KDXU up to the minute news

Prosecutors in child -sex-abuse case says defendant's sentence was too light

The prosecutor in a child-sex abuse case says the defendant's sentence was too light.  Thirty-eight-year-old Andrew Beagley Dockstader, of La Verkin, pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sex abuse this week, after he assaulted a 17-year-old in December.  Under the plea deal, a dozen felony charges were dropped, and Dockstader's 15-year sentence was reduced to 280 days in jail with two years' probation.

Four individuals face charges in major drug bust in Elmo Utah

Four people face charges after a major drug bust in the town of Elmo in Emery County.  According to Sheriff's deputies, parole agents were conducting a routine check on Tuesday for Amber Huffman, and heard several people making noise while attempting to hide in her home.  That prompted a search from investigators, which uncovered a drug distribution ring in the back room with large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana.  Huffman was arrested, along with Brandy Burgess, Frank Burgess and Travis Heaton.

3 injured by lightning in Filmore

This is the time of year when there are a lot of thunderstorms in Southern Utah. With these storms comes lightning. The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the U.S. in any one year is 1 in 700,000. Utah State Parks says three people have been injured in a lightning strike in Millard County.  All three were taken by ambulance to Fillmore Community hospital last night after the lightning strike at the Utah Territorial Statehouse.

Changes coming for motorists at the Hurricane Interchange

If you travel on I-15 through the Hurricane Interchange your going to see some changes. A temporary change to traffic for the ramps on and off the interchange will begin today. Starting Monday and Tuesday. “I-15 traffic will be shifted from the two outside lanes Northbound and Southbound to the two inside lanes in each direction over the new portion of the bridge.

Measure to bring U.S. military service dogs home passes first hurdle

A measure to help bring home U.S. military service dogs instead of leaving them in foreign countries has passed its first congressional hurdle.  The amendment sponsored by Utah Republican Congressman Chris Stewart was approved by the House yesterday.  The measure would put 200-thousand-dollars toward bringing any military dog that retires in a foreign country back to the United States.  Currently, the dogs can only be brought back if someone agrees to adopt the animal and foot the cost of flying them home.

Man who tried to kill wife and daughter to spend life in prison

A man who used a crowbar to kill his wife and then tried to do the same to his teenage daughter will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Walter Brantzeg apologized in the courtroom yesterday before he was sentenced for last August's attack on his wife Valerie and their then 13-year-old daughter in a Millcreek apartment. Valerie Brantzeg had separated from her husband a few weeks earlier, and had told him just before her death she would seek sole custody of their daughter.  Brantzeg pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and attempted murder last month.

Provo man in jail facing child sex abuse charges

A Provo man is in jail facing numerous child sex abuse charges.  Police say the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tracked 78-year-old Duke Dayton as he downloaded several images of child pornography from his home computer.  During a search in Dayton's home, detectives met an eight-year-old girl who was the suspect's next door neighbor.  While interviewing the girl, police learned that Dayton had inappropriately touched the girl over the course of several years when asked to babysit her.

Parents taking youth sports too seriously

Sometimes parents take youth sports a little too far. A father from Roy is facing charges after police say he threatened a baseball coach with a bat.  According to arrest records, 37-year-old Andrew Bunot became upset with the coach because he felt that his kids didn't get enough playing time.  Witnesses told officers that Bunot took out the baseball bat and swung it at the coach, missing him.  Other parents in the stands stopped the suspect before he could hurt the victim.