Gavel. Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash
LOGAN — A 19-year-old River Heights woman arrested and charged with allegedly luring an individual to a parking lot and assaulting him in February, is asking for her case to be transferred to a court administered therapy program. Natasha L. Allsop is applying for Mental Health Court, as her attorney continues to work out a resolution in the case.
Allsop participated in a virtual hearing Wednesday morning in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference. She was previously charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; and aggravated assault and riot, both third-degree felonies.
Defense attorney Kenneth Allsop asked a judge to allow his client to be considered for Mental Health Court, where participants undergo mental health treatment and must comply with medication prescriptions. The program usually takes several years to complete and could keep Natasha from a lengthy jail or prison sentence for the pending charges.
Judge Brian Cannell said he would all the defendant to be considered for the program.
According to an arrest report, Cache County Sheriff’s deputies were called to investigate the assault that allegedly occurred during the early morning hours of Feb. 18, at the Park and Ride in Petersboro, along the Valley View Highway. Allsop had made a plan to assault the victim in the case and lured him to the parking lot under a false pretense.
The alleged victim told deputies that during the incident, another individual pulled a gun and pointed it at them. The gun was later determined to be a toy but looked similar to a Glock handgun. The individual then struck the alleged victim twice in the head with the weapon.
Deputies reported that the alleged victim claimed they exited Allsop’s vehicle after being struck by the toy gun and a baseball bat. They tried to get into their own vehicle to leave but were blocked by two individuals, who continued to reportedly assault them.
The fight continued for about 15-20 minutes until a deputy pulled into the parking lot.
The report stated that the alleged victim had bruising and swelling to his right arm and leg. He also had an open cut near his right eye and bruising on the left side of his nose.
Allsop spoke only briefly during Wednesday’s hearing, telling the court she wished to apply to Mental Health Court. She was ordered to appear again in court May 18.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
will@cvradio.com