UHP trooper Steed will not be prosecuted over testimony

Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Lisa Steed will not be charged with any crimes related to her testimony in drunken driving cases, Salt Lake County's prosecutor said Monday.

"That's what we hoped they would do and that's what we thought was the correct thing to do," said Steed's attorney, Greg Skordas.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said he made the decision Monday upon recommendation from a colleague.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman conducted an inquiry into Steed's testimony. While at least two judges have found Steed's testimony unreliable, Buhman said a criminal case against Steed could not meet the threshold of "beyond a reasonable doubt," Gill said.

"Their conclusion was it doesn't warrant the filing" of criminal charges, Gill said.

The commander of the UHP, Col. Daniel Fuhr — who requested the inquiry conducted by Buhman — had not seen the report.

Steed remains employed by the UHP but was removed from road duty and reassigned in April when the review was announced. A UHP spokesman at the time said Steed would be reassigned to a "non-law enforcement capacity."

UHP will still conduct its own review of Steed, UHP spokesman Dwayne Baird said Monday.

Questions about Steed's credibility have grown so great the Davis County attorney has already said he will not prosecute cases in which Steed is a significant witness. Gill said he is not aware of any other Salt Lake County police officers for whom prosecutors are obligated to disclose a discipline record to defense counsel the way Gill's office must disclose Steed's.

"Is that going to provide a challenge for prosecutors? Absolutely," Gill said.

In April, 3rd District Judge Mark Kouris suppressed evidence in one case, saying Steed "wasn't truthful" when she testified about why her microphone wasn't on during a 2010 traffic stop.

That same week, in a Davis County case, 2nd District Judge Robert Dale sided with defendant Stephanie Nieder and suppressed evidence against her. The Davis County Attorney's Office immediately dismissed the three misdemeanor traffic charges and one felony drug-possession charge.

ncarlisle@sltrib.com

Twitter: @natecarlisle