First District Courthouse in Logan.
LOGAN — The trial for a 40-year-old Logan man accused of downloading child pornography was postponed again. Daniel Cliff Torson is already serving a prison sentence on a prior conviction of aggravated assault.
The three day jury trial for Torson was scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 27, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He was previously charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
According to court records, Judge Gordon Low continued the trial after Torson’s defense attorney filed a competency motion, to determine whether the defendant is capable of understanding the court process. The request had been submitted late Friday afternoon.
Judge Low noted that based on the filing, the jury trial could not proceed until Torson can be evaluated by psychologists. The potential jurors were excused and the trial was stricken.
Torson has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for thefts, child abuse, lewdness, possession of a controlled substance and other crimes. The cases have occurred during the past 21 years, going back to 2002.
The latest case was filed after federal investigators traced multiple files of child pornography to Torson’s electronic devices. The crimes allegedly occurred around June 2019.
Torson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has also sent multiple letters to the court, asking for evidence in the case and later requesting a new public defender. He claimed that there was irreconcilable differences and a lack of communication with his legal counsel.
The case has been pending for over two years after multiple trials were postponed previously.
Torson remains in the Utah State Correctional Facility. He could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.