Man who killed Utah deputy appeals conviction and life sentence

He maintains his innocence, says the officer's brother fired and killed her.

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Roberto Miramontes Roman, who was acquitted of Millard County Sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox's 2010 murder but went to prison on other charges, attends his first hearing before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah Thursday February 7, 2013.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Roberto Miramontes Roman's defense attorneys Jeremy Delicino and Stephen McCaughey walk out of U.S. Courthouse for the District of Utah after Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
The wife of Millard County Sheriff's department chief deputy wipes away tears after walking out of the Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City after the sentencing of Roberto Miramontes Roman. Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Prosecutors and Millard County Sheriff's Deputies walk out of U.S. Courthouse for the District of Utah after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Diana Hagen with the U.S. Attorney's office addresses the media after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Russell Greathouse, left, father of slain Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox leaves the U.S. Federal Building in Salt Lake City after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Roberto Miramontes Roman, who was acquitted of Millard County Sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox's 2010 murder but went to prison on other charges, attends his first hearing before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah Thursday February 7, 2013. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Roberto Miramontes Roman's defense attorneys Jeremy Delicino and Stephen McCaughey walk out of U.S. Courthouse for the District of Utah after Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune The wife of Millard County Sheriff's department chief deputy wipes away tears after walking out of the Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City after the sentencing of Roberto Miramontes Roman. Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Prosecutors and Millard County Sheriff's Deputies walk out of U.S. Courthouse for the District of Utah after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Diana Hagen with the U.S. Attorney's office addresses the media after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Russell Greathouse, left, father of slain Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox leaves the U.S. Federal Building in Salt Lake City after Roberto Miramontes Roman was sentenced to life, plus 80 years without parole for fatally shooting Fox during a 2010 traffic stop. A jury convicted Roman in February of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

By Pamela Manson The Salt Lake Tribune

· May 24, 2017 7:28 pm

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.

The man found guilty of killing Millard County sheriff's Deputy Josie Greathouse Fox has filed a notice that he is appealing the conviction and prison sentence of life plus 80 years.

Lawyers for Roberto Miramontes Roman informed the federal court in Salt Lake City on Tuesday that their client will appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Roman was convicted Feb. 7 of eight charges, including intentionally killing a local law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of official duties and using a firearm during a crime of violence and sentenced last week by U.S. District David Nuffer.

The 44-year-old Roman maintains he is innocent, according to defense attorney Stephen McCaughey.

Fox, 37, was hit by two bullets Jan. 5, 2010, while approaching a Cadillac sedan she had stopped near Delta because the occupant was suspected of being involved in a drug transaction. She died at the scene.

At a 2012 trial in Utah's 4th District Court, Roman took the stand and claimed it was Ryan Greathouse, the deputy's brother, who fired a AK-47-style rifle from inside the sedan.

Roman was acquitted of an aggravated-murder charge but found guilty of tampering with evidence and possessing a firearm and sentenced to a 10-year state prison term.

Greathouse denied any involvement in the slaying. He was found dead from an overdose in a Las Vegas hotel room on April 22, 2010

In 2013, a federal grand jury indicted Roman on 11 charges, including intentionally killing a law enforcement officer.

Nuffer ruled in 2014 that the charges did not amount to double jeopardy because the state and the federal government are separate sovereign entities. The 10th Circuit later upheld that ruling.

pmanson@sltrib.com

Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC