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PROVO — A very frail looking Michael Aaron Jayne made his first appearance in court Wednesday, which also marked the first time he has been seen publicly since he was arrested and accused of killing a Santaquin police sergeant.
Jayne, 42, of Garrett, Indiana, was in a wheelchair with a blanket covering his legs, appeared to have a neck brace on, a breathing tube strapped to his nose, had obvious cuts on his face, was wearing an open chested piece of clothing rather than a traditional jail jumpsuit, and sounded very lethargic when he spoke.
At one point, the judge asked him to raise his right hand to be sworn in, but Jayne said he was unable to.
Jayne is charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense, and several other crimes in the death of Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser. If convicted on the aggravated murder charge, he could receive the death penalty.
He was arrested in Vernal on May 5 after leading police on a brief high-speed chase that ended with Jayne crashing. He was booked into the Utah County Jail nearly a week later, on Saturday. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray on Tuesday said he was jailed after what he called a "short stay" at University of Utah Hospital. The extent of Jayne's injuries have not been disclosed.
During his brief appearance in court via video from the Utah County Jail on Wednesday, as he was flanked by two corrections deputies, a judge asked Jayne about his employment and his ability to hire his own attorney. Jayne said he was working as a semitruck driver at the time of his arrest, but at this point, "I have no access to any funds," he said. "I don't have any access to any money and don't have any ability to afford a lawyer."
Because of the severity of the charges against him, the judge said he would appoint two "qualified lawyers" to represent him for now.
Also on Wednesday, the judge approved a protective order for a woman who is believed to be the person found in the cab of Jayne's truck and who police say was being held against her will. The protective order indicates that the woman and Jayne had a prior relationship. The order, among other restrictions, states that Jayne cannot communicate with her by phone, email or social media.
Jayne's next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m.
