A Salt Lake City filmmaker will be given a chance to finish his movie before serving a prison sentence for witness tampering.
Gilbert Medina, 38, appeared in U.S. District Court Thursday to plead guilty to one count of witness tampering and was then sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
Medina pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement struck with federal prosecutors, who then dismissed one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Federal prosecutors alleged last June that Medina traveled to Los Angeles to have sex with an underage girl and that Medina may have videotaped portions of his activities with the girl in both California and at Medina's downtown condominium.
However, during Thursday's hearing, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart indicated that the victim in the case did not want to testify against Medina.
Medina admitted that he had contacted the victim's mother by telephone, in violation of court order, and "had a conversation and said a prayer" with her. For that, prosecutors charged Medina with witness tampering.
In court, Medina apologized to his friends, family and to the court for being "blinded" by his "pride and foolishness."
Stewart said he felt Medina still does not have any comprehension of the seriousness of his conduct and advised Medina to "evaluate his life" during his sentence.
Medina, who has been in custody since being arrested, asked the court to grant him release for a few weeks while the Federal Bureau of Prisons processes him to give him a chance to finish his film "Jack's Law," an action movie filmed in Utah. Medina's attorney said the investors had been waiting for the film to be completed, as have production crew members, who have been waiting to be paid.
Stewart granted Medina release, but ordered him to have no contact with the victim or her family and no unsupervised contact with minors.
Medina claims his relationship with the victim was consensual and that he even consulted a pastor about their relationship.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karin Fojtik said Thursday's sentence also was approved by the victim in the case.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com