There are consequences for knowingly helping or harboring a person being searched for and under investigation for a crime as one Vernal man recently learned. The Probable Cause Statement explains that on September 30th in Uintah County, the man knowingly engaged in deceptive conduct and provided assistance to a suspect under investigation of committing an aggravated assault. “While law enforcement officers were actively searching the area for the suspect, the defendant was found attempting to drive the suspect away from the crime scene and past officers involved in the search and did not stop his vehicle until motioned by the police to do so. When contacted, the defendant denied knowing the suspect, denied having any prior relationship with her, and denied having any knowledge of facts leading up to the aggravated assault that was under investigation. The defendant later admitted during a recorded jailhouse phone call with the suspect that he had lied to law enforcement about knowing the suspect and about having knowledge of the events leading up to the suspect stabbing another person.” As a result, Kent Ralphs was charged this week with 3rd Degree Felony Obstruction of Justice.
