A recently launched website asks the public for donations to the legal defense fund of Matthew David Stewart, who is charged with capital murder stemming from a fatal shootout with members of the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force in January.
Stewart’s father told The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday that the site — helpmatthewstewart.org — was set up by a relative to help Stewart, 37, who faces the possibility of the death penalty, if convicted.
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‘Help Matthew Stewart’ website
A website seeking donations for shooting suspect Matthew David Stewart’s legal defense fund describes him as “a kind and compassionate man who embraces natural healing methods” and who has a “vast knowledge of the benefits held in massage, herbs and aromatherapy.”
The oldest of five children, Stewart grew up in Ogden, graduated from Ogden High School in 1992, then joined the U.S. Army. He spent time in Germany and Saudi Arabia and was an airborne soldier who received awards for his work in communications, according to the website.
After returning to Utah, Stewart worked as an armed security guard for the IRS, then quit to become a licensed massage therapist. Failing to find work as a masseuse, he got a job as a “night shift receiving associate” at a local Walmart, the website says.
Stewart loves the outdoors, nature and music and “spends his free time searching for the perfect mix of music to put on CDs to hand out,” the website says.
“Matthew is a patriot and has expressed deep sympathy and sorrow” for the events of Jan. 4, 2012, the website says.
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"As a father I’m concerned for my son ... he needs help and we are trying to help him," said Michael Stewart.
The goal is to raise $100,000 to hire a legal team and investigators.
"We are trying to get as much help as we can for our son so he gets a fair trial. And it costs a lot of money," Michael Stewart said. "I’d like to see 10 attorneys represent him. This is a battle."
He said the website is meant to show who Matthew Stewart really is.
"There are people that aren’t going to agree with it and already have him before the firing squad," Michael Stewart said. "What if it was their family member [in this situation], what would they do?"
A 2nd District Court judge last week appointed two public defenders, William Albright and Ryan Bushell, to defend Matthew Stewart.
But the defendant’s family wants to hire private counsel.
Defense attorney Randy Richards was initially retained by Stewart. But Judge Noel Hyde asked Richards to withdraw after the attorney filed a notice indicating Stewart had run out of funds to pay him.
Richards said he would take the contract himself, but Deputy Weber County Attorney Chris Allred said he chose Albright and Bushell because they wanted to "go with someone who isn’t connected to the defendant’s family." Richards was described as a friend of Stewart’s father.
"We thought it would be cleaner to go with someone who isn’t connected to the defendant’s family," Allred said, adding that the defender contracts are standard practice for the county.
Kent Hart, executive director of Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, on Friday criticized Weber County prosecutors for interfering with Stewart’s defense.
"His life is on the line, and the county wants to control who their opponent is," Hart said, noting that because this is a capital murder case the county should take caution deciding who represents Stewart.
Trying to publicly raise money for a case is nothing unique, especially with a high-profile case.
"It happens with some frequency," Hart said.
Ogden police Officer Jared Francom died of gunshot wounds during the Jan. 4 raid on Stewart’s Ogden home. Francom and other members of the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force were acting on information that Stewart was allegedly growing marijuana inside his home. Five other officers were wounded; all have since been released from hospitals.
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