Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Charges are piling on the wilderness fugitive who returns to court Wednesday while a new lawyer works behind the scenes to negotiate a single plea deal with six or more Utah counties.
Troy James Knapp is appearing for a status hearing in rural Manti, not far from the mountain reservoir in the Manti-LaSal National Forest where he was captured April 2.
Knapp faces 39 charges of breaking into mountain cabins for weapons, food, clothing and gear. More charges are expected from a seventh county, and federal prosecutors are looking to add firearms violations.
Knapp tried to fire a public defender the last time he appeared in court June 5. His family has hired a second lawyer to negotiate a single plea deal on all state and federal charges.
The 45-year-old was known by locals as the Mountain Man. He managed to outwit authorities over a six-year wilderness run.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)