Former Utah fugitive gets four to six years

Posted 4/2/15

Technically, Jamie Cleghorn’s sentencing on March 25 only concerned two fraudulent checks she passed at the Powell Shopko in 2013, but District Court Judge Steven Cranfill had to note the existence of the other crimes.

“I would remark that …

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Former Utah fugitive gets four to six years

Posted

A woman who led police on a high-speed chase in August 2013 while wanted on dozens of charges in Utah and Wyoming received a four- to six-year prison sentence for her Park County crimes last week.

Technically, Jamie Cleghorn’s sentencing on March 25 only concerned two fraudulent checks she passed at the Powell Shopko in 2013, but District Court Judge Steven Cranfill had to note the existence of the other crimes.

“I would remark that you’ve got quite a remarkable background here,” Cranfill said, after reading through the 36-year-old’s criminal history. The judge recommended Cleghorn enter an intensive treatment program for substance abuse while at the Wyoming Women’s Center in Torrington.

“Maybe this is the time to grab hold of this and really decide that you’re going to change your life — and I hope you can do that,” Cranfill said.

“Yes, sir,” said Cleghorn.

Cleghorn’s prison time, on a count of forgery, will be followed by five years of supervised probation on a second count of forgery. She must also pay $415 in court fees and assessments and $1,081 in restitution for the bogus checks she passed at Shopko on July 30 and 31, 2013.

A count of check fraud totaling $1,000 or more was dismissed as part of the plea deal, which included Cleghorn agreeing to plead guilty to the other two charges and accepting the prison time.

Powell police said it appeared Cleghorn had crafted the fake $413.11 and $669.48 checks on a computer and standard printer, plugging in her name, but using someone else’s bank account number.

At the time she passed the bad checks, Cleghorn was on the run from law enforcement in Utah, who had charged her with multiple felony and misdemeanor charges that included allegations of identity theft, passing counterfeit money and checks and possessing drugs.

Following the run-ins at Shopko, local police were on the lookout for Cleghorn and, on Aug. 12, 2013, an alert bank teller at First Bank of Wyoming in Cody called 911 to report she was trying to cash another forged check.

Cooperation between Cody and Powell police and the Park County Sheriff’s Office led to a Hot Springs County Sheriff’s deputy finding Cleghorn outside Thermopolis. However, when the deputy tried to pull her over, she sped away, starting a high-speed chase  that ended only when she wrecked her truck in Riverton.

However, the cat-and-mouse game continued when Cleghorn — reportedly injured in the wreck — was somehow allowed to walk out of the Salt Lake City hospital she’d been flown to for care.

Police re-captured her a week and a half later. She spent roughly 15 months in Utah jails and the last four at the Park County Detention Center, unable to post a $15,000 cash bond.

Fremont County authorities had talked of filing charges against Cleghorn — in addition to the chase and wreck, Riverton police previously told County10.com that she’d thrown a box of counterfeit money and checks from her vehicle — but none have been filed.

Prior to the start of the hearing last week, Cleghorn learned from her court-appointed defense attorney, Brigita Krisjansons of Cody, that she had no outstanding charges.

“Hot dog!” Cleghorn exclaimed, exchanging a high-five with Krisjansons.

Krisjansons later said in court she’s hopeful the substance abuse treatment will help Cleghorn “get past this.”

“She’s indicated to me many times that she wants to put this chapter of her life behind her and get on with her life with her husband in Utah,” Krisjansons said. “So I wish her the best.”

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