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Board denies parole for convicted murderer

A mentally ill man who shot and killed another man and wounded a woman in Millcreek Canyon in 1977 will spend at least 10 more years in prison, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole has ruled. Douglas Alan Yoakam, 56, was convicted of capital murder for the May 10, 1977, slaying of 67-year-old Justin Taufer. Yoakam also critically wounded Karen Sue Roberson, who was 24. Yoakam, a paranoid schizophrenic gun dealer, grabbed Roberson at a picnic area and was trying to handcuff her at gunpoint when Taufer came upon them and took the pistol away. But Yoakam got a machine pistol from under the seat of his car and shot the pair. Yoakam will get another chance to ask for parole in January 2016.

Man who had sex with 14-year-old gets five years

A 20-year-old Santaquin man who had sex with a 14-year-old girl last year has been sent to prison for up to five years. Jimmy G. Santiago was initially charged in 4th District Court with two counts of first-degree felony rape and one count of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse. Santiago pleaded guilty to a lesser count of unlawful sex with a minor, a third-degree felony. Prosecutors said they resolved the case with a plea bargain after weighing the evidence and the likelihood of obtaining a conviction. A second case, in which Santiago was charged with raping a 16-year-old girl in 2004, was dismissed in August.

Box Elder police seek joyrider in relation to theft of car

Police in Box Elder County are looking for a teenager who they think stole a car after a high-speed chase. It began about 2 a.m. Thursday when a Brigham City police officer tried to pull over a Ford Explorer stolen from Weber County, according to the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office. A chase ensued and in Honeyville police used spike strips to force the car to stop. Four people between the ages of 13 and 17 fled the vehicle. The 17-year-old driver got away and is believed to have stolen a red Chevy Cavalier, Utah license plate 160 XHU.

Separate trials set for defendants in fatal shooting

Separate jury trials have been set for a father and son accused of fatally shooting a Catholic deacon last year on Wasatch County highway. Cunny A. Palaez, 19, is charged with capital murder for the Sept. 25 slaying of 42-year-old Aniceto Armendariz. Palaez's trial is set to begin June 12 in Heber's 4th District Court. Prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty because the victim's family does not want it. Antonio Palaez-Vasquez, 55, is charged with first-degree felony murder. His trial is set to begin Aug. 14. Armendariz and his wife were driving south on U.S. Highway 40 from Park City to Heber City when the father and son allegedly drove alongside in a minivan and fired twice from a 20-gauge shotgun. Armendariz died instantly. His wife was not seriously injured. The younger defendant told police his father had once been friends with the victim, but they had had a falling out.

Woman in wheelchair is struck by car in crosswalk

A 59-year-old woman was taken to the hospital in serious condition Thursday after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing State Street in a wheelchair in Salt Lake City. The woman, who was carrying an orange pedestrian flag, was crossing the southbound lanes of State Street about 5 p.m. in a crosswalk near 130 South, said Salt Lake City police Lt. Robert Linton. A vehicle in the outside lane stopped, and the woman proceeded to cross. But, the next vehicle didn't stop and struck the woman, who did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, Linton said. The driver of that vehicle said she didn't see the woman, the police lieutenant said. The driver was was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian.

One person dies, one is injured in I-80 rollover

One person was killed and another was critically injured Thursday in a rollover on Interstate 80 in Salt Lake County. The car they were in was eastbound near 7200 West about 9 p.m. when the driver lost control, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Nigbur. The car rolled once in the median and across the westbound lanes. One person was ejected and died at the scene. Another occupant, who remained in the vehicle, was taken to University Hospital in critical condition. Their names were not released Thursday night. The wreck remained under investigation, though speed was suspected as a factor, Nigbur said.