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A key figure in the political scandal that ensnared the Utah attorney general's office has pleaded not guilty to six felony charges, including counts that allege he tried to threaten or intimidate individuals with ties to former Attorneys General Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow.
Timothy Lawson, 51, is charged in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court with tax evasion, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and pattern of unlawful activity.
Judge Paul Parker entered not guilty pleas on Lawson's behalf during a brief hearing Monday — about 2½ years after Salt Lake County prosecutors first brought the charges.
Lawson was the first person charged in connection with allegations of misconduct by Shurtleff and his successor, Swallow.
Both men were charged in 2014 and have pleaded not guilty to myriad criminal offenses in separate cases, which are ongoing.
Prosecutors say that Lawson, a Provo businessman who once ran for the governor's office, attempted to threaten Utah businessmen seeking Shurtleff's ear or assistance in incidents dating back to 2008. They also contend Lawson took $120,000 from one man, promising access to Shurtleff, and then failed to disclose the payment on tax returns.
No trial has been set in the case. On Monday, Salt Lake County prosecutors told the judge "there is some negotiation going on" that might resolve the case.
Defense attorney Ronald Yengich said that was true "to a degree," but also told Parker he was unsure the case could be resolved, given that there are "so many parties involved."
That would include, he said, Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings, who is prosecuting Shurtleff and Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who is prosecuting Swallow.
Shurtleff and Swallow are both likely potential witnesses in Lawson's case, as he could be in theirs — complicating any negotiations.
"I don't want to mislead the court," Yengich said. "At one time I had a real hope this matter would be resolved, but I can't say, in good conscience, that it's likely to."
Parker set another hearing in the case for Aug. 15 to allow for additional discussion.
Lawson is also separately charged with counts of communications fraud, theft and making false or inconsistent statements stemming from allegations that he bilked the Social Security Administration out of $90,000.
Court papers say that between April 2012 and September 2013, Lawson twice told administrative judges from the Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review that he had for years been unemployed or worked fewer than five hours a week
The claims resulted in a January 2014 award of $86,810 to him and his family, court papers say.
According to prosecutors, however, state workforce services records show that in 2009 and 2010, Lawson reported owning a share in a Marshall Islands-based hovercraft business and operated a gluten-free bakery.
Lawson has not yet entered a plea in the Social Security case, which was filed in February.
The next hearing in the case will also be held Aug. 15.