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WEST JORDAN, Utah (AP/KSL) -- The trial for the former owner of Totally Awesome Computers got underway this morning.
This morning before Schanze went into court, he asked the public to pray to justice in his case, insisting that he is innocent of the charge presented against him.
Dell Schanze, Former Owner of Totally Awesome Computers: "Pray for justice to be done, cause the truth is on my side. God cannot be used to skew the truth. Also, pray for a state that would issue you a concealed carry permit, but then arrest you the first time you use it to defend yourself."
The trial began with Dell Schanze pleading guilty to a reduced charge. Prosecutors reduced his reckless driving charge to speeding.
Schanze, 36, of Sandy is charged with "threatening with or using a dangerous weapon in a fight or quarrel," a class A misdemeanor.
Prosecutors say that after speeding through a Draper neighborhood on May 21, 2005, Schanze brandished a handgun as he was confronted by several angry residents who had followed him to a hang-gliding park.
He allegedly pulled a Glock 10mm handgun from his pocket when one resident threatened to break the tail lights of Schanze's black Jaguar. Prosecutor Christopher Bown said Schanze overreacted.
"He pulled the weapon when their was no self defense," Bown told the six-person jury during opening statements.
Defense attorney James "Mitch" Vilos called it "a case of a man taking reasonable precautions to protect himself, two children and his property from three angry strangers, who were acting like vigilantes and taking the law into their own hands."
Vilos said Schanze showed the gun, "not to threaten. It was to be ready to react."
Mike Ludwig, Neighbor, May 2005: "This is a totally awesome neighborhood and we'd like to keep it that way."
Dell Schanze, May 2005: "Absolutely steam coming out of their ears, psycho road ragers."
At the point Schanze pulled the gun, Clinton Sanderson was at least 20 feet away, according to testimony.
Sanderson testified he dropped the rock as soon as he turned and saw Schanze holding the gun over his heart. When police arrived, Schanze insisted he had not brandished a gun. In a written statement, he claimed he produced only a cell phone with which he offered to call police. He later told news reporters that he had showed a gun.
For making those apparently inconsistent remarks, Schanze is charged with providing a false statement to police, a class B misdemeanor.
Schanze was also charged with reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor, but prior to the trial, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of speeding, a class C misdemeanor, for driving 50 mph in a 25 mph zone.
During a break, Schanze said, "I'll plead guilty to anything I'm guilty of."
If ever anyone subscribed to the mantra "any publicity is good publicity" it was Super Dell Schanze. For years it seemed to work. For his businesses; a gun range and computer stores.
Dell Schanze: "hoo-hoo, ha-ha."
This time all the publicity was not good. Totally Awesome Computers closed nearly a year later and he blamed the media.
The trial is expected to last three days.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
