Attorneys in the perjury case of Christopher Neal Jeppson confirmed Wednesday that Jeppson will stand trial on charges that he lied to a federal grand jury and an FBI agent about what he knew of the disappearance of 15-year-old Kiplyn Davis.
The announcement makes Jeppson the second man to stand trial for perjury in the case. The first was Timmy Brent Olsen, who was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after being convicted on all 15 counts of perjury.
During a final pre-trial hearing Wednesday, federal prosecutors said they plan to show evidence that Jeppson lied about an alibi for two friends when Davis vanished from Spanish Fork High School on May 2, 1995.
Jeppson is accused of creating a false alibi for Olsen and David Rucker Leifson. Olsen is charged in state court in Davis' slaying, and through Olsen's own statements to police, Olsen has placed Leifson at the scene also. Olsen has bragged to people in the past that he and Leifson took Davis from school and drove her up Spanish Fork Canyon, where she was raped, killed and buried in an unmarked location. Her body has never been recovered.
When questioned by police, Jeppson said he was with Olsen and Leifson all evening in the school's auditorium, setting up for an upcoming school play and throwing a football around. However, police say no school play was scheduled at that time and a community choir was in the auditorium practicing. None of the choir members recall seeing the group.
Jeppson has denied having any involvement in Davis' disappearance.
A perjury trial for Leifson has been scheduled for Nov. 5. Jury selection for Jeppson's trial is expected to begin Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday with the trial continuing through the week.
Two other men, Scott Brunson and Garry Von Blackmore, have struck plea deals with the prosecution and have agreed to testify about what they know.
U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell asked attorneys Wednesday if there was any chance of reaching a plea deal with Jeppson before next week. Both sides indicated that was not likely.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com