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A former Iron County sheriff's deputy — charged last year with the drunken beating of a fellow officer — has pleaded guilty to a much-reduced misdemeanor count.
Ronald Parley Skeem, 46, was initially charged in ......5th District Court with third-degree felony aggravated assault and class C misdemeanor intoxication, stemming from an August episode involving fellow sheriff's Deputy Adam Burton.
Skeem pleaded guilty on Wednesday to class C misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Sentencing is set for May 25 before Judge John Walton.
The offense is punishable by up to three months in jail, but attorneys have agreed that Skeem will pay a $300 fine, and obtain an anger management assessment and treatment, according to the court docket.
Deputy Washington County Attorney Laina Arras told The Tribune on Thursday that the unusual three-step reduction from a third-degree felony to a class C misdemeanor was primarily based on a request from the victim, who told the judge on Wednesday that he wanted the case resolved in this way so both he and Skeem could move on with their lives.
Arras said it was a "tough decision" for her to make, in part, because of pictures of Burton's injuries, which she described as "pretty bad."
On the other hand, Arras said, both men have suffered for their actions by losing their jobs, enduring embarrassment and being investigated by Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), which handles allegations of misconduct by police officers.
She added that her office, which prosecuted the case so Iron County could avoid any conflict of interest, treats all defendants the same and would have granted the same deal to a citizen under the same circumstances.
On Aug. 22, Skeem and Burton were off duty and with their wives "at the mud bogs" in Iron County when it started to rain, so the couples went to Burton's home, according to a Cedar City police report.
They were drinking alcohol at Burton's house, "having a good time," until Skeem allegedly confronted Burton in his garage about having an affair with his wife, the police report states. Burton denied the allegations, according to the police report, and Skeem punched him in the face.
"Ronald left to walk home and Adam followed him," the police report reads. "Adam stated that Ronald continued to hit him as they were walking down the road."
Burton never struck back at Skeem, the report states.
Skeem later told police that Burton "is one of his best friends." Both said they did not want to pursue criminal charges.
"Skeem and [Burton] work together and are friends off-duty," one officer wrote in the police report. "It appears this was a misunderstanding that was fueled by alcohol."
Both men subsequently resigned from the sheriff's office.
Defense attorney Jack Burns said Friday that Skeem is "highly respected" by prosecutors, defense attorneys and other law enforcement officers in the area.
"I'm confident that P.O.S.T. will ... impose appropriate sanctions and [Skeem] will have an opportunity to serve in law enforcement again," Burns said.