PROVO — A man accused of killing a Spanish Fork teenager more than 12 years ago will stay in jail while he awaits federal sentencing and local prosecution.
Christopher Jeppson, 30, was charged in 4th District Court on Oct. 5 with murder for his alleged role in the death of Kiplyn Davis, 15, who vanished from Spanish Fork High School on May 2, 1995.
On Tuesday, Jeppson's plea for a lower bail amount of denied and so he invoked his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days. So come Oct. 23, Jeppson, his attorney, state prosecutors, the attorney for Timmy Brent Olsen, and hopefully Olsen himself — a classmate who has also been charged with Kiplyn's murder — will be in court again to discuss what evidence would be used during that proposed days-long preliminary hearing.
Jeppson's attorney has also filed a request for financial help from the state. Jeppson, apparently, cannot pay him. He insists he'll stay on the case, but prosecutors say there's no way Jeppson could get money.
Jeppson had been indicted by a federal grand jury for lying to investigators during their investigation of the Davis disappearance. He was found guilty and will be sentenced Nov. 28.
He was allowed by the federal judge to stay out of jail until that sentencing. Spanish Fork police arrested him Oct. 4 on a $100,000 cash-only bail for the murder charge.
During the bail hearing Tuesday in 4th District Court, Jeppson's attorney Scott Williams argued that if federal judges gave Jeppson the OK to be released, and they have all the evidence that local prosecutors have, he should be allowed to stay out of jail.
"If Jeppson is a danger at all, a flight risk at all ... it seems like it would (have been) relevant in the federal context, too," Williams said.
"He's been cooperative ... with no attempt to elude officers when he became aware they were attempting to (arrest) him. ... He's comparatively stellar as it relates to an accused," said 4th District Court Judge Lynn Davis after listening to the arguments.
However, Davis ruled the bail would stay at $100,000 cash-only, and Jeppson will stay in jail.
That decision was greatly appreciated by Kiplyn Davis' father, Richard Davis.
"My wife has gone through 12 1/2 years of hell," Richard Davis said on the stand. "Now that there's people charged with murder, now she's not only scared about herself, but about her children being hurt. We're just afraid that if Chris is let out, some vengeance is going to take place."
Jeppson's ex-wife, Jeanine, also testified about past incidents of abuse and her fears about release.
"Before, it was just perjury," she said. "Now it's murder. I'm nervous as to his thoughts for the future and his direction. I'm just fearful that he is going to do something."
Prosecutors had initially indicated they had new evidence from Jeannine Jeppson that Jeppson had threatened her life.
However, the threats happened during the couple's period of separation, beginning in 2001, not in the last several weeks, as Judge Davis had been led to believe through the motion, he said
"Let me state it clearly," Judge Davis said, after calling parts of the state's motion "sloppy." "This is a high-profile case. I think both sides have to be very careful as it relates to the accuracy of pleadings that they submit to the court."
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com