A Utah County attorney will spend five years in prison for helping his client, a convicted child molester, evade authorities.
U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell on Wednesday sentenced Dean Zabriskie, 60, to 63 months in a federal prison and a $10,000 fine. The Orem man was convicted in July of concealing a fugitive from arrest and concealing and disposing of stolen goods.
Campbell initially ruled that he could not practice law during a five-year period of supervised release after he serves his time but then withdrew the order and said that would be left up to the Utah State Bar.
Zabriskie's son, Slade, was also convicted of concealing a fugitive from arrest. The 34-year-old Salt Lake man was ordered Wednesday to serve 41 months, just more than three years, for his involvement in the crime.
Dean Zabriskie's wife, Lucille, was charged with similar conduct but acquitted at trial.
The charges stemmed from their relationship with Gerry Curtis Branagan, who was represented by Dean Zabriskie in a child sexual-abuse case. Branagan, who failed to appear for his trial in Utah County, was convicted in absentia.
Jurors determined Dean Zabriskie concealed and disposed of stolen goods taken from Branagan's California condominium. The goods, which included jewelry, porcelain and firearms, were worth more than $5,000.
Campbell ruled each man perjured himself while testifying at trial and ordered them to serve additional time. She also found Dean Zabriskie orchestrated the removal of Branagan's property and increased his sentence accordingly.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Wells asked Campbell to sentence Dean Zabriskie at the high end of federal sentencing guidelines, saying his actions "have cast dishonor on him and dishonor on our profession."
Dean Zabriskie has also refused to accept any responsibility for his behavior, Wells said.
Campbell rejected the request, which would have put Dean Zabriskie behind bars for an additional 15 months.
The judge also denied defense attorneys' request that the men, who have been in custody since their July convictions, be released and allowed to surrender themselves at the designated federal facility.
She did, however, allow the Zabriskies to meet briefly with their many family members who attended Wednesday's hearing.
E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com