Utah career criminal wanted for domestic abuse on Metro Gang Unit's Ten Most Wanted

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A career criminal wanted for domestic violence is the focus of this week's At Large: Utah’s Fugitives.

Jose Antonio Dorantes, 36, is on the Metro Gang Unit's Ten Most Wanted list for a reason.

He has convictions for fleeing from police and aggravated robbery and served several years in prison before he was granted parole in December 2015.

These are the many faces of Jose Antonio Dorantes 2News Investigates obtained from the Utah Department of Corrections. Seven inmate photos spanning from 2007 until 2016. A recording from his original parole hearing held on September 25, 2012, lends insight into his crimes.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol laid it all out on the line during this hearing.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: Today is the time and place for an original hearing for Jose Antonio Dorantes offender number 176725 is that you?
Jose Antonio Dorantes: Yes ma'am.
Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: We'll start with the oldest first it's a 2005 failure to stop or respond at the command of a police officer, third degree felony.

On December 2, 2005, a West Valley City police officer was nearly hit by a man driving a Cadillac. Jose Antonio Dorantes was the driver and was driving down the road in the wrong direction.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: You didn't stop you continued to drive in the wrong direction. You avoided several head on collisions, traveled in the median failed to yield to emergency sirens and led the officers on a chase before you eventually stopped at the Pioneer Valley Hospital.

You on the other hand had been drinking and could hardly stand up and had a blood alcohol content of .207

Jose Antonio Dorantes: Yes ma'am. At that moment ma'am I was an alcoholic, so I was drinking a lot.

She asked him how much and how often he drank. He replied on weekends and often drank “a case of beer.”

On January 15, 2006, West Valley City Police were following a vehicle that came back as stolen. Dorantes was behind the wheel and at that time had no intention of getting caught.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: As they approached you on foot, you gassed the car and sped away. Then you began maneuvering the vehicle erratically through a neighborhood before you drove through a park and collided with a basketball hoop.

She asked him if he was drunk this time.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: You loaded up on alcohol this time too?
Jose Antonio Dorantes: Yes, unfortunately I was drunk at the time too.

But that is not all. The next case landed him in prison with a sentence of 5 to life.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: Next case is a 2009 case aggravated robbery, first degree felony carrying a five to life sentence.

On April 15, 2009, West Valley City Police responded to an aggravated robbery at the GameStop.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: You stood at the counter and pointed a handgun at the clerk while Jessica stole two game systems.

Dorantes was pressed for answers by Nichol as to why he did it. He claimed he needed a couple hundred dollars to pay his rent. Nichol did not mince words.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: Can you think of any other ways besides stealing a game system and coming to prison for five years?
Jose Antonio Dorantes: First of all, get another job should have been my first choice.

Parole Hearing Officer Jan Nichol: Where did you get the gun?
Jose Antonio Dorantes: One of my friends.

Dorantes graduated from the HOPE program which is a substance abuse program inside the prison where he was a junior mentor and earned all his credits to graduate from high school.

As a result, the Board of Pardons and Parole bumped up his parole date to December 29th, 2015. Dorantes was paroled from state prison.

Fast forward to December 8, 2022, the Board of Pardons and Parole issued a warrant for his arrest for a parole violation.

There is also an arrest warrant out of West Valley City Justice Court for assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Jose Antonio Dorantes is 36 years old. He has black hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information about Dorantes call the Metro Gang Unit at 385-468-9768. Or send an email to: GANGTIPS@UPDSL.ORG

Unified Police Sergeant Melody Cutler says you can always remain anonymous.