SALT LAKE CITY — New attorneys were appointed Wednesday for Curtis Allgier, but the man accused of killing a corrections officer said he wasn't interested.
"I'm representing myself," he said. "That's my right and that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to take these attorneys."
Third District Judge Paul Maughan said the attorneys were from Utah County and come with "about as clean a slate as you can get."
"I'm not trying to play this game no more," Allgier responded. "I'm sick of sitting in jail, dealing with all this drama."
Allgier filed three separate motions asking that his attorneys from the Legal Defender's Association be allowed to withdraw for various reasons, stating his belief that those attorneys had a conflict of interest because they knew his alleged victim, Stephen Anderson.
Maughan, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to see the case move toward trial, denied the most recent request, but changed his mind after attorneys appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, fearing a pending appeal in that court would only further delay the proceedings.
On Wednesday, Maughan told Allgier repeatedly that he strongly advised against him representing himself, as his case involves a number of first-degree felonies, including capital murder. "(That charge) could result in the death penalty if you go to trial," the judge said.
"I'm not worried about that," Allgier responded.
Maughan asked that attorneys Richard Gale and Dusty Kawai meet with Allgier and see if they can "allay (Allgier's) fears" before the next hearing, slated for May 25.
"I think he wants to be sure he has attorneys that don't have a conflict," Gale said. "I think he wants to have adequate representation."
The tattoo-laden Allgier has been in jail since June 2007, awaiting trial on various charges including aggravated murder, aggravated escape, aggravated robbery and three counts of aggravated attempted murder — all first-degree felonies — in connection with the slaying of Anderson while awaiting treatment at a health care facility in Salt Lake City.
Prosecutors say Allgier shot Anderson in the head and chest during an escape attempt and then fled University Hospital on foot. Allgier is accused of using the weapon to steal a vehicle and then leading police on a high-speed chase. Allgier eventually ran into an Arby's restaurant near 1700 S. Redwood Road. There, police say Allgier pointed a gun at the head of an Arby's employee before a patron was able to wrest the gun from him.
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