Estimated read time: Less than a minute
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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- A man who sent his estranged wife a rose for Valentine's Day last year was put on probation, dodging a jail sentence for violating a no-contact order.
"Well, it was a big rose," defense attorney Bob Phillips said. "There was no evidence presented as to whether there were thorns on the rose or not."
Joseph C. Peterson, 62, recently was convicted of a misdemeanor for sending a rose and card. A protective order had banned all contact with his estranged wife.
A 60-day jail sentence was recommended, but 2nd District Judge Scott Hadley this week placed the man on probation for 18 months and reaffirmed the no-contact order.
"Even a rose can be interpreted as a way of maintaining control, a way of keeping her on edge," Weber County Attorney Mark DeCaria said.
"Whether it professes love or not, it's a violation of the protective order. There's no gray area, no room for interpretation," he said.
The couple's divorce case is pending.
------ Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
