This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A mother charged with negligent homicide for a car crash that killed her daughter waived her preliminary hearing on Thursday and is discussing a plea agreement, her lawyer said.
Carolyn Dawn Hughes, 24, is charged with a class A misdemeanor count of negligent homicide for the crash last year that killed 3-year-old Paisley Hayden. The charge is punishable by up to a year in jail.
Hughes' court appearance lasted only a few minutes, during which she answered standard questions from 3rd District Judge Katie Bernards-Goodman. In waiving the preliminary hearing, Hughes skipped her chance to make an early challenge to the charge against her.
Her lawyer, Steven K. Burton, told the judge he is negotiating a plea agreement with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. Bernards-Goodman scheduled a July 22 arraignment. Hughes is free pending trial.
Outside the courtroom, Burton declined to discuss with reporters his negotiations with prosecutors.
On Sept. 3, Hughes' SUV was in a northbound left-turn lane at the intersection of Redwood Road and Research Way (about 2700 South) in West Valley City. The SUV carried eight children from multiple families.
A southbound vehicle collided with Hughes' SUV on the passenger side when she attempted the turn. According to court documents, Hughes said she didn't realize the oncoming car, which was going about 40 mph, was "going so fast."
Paisley was ejected through a window on the driver's side and crushed by the overturning SUV. Hughes' 2-year-old son suffered critical injuries to his leg.
Police later determined that no one in Hughes' SUV was wearing a restraint, court documents say.
Hughes is a member of the Kingston Group, according to former sect members, also known as the Davis County Cooperative and the Latter Day Church of Christ. The court docket lists Ryan Kingston as one of her attorneys.
Former members of the Kingstons say parents in the sect often do not buckle up their children in cars because they have too many children. The former members have been watching Hughes' case, hoping it spurs a change in the sect.
F. Mark Hansen, an attorney for the Davis County Cooperative, has disputed the former members' claims, saying followers are instructed to use seat belts and restraints.
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