Buzz Blog

Three of seven alleged attackers of DJ Bell and Dan Fair are currently in custody while the other four have posted bail. Bell and Fair were the victims of an attack on July 5, 2008, in South Salt Lake ---after next-door neighbors accused Bell of kidnapping two children. Bell and Fair were subsequently attacked and suffered serious injuries.

While testifying in the kidnapping trial against Bell, multiple neighbors-now-defendants admitted to being involved or having witnessed the attack. Bell was acquitted and the jury criticized the prosecution against him, in September.

(pictured is Ietitaia Tavita Nuusila, 26, the only defendant in the case currently held at the Salt Lake County Jail)

Now begin the aggravated assault and riot trials against the neighbors. The Salt Lake District Attorney's office filed felony charges against the seven March 2. Ample background on the case can be read here.

Not much has happened by way of court hearings, yet. Several of the defendants made their initial appearances in court this month, one has retained a private attorney, two are in the Clark County Jail after being arrested Friday in Las Vegas, while one is still in custody in the Salt Lake County jail, unwilling or unable to post the $100,000 bond.

All the defendants--except the two in the Clark County Jail--are scheduled to appear for 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy on April 20 at 2 p.m. at the Matheson Court House in downtown Salt Lake City. Not much is likely to happen at the hearing because the cases are still so new.

The Salt Lake District Attorneys office believes each the South Salt Lake Seven were either directly involved in beating Bell and Fair or, according to the criminal information (pdf), "assemble[d] with two or more persons with the purpose of engaging, soon thereafter, in tumultuous or violent conduct, knowing that two or more other persons in the assembly [had] the same purpose."

Bell and Fair have since moved away from South Salt Lake but still live locally.

Below is the status of each of the defendants.

Ricky Ian Peace, 32
charges: first-degree felony aggravated burglary; first-degree felony aggravated assault; third-degree felony riot
status: in custody at the Clark County Detention Center on $100,000 warrant
next: After he is booked locally, his bail could be adjusted from the $100,000 warrant amount.

Ietitaia Tavita Nuusila, 26
charges: first-degree felony aggravated burglary;first-degree felony aggravated assault, third-degree felony riot; class-A misdemeanor simple assault, class-A misdemeanor false personal information
status: in custody at the Salt Lake County Jail since March 12, $100,000 bail
next: roll call hearing April 20 at 2 p.m. with Judge Skanchy

Ieti David Mageo, 33
charges: first-degree felony aggravated burglary; first-degree felony aggravated assault; third-degree felony riot
status: not in custody - booked at the Salt Lake County Jail March 4, paid $100,000 bond(pdf) the same day
next: roll call hearing April 20 at 2 p.m. with Judge Skanchy

Lisa Rita Aiono, 26
charges: third-degree felony riot
status: Clark County Detention Center on $10,000 warrant
next: After she is booked locally, her bail could be adjusted from the $10,000 warrant amount.

Marsha Rae Finau, 30
charges: third-degree felony riot
status: not in custody - booked at the Salt Lake County Jail March 3, paid $10,000 bond the same day
next: roll call hearing April 20 at 2 p.m. with Judge Skanchy

Angelina Janae Dibella, 31
charges: third-degree felony riot; class-A misdemeanor simple assault
status: out of custody - booked at the Salt Lake County Jail March 3, paid $10,000 bond the same day
next: roll call hearing April 20 at 2 p.m. with Judge Skanch
note: retained attorney Earl Xaiz

Tapululululu Latu, 30
charge: third-degree felony riot
status: out of custody - booked at the Salt Lake County Jail March 4, paid $10,000 bond(pdf) the same day
next: roll call hearing April 20 at 2 p.m. with Judge Skanchy

Sources: Salt Lake County Jail inmate lookup and roster history, Clark County Jail inmate information search, Salt Lake District Attorney's office and the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts (XChange).