by Kylee Boyter
kboyter@cherryroad.com
On Sunday, August 4 Piute County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fight in Junction, Utah. In their press release it stated “multiple people were involved in the fight and deputies on scene broke up the fight.”
A 19-year-old male, later identified as Taitum Leatham, suffered serious injuries as a result of the fight and was taken by ambulance to Sevier Valley Hospital and later life lighted to Utah Valley Hospital.
On August 10, arrest warrants were issued in the 6th District Court for Wesley R. Fautin, 33, of Monroe, and Shawn M. Hayward, 48, of Herriman, as shown in court records.
Fautin and Hayward have been charged with two second-degree felony of aggravated assault, one resulting in serious bodily injury and the other producing a loss of consciousness. Fautin received an additional third-degree felony in relation to a fight that happened before the altercation.
“I anticipate their arrest this week which will begin the criminal process,” said Piute County attorney, Scott Burns. “The Piute County Sheriff’s Office has been taking statements from dozens of witnesses, obtaining medical records, processing photographs, and putting together the sequence of events.”
Burns shared that he wants to commend the Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Marty Gleave and Deputies Mike Gayler and Troy Kennedy) for their immediate response to aid a severely injured young man while, at the same time, trying to process a chaotic scene with multiple people involved.
“The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty – and the County Attorney’s Office will now work with the Sheriff’s Office and witnesses to present the case,” said Burns.
“This is still an ongoing investigation,” said Deputy Mike Gayler, Piute County Sheriff’s Office. “We still have several interviews to conduct and this investigation in our highest priority.”
“Prayers for the young man that was, it is alleged, severely beaten, continue and I along with the Sheriff’s Office continue to monitor his condition via close contact with his family members who have remained at his side at the hospital since this occurred,” said Burns.
