Salt Lake man charged after offering $40 bribe in courthouse bathroom

Salt Lake man charged after offering $40 bribe in courthouse bathroom

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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who allegedly claimed he was "rich and powerful" and then offered another man $40 in a courthouse bathroom not to testify in a case now faces criminal charges.

Keith L. Bushell, 54, of Salt Lake City, was charged in 3rd District Court on March 19 with tampering with a witness, a third-degree felony, and accepting a bribe to prevent prosecution, a class A misdemeanor.

After an arrest warrant was issued, Bushell called to arrange a surrender. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday.

On Nov. 12, Norman Pierce was walking across the street at 210 S. Rio Grande when Michael Orocofsky hit him in the back of the head, possibly with a cane, and split his head open, according to court records. Orocofsky was charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.

During a court hearing for Orocofsky on Dec. 23, Pierce was in the bathroom at the Matheson Courthouse when he was approached by Bushell, according to charging documents.

"The man claimed to be rich and powerful and told Norman he didn't want him to testify against Michael. The male encouraged Norman to say Michael was innocent. The male offered Norman $40 not to testify," the charges state.

Pierce reported the incident to a Salt Lake police officer. The officer recognized Bushell as a person who happened to be in the courthouse that day testifying against Orocofsky in another case, police said.

Bushell has been a victim or witness against Orocofsky in several cases but then later recants, charging documents state. The two men have reportedly lived together "off and on in the past," according to police.

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Pat Reavy

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