Former police officer pleads guilty to DUI, sentenced

CEDAR CITY — former Cedar City Police Officer received his sentence in the Cedar City 5th District Court Thursday after pleading guilty to a class A misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol with a child in his vehicle.

Jed Imlay, of Cedar City, booking photo posted June 2, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Jed Imlay, of Cedar City, booking photo posted June 2, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

On June 2, Jed Imlay crashed his police vehicle into a wall at the Cedar City Little League Baseball Complex, located at 300 E. 275 North in Cedar City, while under the influence of alcohol. Imlay’s son, a minor, was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, according to court documents, and Imlay fled the scene before authorities arrived.

Following a call from witnesses, police located Imlay’s damaged car in the driveway of his home. Imlay was arrested and taken into custody, and the case was referred to the Beaver County Attorney’s Office to help avoid a potential conflict of interest.

As part of his sentence, Imlay’s prison term was suspended and he was ordered to spend 48 hours in the Beaver County Jail and pay a $1,533 fine, Beaver County Attorney Von Christiansen said.

Imlay was ordered to serve his jail time outside of Iron County for safety reasons, Christiansen said.

“You can imagine it might be uncomfortable, if not unsafe, for him to serve his jail time in Iron County with people who he may have put there,” Christiansen said. “For his safety, it just makes more sense to house him someplace else.”

Originally, Imlay was also charged with a class B misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, but those charges were dropped Thursday as part of a plea bargain, Christiansen said.

This was a very tough but appropriate sentence for a DUI offender,” Christiansen said, “particularly for one who had a minor in the vehicle.”

Imlay additionally received 24 months of probation and was ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluations, provide a DNA specimen to authorities, not drink any alcoholic beverages or patronize any establishment where alcohol is the main item of sale, and pay for the installation of an ignition interlock system on vehicles he will be using following his release.

Imlay is required to turn himself in to the Beaver County Jail by 6 p.m. on Nov. 7 to begin his 48-hour incarceration period.

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22 Comments

  • Zonkerb November 5, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Good thing he wasn’t in St George because he would of been arrested for DUI in a dance free zone

  • Just Me.... November 5, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    Prayers for this man and his family. Humans deserve a second chance in life. He probably offered that as a police officer many times. I hope he is freely offered that now…

    • asianspa November 6, 2014 at 12:29 pm

      So do you think he should be allowed to be in law enforcement again???

  • Rex November 6, 2014 at 7:40 am

    Wow 2 whole days that’s a stiff sentence. 3hots and a cott in a temperature controlled room I’ve spent longer sentences in dive motels with less amenities. Perc’s of wearing a badge I guess if it was anyone else they would have served 30 days.

    • Native born New Mexican November 6, 2014 at 11:04 pm

      I agree with you completely Rex. I know a person who got convicted of drunk driving for driving a little kid’s go cart on a dirt trail near his house. He had drunk a couple of beers while he was barbecuing. He was forced to plea bargain of course because he could not afford a good lawyer. He got 2 months in jail and $7000.00 in fines and jail fees. Plus the cop took the go cart right out of the man’s driveway. The impound fees were more than the man could afford so you can bet the cop’s kid is now driving the go cart. This law enforcement privilege is is out right shameful and an insult to every ordinary citizen in the community. By the way the man is a hard working, decent person like so many people who find themselves on the wrong side of the unjust legal system in this country.

  • Just Desserts November 6, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Jed was well known around town for NOT giving second chances. For one I don’t think it could have happened to a nicer guy.

  • Red November 6, 2014 at 9:59 am

    It would have cost an ordinary person a minimum of $10.000 dollars in the state of Oklahoma.

    • Uh RED? November 6, 2014 at 12:57 pm

      We Ain’t In Oklahoma, Bud. You must have taken a wrong turn back at Barstow.

      • Red November 6, 2014 at 2:30 pm

        He should have also been charged with child endangerment.

      • Koolaid November 6, 2014 at 3:50 pm

        Southern Utah is more backwards than all of Oklahoma? Okay, I can believe that.

  • ladybugavenger November 6, 2014 at 10:09 am

    48 hour sentence….lol

  • ladybugavenger November 6, 2014 at 11:19 am

    His temporary lack of awareness as a police officer and a dui accident while his children were in the car didn’t get him a fundraiser….oh my I’m sure 48 hours locked up will change his ways, unless he forgets.

    • Sarcasm November 7, 2014 at 8:55 pm

      Ladybug avenger +1 !!!

  • myst November 6, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Being an officer he should of be held at a higher standard and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Leaving the scene, Child endangerment alone are Class B misdemeanor-up to 6mos in Jail. He should of received nothing short of this. He was aware of the consequences. Makes me wonder what else will these officer get a hand slap for??? Theft? Rape?Murder? Blackmail?

    • Koolaid November 6, 2014 at 3:51 pm

      That would be like saying a preacher or bishop in Utah should be held to a higher standard in child abuse cases. Are they?

  • myst November 6, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    *been

  • Koolaid, November 6, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    I got a DUI once,. For DRIVING U INSANE . I belonged to an organized religion once they kicked me out for being stupid. And I found out that 50 percent of the people with my same name have been abused by close relative. I wasn’t so looks like they other one has been. WHATZ UP

  • sleepy hallow November 7, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Wonder if he got the same Attorney that Jake Adams got…..

  • Bev November 7, 2014 at 11:41 am

    The most disturbing sentence in this article is “Imlay was ordered to serve his jail time outside of Iron County for safety reasons, Christiansen said.”

    • Koolaid November 8, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      Probably afraid some of his jail mates would make him their dog or horse.

    • Native born New Mexican November 8, 2014 at 4:55 pm

      Good for you Bev. you got it just right. Dangerous jails are good enough for all of us but not for a law enforcement officer!

  • Koolaid November 14, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    An 18 year old caught with a joint probably would get a harsher sentence.

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