Font ResizeA pregnant Uintah County teenager charged with hiring a man to beat her so she would miscarry her unborn child entered a no contest plea this week in 8th District Juvenile Court.
The 17-year-old girl, who is now eight months pregnant, admitted Tuesday to second-degree felony criminal solicitation to commit murder before Judge Larry A. Steele in Vernal.
Steele ordered the girl to be placed in secure confinement in the custody of Utah Juvenile Justice Services until she is 21. He denied a request that the girl be placed in the custody of her parents, stating concerns for the girl's welfare and the welfare of her unborn child.
The state plans to file a petition to remove the girl's child from her when it is born, according to a minutes from Tuesday's court hearing.
Prosecutors allege the girl paid 21-year-old Arron Harrison of Naples $150 to beat her up last month after her boyfriend threatened a breakup if she didn't get rid of the child. The girl originally was charged with first-degree criminal solicitation to commit murder.
Steele ordered the girl to undergo mental evaluations to form a treatment plan. She must also attend prenatal and parenting counseling and needs to complete 188 community service hours by December 23, 2009.
The girl's parents will be ordered to pay the state a portion of the cost to house her in the custody of the state, according to the court order.
According to charging documents, Harrison, an acquaintance of the girl, brought her to his home near 1900 East and 2500 South in Naples around midnight on May 20. There he struck and bit her, leaving bruises on her belly and a bite mark on her neck, court documents state.
The girl and Harrison confessed their scheme to police, and the baby survived the attack, according to the charges.
In a previous interview with The Salt Lake Tribune , the girl's mother and other family members said they were bewildered by her actions because the girl had planned to give the baby up for adoption to a family in California. The girl's family claimed her boyfriend, who was much older than her, was emotionally abusive and said his control over her caused her to try to miscarry her child.
Arron Harrison is charged with second-degree felony attempted homicide. His preliminary hearing was continued on Wednesday to a later date. Harrison, whose criminal history includes charges for theft and sexual activity with a minor, is being held in the Uintah County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
