bags and other packages.
Van Orden was taken to LDS Hospital and treated for scrapes and bruises and received stitches for a cut on his forehead. He did not speak at Wednesday's hearing.
But at a Dec. 11 hearing, Van Orden said the incident has put a strain on his marriage. "It's taken its toll on us, and I think that needs to be known," he said, criticizing the prosecutors' 30-day recommendation as a "light sentence for threatening someone's life."
Fuchs struck middle ground in his sentence, between prosecutors' recommendation of 30 days in jail and Arnot's plea for probation.
"As individuals, we sometimes have choices, and we make mistakes," Fuchs said. "You had that initial choice to just keep going. . . . But you didn't. You turned around and went back. That initial choice to turn around and go back was the biggest mistake that you made."
Defense attorney Greg Skordas said Arnot accepted the plea agreement to bring closure to the incident, but maintained there was sufficient evidence to clear his client.
"A jury could have found that Doug's conduct was a legitimate use of force in response to another's use of force," Skordas said, indicating he had interviewed witnesses who said Arnot struck Van Orden in self-defense.
In the end, Arnot apologized to Van Orden, his family and the residents of Utah for his actions.
"Like the judge said, I think there are those of us in the community that have to be held to a higher standard. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have been held to a higher standard. And I accept that," Arnot said.
SLOC spokeswoman Caroline Shaw said Arnot was placed on probation with the committee after the incident occurred, but that Wednesday's sentence will not affect his employment.
"That means that, for example, should another incident occur, we would review his employment status with the organizing committee," Shaw said. "But it is important to note that Mr. Arnot since the time of the incident has been involved with anger management counseling, at the suggestion of the organizing committee, and continues to do that to this day."
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