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ESCALANTE, Garfield County — Ten felony drug cases may be dismissed because Escalante's embattled police chief, and lone employee, is reportedly refusing to testify.
Kevin Worlton, 47, of Escalante, was charged in March with two counts of making false or inconsistent material statements under oath, a second-degree felony, and official misconduct, a class B misdemeanor. The charges were filed in 3rd District Court by the Utah Attorney General's Office.
Starting in December, Worlton falsified arrest and search warrant affidavits and probable cause statements while investigating drug crimes against five people, according to charging documents. In one case, prosecutors say Worlton lied about giving a suspect Miranda rights, and in another he fabricated a statement allegedly made by a witness.
"Between Dec. 17, 2014, and Dec. 19, 2014, the defendant arrested six people for charges ranging from first-degree felonies to class B misdemeanors. On Dec. 23, 2014, four of the people charged plead guilty," according to the charges.
But it wasn't until six days after the four defendants pleaded guilty that Worlton wrote a police report for one of those arrested. In addition, Worlton never filed returns of service for the warrants as required by law, charging documents allege.
Related:
Escalante chief charged with making false statements in drug arrest reports
Escalante's police chief and only officer was charged with providing false information in drug arrests made in the small southern Utah town in December. (Photo: Shutterstock)Now, the Garfield County attorney has subpoenaed Worlton to testify in 10 pending drug cases in which Worlton was the lead investigator. Worlton has objected, however, saying that he will invoke his 5th Amendment right not to incriminate himself in his own criminal case, according to a statement from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.
"Garfield County Attorney Barry Huntington was contacted and stated, 'If Mr. Worlton, who was the lead officer in these cases, refuses to testify, I have no choice but to dismiss them,'" the statement said.
Worlton was placed on paid administrative leave in January. His next hearing in his own criminal case is scheduled for May 21.
