BEAVER — Almost three years after being arrested, jailed and charged in connection with his inflammatory Web site, Ian Lake's legal troubles have quietly come to a close.
Newly elected Beaver County Attorney Von Christiansen asked a southern Utah juvenile judge Tuesday to dismiss all remaining charges — four misdemeanor counts of criminal defamation — against the former Milford High School student.
Christiansen said his decision — an about-face from his predecessor's position — was based on "one single factor above all others."
"That's the recent decision of the Utah Supreme Court that found the libel charge unconstitutional," he said.
Lake was originally charged under a 126-year-old criminal libel statute, which the state's highest court struck down as overbroad and unconstitutional last November.
One month later, former Beaver County Attorney Leo Kanell moved forward to prosecute the now 19-year-old Lake under a 1973 defamation law. Kanell maintained the defamation statute could withstand a constitutional challenge.
And while Christiansen agreed it might, he nonetheless moved to dismiss the charges within two days of taking the oath of office.
"It appeared to me that the continued prosecution of young Mr. Lake was just not in the interest of justice," he said.
Christiansen spoke to the victims of the teen's Internet site — the former Milford High School principal deemed "the town drunk" and female students referred to as "sluts" — before taking any action in the case.
"It's not a pressing urgent crisis to them anymore. They've moved on," he said. "That being true, I think it's time for the county to move on as well."
Still, Christiansen makes it clear his decision does not mean he believes Lake acted appropriately.
"I in no way condone young Mr. Lake's actions," Christiansen said. "I think his actions were reckless, even malicious. But it's time for the case to be settled."
Although he has never been convicted of a crime, Lake's father, David, has said his son has suffered from the prosecution.
Lake, 16 at the time, was arrested in May 2000 and detained for a week in the Iron County Youth Detention Center. He was then forced to leave Utah and live with relatives in his native California, where he was joined by his parents and siblings one year later.
Last month, David Lake told the Deseret News he is considering a lawsuit to recoup the money, at least $20,000, he has spent so far on defense costs for his son. He also believes his son has the basis for a federal civil rights lawsuit for violation of his due process rights.
Former Milford principal Walter Schofield filed his own civil suit against Lake, which was resolved out of court in a confidential settlement.
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com