Child sexual abuse case ready to proceed to jury trial

ST. GEORGE - An attorney for Anthony Gene Jiron said Wednesday in 5th District Court that his client is ready to proceed to a trial by jury on charges he sexually abused a child in his care.

Jiron entered not guilty pleas to three charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sodomy on a child and rape of a child on Sept. 16, 2008, and is scheduled for a five-day trial beginning July 27.

Jiron's attorney, Douglas Terry, told Judge James Shumate the case could be given priority for trial but that there is a possibility of negotiating a settlement with the prosecution before the trial date.

Washington County Attorney Brian Filter confirmed that Terry had mentioned the possibility of a resolution but said the case remains on the trial calendar for now.

Shumate gave attorneys until Wednesday to decide if they will be able to resolve the case without a trial.

Jiron is accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in his care during a week in July 2008.

According to the arrest narrative filed by St. George Police Detective Chris Trani, police were called following an argument between Jiron and another adult about the alleged abuse.

According to the state-ment, Jiron threatened to harm himself with a knife and initially refused police summons to exit the building until he had finished drinking a beer, at which point he allowed himself to be taken into custody.

During an interview with Trani, Jiron admitted sexual behavior with the partially clothed child, the statement said.

However, in an October 2008 letter to the judge, Jiron declared his innocence and said he was intoxicated at the time of his arrest and should not have been questioned in that state and that the alleged victim was already in therapy for sexual abuse at the time of his arrest and that her motives were suspect.