A former Naples (Uintah County) police chief has been charged with criminal defamation in Uintah County Justice Court. Criminal defamation is a class B misdemeanor. Steven Guibord allegedly posted derogatory comments under the name of the current Naples police chief, Mark Watkins, on web pages concerning two Border Patrol agents.
Photo: Danijel Zivkovic
The two Border Patrol agents were killed in the line of duty in May 2011. Memorial web pages were set up in each officer’s name, and Guibord made online comments supposedly referring to the agents as “security officers,” something that law enforcement members consider offensive.
The criminal defamation charge was made because the comments were attributed to Watkins, but the memorial website controllers were able to track down the internet provider (IP) address used by the person who submitted the comments. The IP address was tracked to a laptop provided to Guibord by his employer at the time.
According to the Utah Code, criminal defamation occurs when someone communicates to any person verbally or in writing any information which he knows to be false and knows will tend to expose any other living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule.
In other words, if you knowingly tell a lie about “Sue” to “John” and John tells others and Sue is publicly ridiculed, you would likely be guilty of criminal defamation and could be subject to any legal penalties. The penalty for a class B misdemeanor could be up to six months in jail.
If you are charged with criminal defamation or any other crime it’s time to call a Utah criminal defense attorney. Don’t assume you will be easily cleared of any charges; the prosecution’s job is to do their best to see you convicted. Take the time to contact an attorney with a vast knowledge of criminal law and experience—both in and out of the courtroom. If your reputation and freedom are at stake, call a qualified Utah criminal defense attorney today.
