Former Myton Police Chief Thomas Wade Butterfield has been ordered to stand trial on stalking and other charges related to two women.
At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing on Thursday, 8th District Judge Samuel Chiara ruled there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial on four charges — two counts of stalking, one count of criminal trespassing in a dwelling and one count of unlawful detention.
The judge dismissed a fifth charge, a stalking count after defense attorney Earl Xaiz argued the evidence was insufficient to support the charge that Butterfield was stalking the woman listed as the alleged victim.
The remaining stalking counts involve two other women.
The stalking and trespass charges are class A misdemeanors and the detention charge is a class B misdemeanor.
Following Chiara's ruling, Butterfield, 45, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the four charges. A jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 9 and 10.
Butterfield — who became the first chief in the small Duchesne County community's newly formed police department in July 2014 — was charged in September and fired in October during a meeting with Mayor Kathleen Cooper.
The alleged offenses occurred between June and September 2014.
The former chief has given up his police certification.
pmanson@sltrib.com
Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC
Duchesne County prosecutor Grant Charles questions a witness Thursday, July 30, 2015, during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Thomas Wade Butterfield should stand trial on charges of stalking, unlawful detention and criminal trespassing. Butterfield was serving as chief of police for Myton, Duchesne County, when prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
Thomas Wade Butterfield, right, listens to a witness testify Thursday, July 30, 2015, during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Butterfield should stand trial on charges of stalking, unlawful detention and criminal trespassing. Butterfield, who is seated next to defense attorney Earl Xaiz, was serving as chief of police for Myton, Duchesne County, when prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
Earl Xaiz, defense attorney for Thomas Wade Butterfield, questions a witness Thursday, July 30, 2015, during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Butterfield should stand trial on charges of stalking, unlawful detention and criminal trespassing. Butterfield was serving as chief of police for Myton, Duchesne County, when prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
Duchesne County prosecutor Grant Charles argues that Thomas Wade Butterfield should stand trial on charges of stalking, unlawful detention and criminal trespassing during a preliminary hearing Thursday, July 30, 2015, in 8th District Court. Butterfield was serving as chief of police for Myton, Duchesne County, when prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
Defense attorney Earl Xaiz, left, argues that his client, Thomas Wade Butterfield, should not be bound over for trial Thursday, July 30, 2015, during a preliminary hearing in 8th District Court. Butterfield was serving as chief of police for Myton, Duchesne County, when prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
Defense attorney Earl Xaiz, left, and his client, former Myton Police Chief Thomas Wade Butterfield, appear in court Thursday, July 30, 2015, during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Butterfield should stand trial on charges of stalking, unlawful detention and criminal trespassing. Butterfield was serving as chief of police for Myton prosecutors filed the charges against him in September 2014. A judge ordered him Thursday to stand trial on two counts of stalking, one count of unlawful detention and one count of criminal trespass. The charges are all misdmeanors.
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