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June 25, 2007Family, Department of Corrections Mourn Loss of Officer
June 25, 2007Allgier Called a Friend with Alleged Confession
June 26, 2007Police: Allgier Killed Officer to Avenge Death of Fellow White Supremacist
June 27, 2007Curtis Allgier Speaks From His Jail Cell
June 29, 2007Sticking Points in Case Against Curtis Allgier
July 2, 2007Prisoner Accused of Killing Officer Appears in Court
Sept. 7, 2007Preliminary Hearing Set for February 20
Jan. 29, 2008Allgier hearing postponed
March 6, 2008 Lawyer asks to be removed from Allgier case
June 22, 2008Public defenders to continue representing Allgier
July 12, 2008Judge steps down from Allgier case
Jan. 13, 2009Accused killer wants new lawyers
Jan. 30, 2009Murder suspect avoids court due to handcuff issue
Feb. 27, 2009Allgier's lawyers in court over letter
March 13, 2009Judge orders Allgier letter unsealed
Aug. 15, 2009High court to review Utah prison guard murder case
March 23, 2010Death penalty sought for inmate in guard's killing
March 24, 2010Man facing death penalty for officer's death to be married
March 30, 2010Preliminary hearing begins in Allgier case
March 31, 2010'Hero' testifies at Allgier hearing
April 1, 2010Curtis Allgier to stand trial for murder
SALT LAKE CITY -- A man accused of fatally shooting a corrections officer pleaded not guilty in court Monday morning. In June, it will be three years since the shooting happened, but a trial for defendant Curtis Allgier likely won't happen this year.
Monday morning, Judge Paul Maughan wondered why the case has taken so long and said he has no intention of letting it go on for another three years. But defense attorneys said they still have a lot of work to do.
In the meantime, a friend of Curtis Allgier says he's sorry for what happened. Every week, Maxine McNeely visits Allgier in the Salt Lake County Jail. She says she can see the remorse in his eyes.
Of their conversations, McNeely said, "I try to keep it light. I try to pull a smile out of him."
Visiting Allgier is something she's done for two years, since her daughter asked her to. She says her daughter, who is currently in prison, met Allgier in a halfway house.
"He's a perfect inmate," McNeely said. "He causes no trouble, [is] highly intelligent and I see the human side of him."
Allgier said very little in court Monday. He leaned back in his chair and answered, "Yes sir," when asked if he understood the charges against him. He then pleaded not guilty. One of those charges -- aggravated murder -- is a capital offense.
The case has gone on so long in part because of motions filed and also because of changes in legal teams.
Monday morning, defense attorneys told the judge they intend to file more motions in the case, including one asking the judge to allow Allgier to be double-cuffed for court because of a shoulder injury and an arthritic condition.
Defense attorneys also want time to review the transcript of March's preliminary hearing. They feel there may not be enough evidence to support some of the charges against Allgier.
Defense attorney Ralph Dellapiana said, "It's going to take quite a while to get this done. His (the judge's) suggestion that somehow we have a trial this fall is frankly not possible."
If Allgier is convicted, he could be put to death -- something McNeeley doesn't want to see happen.
"I think the world of Curtis. I think he's a life worth saving," she said.
Prosecutor Vincent Meister said, "I think everybody's interests are involved. Mr. Allgier's interests are involved, the state's interests are involved, and the victim's family -- they're interested in getting some resolution and closure in this case."
Allgier is accused of killing corrections officer Stephen Anderson during a medical visit in June 2007. Anderson's children have attended past hearings but were not in court today.
Prosecutors said there have been no plea negotiations, although defense attorneys said they would like to see that happen.
Allgier is due back in court on May 7, when the judge will get another update on how this case is moving along.
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Story compiled with information from Sandra Yi and Randall Jeppesen.
