By Stephen Hunt
The Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A Salt Lake City woman who hid a prison jumpsuit for an escaped convict after the inmate allegedly killed a state Corrections officer at University Hospital last June will be released from jail in three months, according to a sentence imposed Monday.
Trisha Tower, 26, had pleaded guilty to first-degree felony obstruction of justice for helping inmate Curtis Michael Allgier after the June 25, 2007, shooting of 60-year-old Corrections officer Stephen Anderson.
The crime is punishable by up to life in prison. But Tower was sentenced to probation and 12 months in jail, in accordance with an agreement with prosecutors ratified by 3rd District Judge Robin Reese.
The judge on Monday gave Tower credit for the 270 days she has served in jail since her arrest on June 28, 2007.
Allgier, 28, is charged with capital murder for Anderson’s slaying, as well as seven other felonies. No trial date has been set.
Allgier, who had been been brought to the hospital because of back problems, allegedly carjacked a vehicle and drove to Tower’s home.
Allgier came in the back door holding a gun and told Tower he had just killed a guard. He quickly changed out of his bright orange prison jumpsuit, grabbed some cigarettes and left, according to Tower’s defense attorney, Clayton Simms.
Simms claims Tower - a former pen pal and roommate of Allgier’s - had no prior knowledge of the escape attempt.
Fearful that any association with Allgier could result in her two children being taken away by child protection authorities, Tower put the jumpsuit into a plastic bag and gave it to her brother to hide, according to Simms and testimony at a September preliminary hearing.
Trisha Tower then lied to police for four hours about her involvement, according to prosecutor Vincent Meister.
Simms, however, has noted that Tower’s actions did not hinder or delay the investigation or the capture of Allgier, who was arrested 45 minutes after the shooting.