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CONTROVERSIAL JUDGE AGREES TO RETIRE; PENDING COMPLAINTS WILL BE DISMISSED
Deseret News
Sept 17 2012
UT
By Emiley Morgan,
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Elaine Damron-Peltekian got a call Monday that
left her with mixed feelings.
For more than two years, her family had been embroiled in a campaign
against Saratoga Springs Justice Court Judge Keith Stoney. They
battled him in court, on ballots and in front of the state Legislature.
They were preparing for a hearing next month on complaints she and
her son Ryan filed with the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.
But on Monday, she was told that an agreement has been reached between
the conduct commission and the judge. Stoney will retire on Dec. 31.
Investigations into any pending complaints - the agreement only states
that there are one or more - will be suspended. After his retirement,
the complaints will be dismissed.
"I just felt like justice really hasn't been served," Damron-Peltekian
said. "Although we were successful in taking down a judge, he just
gets to step down and retire and collect his pension from taxpayers.
But he really hasn't been disciplined."
According to the agreement, which was signed Sept. 11 but made public
on Monday, Stoney will retire from the bench and seek no future
judicial appointments. Stoney, who presides over justice courts in
Saratoga Springs and West Valley City, did not respond to a request
for comment.
"The negotiations that culminated in the written agreement commenced
before (Stoney) announced his retirement," said Colin Winchester,
executive director of the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Damron-Peltekian's life, and those of her family members, crossed with
Stoney's in 2010 after Ed and Elaine Peltekian left Ryan Peltekian's
dog in the care of Ed's sister-in-law, Ann Bieker. The dog got loose
and Bieker, Ed Peltekian and Ryan Peltekian were ordered to appear
before Stoney in Saratoga Springs Justice Court on misdemeanor charges
related to the incident.
On Aug. 27, 2010, Damron-Peltekian was in Stoney's courtroom in support
of her son, who was asking that his charges be dismissed, when a court
volunteer noticed that Damron was recording the court proceedings on
her cellphone and notified a security officer, according to a ruling
written by 4th District Judge Claudia Laycock.
The officer informed her she couldn't have her phone out. Damron
pushed stop and stored the phone in her purse.
The woman pulled it out again three minutes later, but stored it
again when the officer approached.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865562587/Controversial-judge-agrees-to-retire-pending-complaints-will-be-dismissed.html
Deseret News
Sept 17 2012
UT
By Emiley Morgan,
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Elaine Damron-Peltekian got a call Monday that
left her with mixed feelings.
For more than two years, her family had been embroiled in a campaign
against Saratoga Springs Justice Court Judge Keith Stoney. They
battled him in court, on ballots and in front of the state Legislature.
They were preparing for a hearing next month on complaints she and
her son Ryan filed with the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.
But on Monday, she was told that an agreement has been reached between
the conduct commission and the judge. Stoney will retire on Dec. 31.
Investigations into any pending complaints - the agreement only states
that there are one or more - will be suspended. After his retirement,
the complaints will be dismissed.
"I just felt like justice really hasn't been served," Damron-Peltekian
said. "Although we were successful in taking down a judge, he just
gets to step down and retire and collect his pension from taxpayers.
But he really hasn't been disciplined."
According to the agreement, which was signed Sept. 11 but made public
on Monday, Stoney will retire from the bench and seek no future
judicial appointments. Stoney, who presides over justice courts in
Saratoga Springs and West Valley City, did not respond to a request
for comment.
"The negotiations that culminated in the written agreement commenced
before (Stoney) announced his retirement," said Colin Winchester,
executive director of the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Damron-Peltekian's life, and those of her family members, crossed with
Stoney's in 2010 after Ed and Elaine Peltekian left Ryan Peltekian's
dog in the care of Ed's sister-in-law, Ann Bieker. The dog got loose
and Bieker, Ed Peltekian and Ryan Peltekian were ordered to appear
before Stoney in Saratoga Springs Justice Court on misdemeanor charges
related to the incident.
On Aug. 27, 2010, Damron-Peltekian was in Stoney's courtroom in support
of her son, who was asking that his charges be dismissed, when a court
volunteer noticed that Damron was recording the court proceedings on
her cellphone and notified a security officer, according to a ruling
written by 4th District Judge Claudia Laycock.
The officer informed her she couldn't have her phone out. Damron
pushed stop and stored the phone in her purse.
The woman pulled it out again three minutes later, but stored it
again when the officer approached.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865562587/Controversial-judge-agrees-to-retire-pending-complaints-will-be-dismissed.html