The wife of former Zions Bancorp. executive Dale Moroni Gibbons has filed for divorce after more than one year of separation.
Citing irreconcilable differences, Veronica Gibbons filed the petition last week in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court. She asked the court to award her $5,000 a month in alimony for the next five years, and that Gibbons pay a $1,300 cellular phone bill and a $900 debt to the University of Utah Psychiatric Unit for alcohol treatment.
According to court documents, Veronica Gibbons developed a dependence on alcohol during the couple's five-year marriage.
"During their marriage, both of the parties enjoyed drinking heavily," documents state.
The petition also details Veronica Gibbons' expenses during their marriage, including more than $1,000 a month on entertainment — including Jazz games, charity dinners and nationwide travel — and about $1,500 monthly on clothing.
"During the parties' marriage, (Veronica Gibbons) became accustomed to a lifestyle that greatly exceeds her own income," documents state.
Veronica Gibbons has also asked that her husband pay all costs related to the divorce proceedings, saying he is "easily capable of paying all the costs and attorneys' fees associated with this divorce for both parties."
According to insider trading forms filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Gibbons exercised stock options that netted him a profit of $913,294 the day before he resigned his position as Zions' chief financial officer. The resignation followed his arrest stemming from a June 11 incident at his Salt Lake County home.
Gibbons, 41, was expected to appear in court Tuesday afternoon on charges of possession of methamphetamine, dealing in material harmful to a minor and endangering a child, all third-degree felonies.
Gibbons' 15-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old woman were rushed to a hospital in critical condition after Gibbons made a 911 call in which he allegedly reported that the 19-year-old, believed to be his girlfriend, had overdosed on drugs, according to court documents.
According to charging documents, the woman ingested GHB or ketamine, an animal anesthetic, and tested positive for cocaine. Gibbons' daughter had "an unknown substance" in her system, and both women had consumed "significant amounts" of alcohol, documents state.
Police later seized nearly a gram of methamphetamine from Gibbons' bedroom and seven "hard-core pornographic magazines" from another room, court documents state.
The petition requests Gibbons be barred from using the couple's shared funds to defend himself against the criminal charges.
"(Gibbons), unfortunately, is entangled in various legal problems with the criminal courts and his employer. He has allegedly participated in illegal conduct," documents state. "Although (Veronica Gibbons) wishes him well and hopes that he is exonerated, he should be barred from using (Veronica Gibbons') share of the marital assets to use for attorney's fees and to satisfy any obligation he may have as a result of any illegal activity."
Gibbons has hired celebrity lawyer Robert Shapiro — best known as a member of O.J. Simpson's legal team — to represent him in court.
E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com