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DUCHESNE — An elected county official and a former title company employee are facing misdemeanor charges following a confrontation at the Duchesne County administration building.
Duchesne County Recorder Shelley Brennan, 42, is charged with assault, a class B misdemeanor. Kellie Rae Kinghorn, 54, is charged with disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor.
The charges stem from an Aug. 31 incident that was caught on four surveillance cameras inside the administration building. County officials declined to release the video, citing its classification as protected records under Utah law; however, they granted KSL-TV's request Thursday to view the videos.
In the video, which also recorded audio for much of the incident, Kinghorn becomes upset when a deputy recorder tells her to leave the recorder's office if she's going to talk on her cellphone. Cellphone use in the office has been restricted to help reduce noise and distractions, according to employees.
"This is a public office," Kinghorn tells a deputy recorder. "You guys don't own this (expletive), in case nobody's told you that.
"You want to want to play this (expletive) game, we're going to play this game. I've put up with your harassment long enough," shouts Kinghorn, who worked for a title company at the time and was in the recorder's office routinely to research property records.
Over the next several minutes, Kinghorn continues to yell at employees in the recorder's office, leaving twice to seek assistance from workers in other county offices.
"I've had enough of it. It's called harassment, hostile working environment and this is a public (expletive) office," Kinghorn shouts at one point in the video. "We pay your wages."
Kinghorn is still yelling when Brennan returns to the office and tells her she needs to leave due to her behavior.
"I am not getting out of your office," Kinghorn responds. "You don't own this (expletive) place, Shelley."
Kinghorn does walk out, though, after Brennan calls the sheriff's office for help. Before deputies arrive, though, the two woman encounter each other in a part of the county building's west hallway that is not covered by cameras.
When they reappear on the video, Brennan is seen pushing Kinghorn backward across the width of the hallway before pinning her against the wall. Brennan's hands are in the area of Kinghorn's shoulders and neck.
The two women are quickly separated by another elected official, with Kinghorn telling Brennan she intends to pursue an assault charge.
Neither Brennan nor Kinghorn would comment on their cases Thursday, on the advice of their respective attorneys. The Uintah County Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the cases to avoid any conflicts of interest, also did not comment.
Brennan, who was sworn in as recorder in January, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 30 in Duchesne County Justice Court. Kinghorn's arraignment is set for Dec. 6.
