Sweetwater County Detention Center Photo
The bond has been reduced for a Green River Police Officer charged for murder in the death of a two-year-old boy in 2009.
During a bond reduction hearing in 3rd Judicial District of Sweetwater County Court, Judge Rick Lavery reduced the bond for Jacob Rollen Anglesey, age 34, to $500,000 cash or commercial surety—cutting the bond requirement in half compared to the previously set $1 million cash or surety bond.
Anglesey faces a charge of Murder in the First Degree for the death of two-year-old Konnor Allen in March of 2009. Allen died from head trauma after suffering a head injury while in Anglesey’s care.
On March 15, the state filed a notice that they do not intend to seek the death penalty. Because of this, Anglesey faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
Despite the reduction in bond, the amount is far higher than was requested by defense attorney Joshua Merseal from Albany County. Anglesey is also represented by defense attorney Vaughn Neubauer, also of Albany County.
Merseal requested that the bond be reduced to $300,000 at 10%, meaning $30,000 would be required for the bond. The defense attorney argued that Anglesey is not a flight risk because he has extensive ties to the community. In addition, he told Judge Lavery that despite the case and investigation continuing for seven years, he did not flee. He suggested Anglesey could return to work for the Green River Police Department in an administrative capacity rather than as an officer, which would help law enforcement to know if he tried to leave the area.
“I think this is a case where it would be very appropriate to amend the bond,” Merseal said.
In contrast, Sweetwater County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Erramouspe asked Judge Lavery to keep the bond at $1 million cash or surety. He said Anglesey’s story had changed multiple times since he placed the 911 call to report that Allen was unresponsive. He highlighted four different scenarios Anglesey had told to investigators about the incident.
“One person knows what happened—the other one is dead,” Erramouspe said. “And in this case, we have several different versions.”
Erramouspe said none of the versions of events presented by Anglesey matched what medical professionals said had to occur.
Erramouspe said multiple doctors, including a doctor from Intermountain Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City where Allen was flown for treatment and an ophthalmologist, believed Allen died from non-accidental trauma. Erramouspe told Judge Lavery one medical professional stated the child’s injuries could only be caused by three things—a fall from a multi-story building, an unrestrained vehicle rollover, and shaking.
In addition, Erramouspe said the medical examiner was unable to determine whether or not Allen’s fatal injuries were accidental.
Defense attorney Merseal countered that the idea that retinal bleeding, subdural hematoma and brain swelling must be from shaking is a topic of debate in the medical community that has even been brought before the Supreme Court.
“They are relying on evidence that is in hot debate right now,” said Merseal.
Judge Lavery said Anglesey is accused of a serious crime, which may give him incentive to leave the area.
“There is a great risk of flight, regardless of who Mr. Anglesey is, regardless of his ties to the community, because he has so much to lose,” Lavery said.
Lavery set the bond at $500,000 cash or commercial surety. If Anglesey is bonded out, his bond conditions will prohibit him from contacting the victim’s family or discussing the case with anyone other than his attorneys and those his attorneys ask to assist in the case.
A three-week trial has been scheduled to begin August 8, 2016.