Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Nearly three years after the stabbing of a Utah County sheriff's officer, defendant Amador Santonio has yet to get legal counsel or have a preliminary hearing.
Instead, Santonio, 54, of Salt Lake City keeps demanding more time to study legal resources to prepare his case.
Fourth District Court Judge Lynn Davis has had enough.
"The intent of this court is to schedule a preliminary hearing as quickly as possible, to appoint counsel to the defendant," or have him represent himself or retain counsel of his own choice, Davis said Wednesday.
Santonio said he hasn't been given sufficient access to legal materials. The court has tried to push "me into issues without giving me proper opportunity" to prepare the case, he said. "I've gotten a lot of time, and very little access."
He said he has been unable to keep books in his cell, which he says is a violation of the jail's policy.
An additional hurdle the court faced Wednesday was that Santonio's competency results had not been sent to Davis, prosecutors or Santonio.
Santonio questioned the timeliness of the court obtaining his competency results.
Davis called a recess and made a phone call to have the defendant's results faxed over.
"So in the future, you will not be able to say that this court and this judge have delayed your requests for even a moment," Davis told Santonio.
Santonio is accused of stabbing sheriff's Lt. Jens Horn on June 6, 2003, after officers arrested him in Provo Canyon. Horn recovered.
Santonio's next court appearance is May 17.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
