This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Roberto Miramontes Roman — accused of fatally shooting Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a Jan. 5, 2010, traffic stop outside of Delta — pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to three counts related to his status as an undocumented immigrant.
A trial is set to begin Jan. 30 in U.S. District Court on eight remaining counts, including intentionally killing a law enforcement officer.
On Thursday, the 44-year-old Roman pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of firearms; being an illegal alien in possession of firearms; and re-entering the United States after being previously removed.
Roman admitted in a written statement that he knowingly possessed an AK-47 style rifle and a handgun on Jan. 5, 2010.
The maximum penalties for the crimes are up to 10 years in prison for each firearm count and up to 20 years in prison for the illegal re-entry count.
No sentencing date was immediately set.
Roman had been prepared to plead guilty Wednesday to the three charges but his attorney had asked for a delay.
At his 2012 state court trial, Roman claimed Fox's brother, Ryan Greathouse, shot and killed the 37-year-old deputy with an AK-47 when she pulled them over after they smoked methamphetamine together.
A 4th District Court jury found Roman not guilty of murder, but guilty of tampering with evidence and possessing a firearm. He was sentenced to 10 years at the Utah State Prison.
Ryan Greathouse was found dead from an overdose in a Las Vegas hotel room April 22, 2010, months after his sister's death.
In 2013, a federal grand jury indicted Roman on 11 charges, including intentionally killed a law enforcement officer. A federal judge ruled in 2014 that the charges do not amount to double jeopardy, and the 10 U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld that ruling.
In 1996 and 1997, Roman was charged in Millard County in two different cases with a handful of felonies, including drug and weapons charges.
In the 1996 case, an informant told police he had been selling drugs for Roman for about a year, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 4th District Court. The informant also told police he had traded a Tech 9 mm semi-automatic pistol to Roman for drugs, and that he believed Roman kept the weapon and a cache of illegal drugs in a back bedroom of his Delta area trailer home.
Roman pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree felony drug possession in the 1996 case and one count of second-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute in the 1997 case and was sent to prison for up to 15 years.
On Sept. 15, 1998, Roman was released from prison to the custody of immigration authorities and deported to Mexico. In 2005, he was caught trying to re-enter the United States in Arizona.
Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC