First court appearance for SLC security guard charged with murder
Jun 29, 2018, 11:08 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The security guard charged with murdering a man downtown made his first court appearance Friday.
Timothy Lutes was arrested after police say he got into a fight and killed a man by shooting him in the back after asking him to leave the property.
The confrontation happened about 5:25 a.m. on June 20. Police say Lutes, who works for Citadel Security, was attempting to remove a trespasser near the plaza area between the Heber Wells and Department of Workforce Services buildings, on 300 South between 140 East and 160 East.
Thomas Ray Stanfield was killed.
On Friday morning, Lutes appeared in court via video from the Salt Lake County Jail.
3rd District Court Judge Laura S. Scott read out loud the charge to him and said she would be appointing an attorney.
Lutes only said “Yes your honor” and briefly answered “I do” when asked if he had the information before him.
Bail was set at 1 million 7 dollars.
His next court appearance was set for July 13.
