Have the Gadianton Robbers Returned (link)

[_The Mighty Builder]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/5 ... n.html.csp

Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams was a state senator last year when he successfully sponsored a bill, a feat for a Democrat, that enhanced penalties for so-called affinity fraud, where scammers prey on victims whose trust is based on a shared community or faith.

The bill addressed a problem specific to Utah: the high number of cons perpetrated on Mormons, by Mormons.

There is another affinity-based conundrum common in Utah: government officials who use their positions of power to influence an investigation, a contract issue or a policy direction because of personal relationships steeped in their Mormon religion.

The latest example concerns the accusations surrounding Lt. Gov. Greg Bell.

Bell is being investigated by the Davis County Attorney and the FBI for allegedly using his position and public funds to influence a child welfare case in which children were removed from their home by Division of Child and Family Services workers who feared for the youngsters’ safety.

Bell allegedly tried to intimidate the child welfare workers and their bosses by ordering state audits of their operations.

His interest in the case, according to City Weekly’s Stephen Dark who broke the story, was spawned by his relationship to the children’s grandfather, with whom the lieutenant governor shared LDS Church callings.

There are numerous examples of Utah elected officials sticking their noses into policymaking because of acquaintances, often made in church, with interested parties.

Their intentions are not necessarily nefarious, but in part motivated by their devotion to fellow church members.

Utah First Lady Jeanette Herbert found herself in that embarrassing situation recently when she wrote a letter seeking leniency for a convicted child pornographer, based on knowing his family.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Utah First Lady Jeanette Herbert found herself in that embarrassing situation recently when she wrote a letter seeking leniency for a convicted child pornographer, based on knowing his family.

September 23, 2012 Judge Stewart Federal Court Ryan G. Johnson, Inmate

Dear Judge Stewart,

I have watched over the past few years as the devastating effects of pornography addiction have taken over the lives and souls of the young people and citizens of our state. I have known many of the individuals and families personally such as Ryan Johnson’s family.

I understand the reactions from our lawmakers in trying to crack down on the problems with a somewhat no tolerance approach. It is a problem that adversely affects our society in many different ways. But the majority of the young people that have struggled with this problem are good kids that have gotten caught up in pornography’s addictive snares.

I realize that this may not be the case with everyone, but I do know that a one size fits all law and punishment is not what I see as a real solution to the problem. We need to make sure that the punishment fits the crime and those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

I realize that you are bound to the law as it stands and that we may need to change legislation. But in the case of Ryan Johnson, as well as so many other similar cases, being incarcerated for years will serve no purpose in rehabilitating and will destroy the lives of all involved. There are many programs that help with addiction that would prove more beneficiary than prison. The Johnson family is extremely close and supportive which I know is also an important aspect in rehabilitation.

I realize that Ryan has committed a crime, as does he and his family and Ryan realizes that he must accept some degree of punishment for his crime. As such, I would ask you to look at the merits of the case and take it all into consideration.

Sincerely,

Jeanette Herbert

It should also be noted that her letter was written on her official letterhead.

ETA--

Here's the SLT's rundown of the charges against Ryan Johnson...

Johnson, 34, admitted that between July 2009 and January 2011, he adopted the online persona of a 16-year-old girl to persuade 10 boys to send him sexually explicit photographs of themselves. In return, he sent the boys sexually explicit photographs of an unidentified female. Many of the exchanges included a promise of engaging in sex.

Johnson asked his victims to include their faces in the photographs. Over time, his conduct escalated as he asked for more explicit images. When victims balked, Johnson threatened to publicly share the images already provided. The victims were between the ages of 12 and 18.

Investigators found folders on Johnson’s computer that contained an extensive collection of sexually explicit photographs, mostly of male genitalia, according to a court document. By the time of sentencing, federal prosecutors had identified an additional seven victims.

Johnson also had engaged in an illegal sexual relationship with another minor over a period of several months in 2010, pleading no contest to that crime. Prosecutors said that despite receiving treatment in response to that incident, Johnson continued to engage in the aberrant behavior.

[_The Mighty Builder]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/5593 ... y.html.csp

Video of former A. G. Mark Shurtleff to be used against company

It was 2009, and there was Mark Shurtleff, touting his forthcoming book about Dred Scott, praising the healing powers of a Lehi company’s products and lauding the multilevel-marketing model.

"That’s a great business model, and I support it 100 percent," Utah’s then-attorney general told a Green Tea Co. gathering at Salt Lake City’s Alta Club.

Now, more than three years later, a YouTube video of Shurtleff’s speech will be used as evidence at a Tuesday hearing in which state regulators will argue that the company broke Utah laws.