Grand County chief public defender charged with illegal eviction attempt

The managing public defender for Grand County was charged Tuesday in what prosecutors said was an illegal attempt to evict her tenants.

The managing public defender for Grand County was charged Tuesday in what prosecutors said was an illegal attempt to evict her tenants. (Winston Armani, KSL-TV)


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KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Kristine Rogers, the managing public defender for Grand County, has been charged with three misdemeanors, after authorities say she illegally tried to evict tenants from her Spanish Valley property.
  • Prosecutors allege that Rogers entered the residence using a key and demanded the tenants leave, during which an altercation occurred involving a tenant's phone.
  • Rogers in a statement to KSL-TV maintains her innocence.

MOAB — The managing public defender for Grand County was charged Tuesday in what prosecutors said was an illegal attempt to evict her tenants.

Kristine Rogers, 71, of Sandy, faces three misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass, assault, and damaging or interrupting a communication device.

In an email Tuesday evening to KSL-TV, Rogers said she was "stunned by the allegations."

"The probable cause statement is inaccurate," Rogers said, referring to the police booking affidavit filed in support of her arrest. "I did not and would never engage in the behavior alleged. I have faith that justice will prevail."

According to charging documents filed in 7th District Court, Rogers alerted the San Juan County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 19 that she intended to kick renters out of her property in Spanish Valley, but she was told that was illegal and she would have to go through the eviction process.

While on the way to "keep the peace," San Juan County prosecutors said a sheriff's deputy learned from dispatchers that an assault had occurred at the address.

According to prosecutors, Rogers "banged on the door repeatedly, and when no one would answer, she unlocked the door with her key, entered the residence and began yelling at the tenants to leave and that she was not going to go until they left."

One of the tenants started filming Rogers with a phone, prosecutors said, after which Rogers slapped the tenant's hand and knocked the phone out of it.

Rogers is listed on Grand County's website as the managing public defender, which serves defendants who can't afford an attorney.

"We advocate for people in the criminal justice system by providing client-centered services, protecting rights, and promoting social justice," the public defender's website states.

Officials from Grand County did not immediately respond to questions about the charges against Rogers or her status with the county.

A court hearing has been set for Oct. 28.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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Daniel Woodruff, KSL-TVDaniel Woodruff
Daniel Woodruff is a reporter/anchor with deep experience covering Utah news. He is a native of Provo and a graduate of Brigham Young University. Daniel has also worked as a journalist in Indiana and Wisconsin.

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