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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A judge will allow St. George businessman Jeremy Johnson be his own lawyer as he faces Internet fraud charges.
Court records show federal magistrate judge Paul Warner granted the request Monday, despite calling it stupid and ill-conceived during a hearing last week in Salt Lake City.
Johnson has said he put a great deal of thought into his third request to represent himself since he was charged in 2011. Warner appointed attorney Greg Skordas to act as his standby lawyer.
Johnson is set to go on trial in February on allegations that his company offered bogus government grants online.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Johnson is a central figure in the cases against former Utah attorneys general Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow, who are accused of accepting gifts from him.
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