CEDAR CITY – A law enforcement agent injured during a shooting incident in 2013 may finally get the chance to face the alleged suspect in an upcoming jury trial.
During a status hearing Tuesday, 5th District Judge James L. Shumate scheduled the five-day jury trial for Grant Louis Biedermann to begin June 13.
Biedermann, 43, was arrested Dec. 12, 2013, after allegedly shooting at three law enforcement agents who responded to his home in Kanarraville on a report of a suicidal subject.
Iron County Sheriff Deputy Kellen Hudson, 27, was one of the first officers to roll up on scene where he, another sheriff’s deputy and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper all reportedly came under fire.
Hudson was shot in the hip during the incident and transported to Valley View Medical Center. He was released later that same night.
Biedermann is facing two first-degree felonies for attempted aggravated murder, a third-degree felony for assault by a prisoner and a class B misdemeanor for carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He has remained in the Iron County Correctional Facility since his arrest without an opportunity for bail.
Shumate asked attorneys during the court hearing if all issues were resolved that could possibly postpone the court proceedings. Both attorneys said they were confident everything was in place to move forward.
Attorneys were also asked if they thought there might be a chance to resolve the case with a plea agreement prior to June. Biedermann’s attorney, Gregory G. Skordas, said he believed there was an 80 percent chance the case would not be settled.
The Sheriff’s Office has been unwilling to accept any plea agreement in the case.
Sheriff Mark Gower reiterated this stance again Tuesday in an interview with Cedar City News.
“I feel we have a strong case. I definitely don’t think a plea bargain is something we would want to do. We want to see this case through and for him (Biedermann) to stand trial for his actions,” Gower said. “We want him held accountable for what he did.”
Lt. Del Schlosser echoed the sheriff’s statements, saying Hudson and the other law enforcement agents have a right to have their case heard.
He added he believes the defendant could hurt others if released from jail.
“If you are capable of shooting a cop there’s nothing holding you back from shooting someone in the public,” Schlosser said.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @tracie_sullivan
Ed. Note: Cedar City News | CedarCityUtah.com is a counterpart to St. George News | StGeorgeNews.com.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.