UTAH COUNTY, May 14, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray has announced the formal charges against Michael Aaron Jayne, the man arrested after the May 5 death of Sgt. Bill Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department.
Police say Jayne, 42, made a U-turn in the semi he was driving in order to run down 50-year-old Hooser, who was trapped between the semi and a Utah Highway Patrol car. Hooser and UHP Trooper Dustin Griffiths had stopped Jayne and a woman who said Jayne was holding her against her will.
Hooser died at the scene, and Griffiths and the woman escaped with their lives. Jayne sped away and was later arrested in the Vernal area after a high-speed chase and a pit maneuver by officers from multiple agencies.
“We have charged Mr. Jayne with one count of aggravated murder, a capital felony, for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Sgt. Bill Hooser, a police officer for the Santaquin Police Department,” Gray said at the Tuesday morning news conference, a day after Hooser’s funeral.
The full list of charges against Jayne is:
- Aggravated murder (mentioned above), a first-degree felony
- Two counts of attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony (for the attempt to hit the trooper and female who had been held against her will)
- Aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony (for using a weapon during the illegal detention of the female passenger)
- Burglary, a second-degree felony (for entering a dwelling illegally)
- Three counts of automobile theft, a second-degree felony (for unauthorized taking of vehicles while fleeing police)
- Failing to obey the lawful command of police to stop, a third-degree felony (for fleeing despite law enforcement officers’ visual or audible signals to stop.)
Jayne will appear before a Fourth District judge at 3 p.m. Wednesday to be informed of the charges, Gray said.
“He will then be entitled to the assistance of counsel for his defense, and to a preliminary hearing, where the State will be required to show probable cause that the Defendant committed the charged crimes. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is not to determine guilt, but simply to determine whether the prosecution has enough evidence to proceed to a trial.”
Gray reminded listeners that Jayne will be presumed innocent, under the Constitution, and the burden of guilt will be on prosecutors.
“By way of information, I would like to explain the most serious charge,” Gray said.
“Aggravated murder is a capital offense. Under Utah law, a person convicted of aggravated murder may face one of three possible sentences: The death penalty; life in prison without the possibility of parole; or 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.”
If Jayne proceeds to trial, he will be required to enter a plea on each charge.
“Then, by statute, we will have 60 days to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.”
Gray said he intends to deny some recordings and reports requested by the media, so the judge and jury can determine guilt or innocence based only on evidence presented at trial despite intense public interest in the case.
“I will notify the public when it comes time to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray said. “I will also make a statement after the trial concludes.
“Otherwise, I do not intend to make statements during this ongoing investigation and criminal justice process. I will not publicly opine on the evidence or on decisions issued by the court. I will not do anything that might jeopardize the integrity of this prosecution. This process will take months, so I ask for your patience as this case proceeds.”
