Columbus
MyUtahNews.com
Salt Lake City man sentenced to 20 years for drug trafficking and money laundering
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Joe Robert Rael, a 55-year-old resident of Salt Lake City, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and 60 months of supervised release for his role in a narcotics trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge...
Farmington man arrested for lewdness involving children at waterpark
FARMINGTON, Utah — A 55-year-old man from Farmington has been arrested on charges of lewdness involving a child, according to the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. Camron Cafferty, of Farmington, Utah, faces two counts of lewdness involving a child, a Class A misdemeanor. Cafferty is accused of exposing himself to two children at a Davis County waterpark on June 1, 2024. He was spotted again at the park in July by employees who notified law enforcement.
Salt Lake City man sentenced for role in $2 million romance scam
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Clinton Chukudi Uchendu, a 26-year-old from Dunwoody, Georgia, was sentenced to over two years in prison and ordered to pay $170,000 in restitution for his involvement in a romance scam that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. In March 2024, a federal jury convicted...
Salt Lake City woman sentenced for assaulting federal officers with car
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Melissa Lynn Trotter, a 25-year-old from Sandy, Utah, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for assaulting federal officers with her car in February 2024. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow, also includes three years of supervised release and...
Ogden man sentenced to 10 years for possessing child pornography
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Jordan Alan Neves Brewer, 37, of Ogden, Utah, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution after admitting to possessing child pornography in 2023. The sentence was imposed by Senior U.S. District Court...
Utah big game outfitter sentenced for illegal canned cougar hunts
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced the final defendant today in a case involving a Utah licensed big game outfitter and his employee in the District of Utah. Wade Lemon, 63, of Holden, Utah, was sentenced July 18, 2024, to two months’ imprisonment, ordered...
Weber County man convicted of firearm and drug crimes
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A federal jury has convicted a Weber County man on firearm and drug trafficking charges following a two-day trial in the District of Utah. Marc Allen Davis, a 52-year-old from Ogden, Utah, was found guilty of possessing a loaded firearm, over 500 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution, and a taser, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial. Davis, a twice-convicted felon, was pulled over by law enforcement on March 13, 2021, in Roy, Utah, after committing several traffic violations.
Convicted felon indicted on gun and drug charges following drive-by shooting
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A federal grand jury has indicted a convicted felon on gun and drug charges, a month and a half after he allegedly committed a drive-by shooting and fled from police. Cody Charles Burningham, a 30-year-old from Salt Lake City, is accused of carrying out...
Utah businessman sentenced for $10 million investor fraud
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A Utah businessman was sentenced in federal court for the second time this year after admitting to defrauding hundreds of investors out of $10 million in his smartphone company, SAYGUS. Chad Leon Sayers, 60, of Midvale, Utah, received a 29-month prison sentence, with 15...
Wildfire activity intensifies across the United States due to extreme heat and dry conditions
NATIONWIDE — Wildfire activity is escalating nationwide due to extremely hot and dry conditions, with 72 large active wildfires currently burning 783,521 acres. Fire managers are using full suppression strategies on 44 of these wildfires, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC). More than 17,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents across the nation.
Brush Fire Engulfs Home and Vehicles in Layton
LAYTON, Utah — Early this morning, a brush fire near the Kay's Creek Trailhead escalated to engulf a home and multiple vehicles. Units from Layton City Fire and Hill AFB Fire & Emergency Services were dispatched just after 1:30 a.m. to the scene at 1450 E. Initial reports indicated that a residential structure might also be involved, prompting additional units to be dispatched. Upon arrival, the first engine found a home and several vehicles in the driveway fully engulfed in flames, along with surrounding vegetation.
Deer Springs Fire reaches 70% containment, no structures threatened
KANAB, Utah — The Deer Springs Fire, which began on July 7, has reached 70% containment, according to fire officials. The blaze, which has scorched 11,783 acres, is believed to be human-caused and remains under investigation. The fire is located near Skutumpah Road and Timber Mountain Road in a pinyon-juniper woodland terrain. Despite the fire's size, no structures are currently threatened.
Vehicle fire on I-15 quickly contained by Washington City Fire Department
WASHINGTON CITY, Utah — Ladder 64 and multiple Hurricane Valley fire crews swiftly responded to a vehicle fire on I-15, preventing the blaze from spreading further. The fire, which had extended to nearby brush, was contained quickly, according to the Washington City Fire Department. The department urges drivers to ensure their vehicles are secure and properly maintained to prevent such incidents.
Utah fire crews make progress on Graff Point Fire despite low containment
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Fire crews experienced low to moderate fire behavior today, contributing to an additional 10-15 acres of growth. Crews gained access to the fire and attacked it directly, making good progress building a fire line, according to Utah Fire. This evening, a thunderstorm rolled through the area, producing light precipitation within the fire zone. The fire remains 0% contained.
Deer Springs Fire containment reaches 50 percent
SKUTUMPAH ROAD, Utah — The Deer Springs Fire, which started on July 7, has now burned 11,761 acres and is 50 percent contained, according to a press release from the Utah Interagency Fire. The fire, located near Skutumpah Road and Timber Mountain Road, is believed to be human-caused and...
Teenager missing in St. George, police seek public's help
ST. GEORGE, Utah — Authorities are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old girl last seen in the St. George area. Kaylia Rylee Erekson, described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 90 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes, was last seen on July 13, 2024, according to the St. George Police Department. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact St. George Police at 435-627-4300, referencing incident number 24P018779.
Heat-related incident at Snow Canyon State Park leaves one dead, two hospitalized
IVINS, Utah — A heat-related incident at Snow Canyon State Park on July 13, 2024, resulted in the death of a 30-year-old woman and the hospitalization of two others. First responders were dispatched to the scene at 3:30 p.m. after receiving reports of two individuals suffering from heat exhaustion, according to a press statement from the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department. A coordinated effort by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department, State Park Rangers, and Gold Cross led to the location and first aid treatment of the two individuals, who were then swiftly transported to the hospital.
Speirs Fire in Daggett County grows to 125 acres
DAGGETT COUNTY, Utah — The Speirs Fire in Daggett County has expanded to 125 acres as of 9 p.m., according to the Ashley National Forest. Management of the fire transitioned to a larger Type 3 organization Saturday night. Approximately 35 firefighters, including smokejumpers, are assisting in the suppression effort. Additional firefighters and equipment are expected to arrive Sunday, stated the Ashley National Forest.
Dual Citizen Charged in Human Smuggling Operation
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A federal grand jury has indicted a dual citizen from Pennsylvania for allegedly promoting the illegal smuggling of foreign nationals into the United States. Sivarupan Sivaramalingam, 43, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, was arrested on June 20, 2024, following a criminal investigation into a human smuggling...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.