Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2001
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2001 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Paul Rolly and JoAnn Jacobson Wells

ROLLY AND WELLS: SERGEANT'S ACT SMELLS FUNNIER THAN THE MONEY

On Sept. 19 of last year, Salt Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Darin Carr pulled 
over Breton Baranda, a Mexican national, and seized the $2,340 Baranda had 
in his wallet, saying it smelled like marijuana. Carr did not give Baranda 
a receipt, but handed him his business card.

When attorney Joseph Jardine of Salt Lake City called Carr about Baranda's 
money several weeks later, he felt the sergeant was being evasive so he 
filed a complaint with the sheriff's Internal Affairs Division on Oct. 27.

Four days later, Baranda finally received a receipt for his money. It was 
explained to Jardine that the money was kept in a container until a 
drug-sniffing dog could be used to inspect it. The explanation came on Nov. 
6, a month and a half after the initial stop and a week and a half after 
the Internal Affairs complaint. The sheriff's office then filed an official 
seizure claim in 3rd District Court on Nov. 21.

Sheriff's Sgt. Peggy Faulkner said Carr was reprimanded for not giving 
Baranda a receipt, but that he otherwise acted properly. Baranda was never 
charged with a crime. The Utah Supreme Court has since ruled money cannot 
be seized solely on the basis of its smell.

Meanwhile, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office agreed after 
months of haggling to split the money with Baranda, who used it to return 
to Mexico.

Lavish Lobbying

The Salt Lake County Council has appropriated $30,000 to hire the 
husband-and-wife team of Fred Finlinson and Christine Fox, former 
legislators, to represent its interests in the Legislature.

County Mayor Nancy Workman already has committed $100,000 to hire two 
lobbying firms: Tetris, led by former Sens. Paul Rogers and Blaze Wharton, 
and Sego Strategies, led by former Rep. Susan Koehn. Lobbyist Dave 
Nicponski is representing Salt Lake County Treasurer Larry Richardson, 
Recorder Gary Ott and Surveyor Vaughn Butler, who are pooling their money 
to pay him $45,000.

Lobbyist Spencer Stokes is representing County Sheriff Aaron Kennard at the 
Legislature for $45,000.

Bottom line: County taxpayers are shelling out nearly a quarter of a 
million dollars for five lobbying firms working independently of one another.

Jumping In

State Rep. John Swallow, R-Sandy, filed an official campaign finance 
committee report with the Federal Elections Commission last week, notifying 
the commission that he intends to seek the Republican nomination for Utah's 
2nd Congressional District seat in 2002.

Swallow says he will not make an official public announcement until after 
the upcoming legislative session. But for the race, he has raised $5,000, 
which necessitates his filing of the federal report. Other Republican 
hopefuls for Congressman Jim Matheson's seat include Salt Lake County 
Councilman Winston Wilkinson, former Congressman Merrill Cook, state Sen. 
Bill Hickman, R-St. George, and attorney Greg Hawkins, who unsuccessfully 
challenged Sen. Orrin Hatch for the GOP nomination last year.

Generous Grinch

Because of Utahns' generosity to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist 
attacks, donations to Utah charities have decreased. That is why Salvation 
Army workers were thrilled last week when they found a $50 bill that had 
been placed in one of the kettles in Salt Lake City. Upon further 
examination, however, the bill was found to be counterfeit.
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