Court sets preliminary hearing in attempted murder complaint

By Sun Advocate

An apparent domestic dispute on July 13 reportedly resulted in severe injuries to a 49-year-old woman and the arrest of the victim’s 22-year-old son.
Joshua Neil Sacco was arrested last Tuesday in a field behind the old Wal-Mart Store at 4:10 p.m. after reportedly fleeing a mobile home in Melody Estates after beating his mother.
Shortly before apprehending the suspect, police found Sarah L. Sacco injured, but conscious, inside the trailer.
The victim was taken to Castleview Hospital and later transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where the woman was treated for skull injuries.
The victim reportedly told police that the suspect had taken a glass from the cupboard for a drink. When the woman suggested using the same glass for a second drink, the suspect purportedly struck the victim.
“She said he just kind of snapped over the suggestion and, after hitting her, he told her to sit in a chair, stay there, and that she should obey him,” indicated Price Police Capt. Kevin Drolc last Thursday. “She sat there for awhile and she thought he was calming down. However, then he came in and said he had decided she should die.”
Referring to the victim’s account of the incident, Drolc said the suspect allegedly assaulted the woman with a hammer. When she attempted to leave the residence, the subject reportedly threw her on the floor, hit her with a lamp and left the scene.
The injured victim managed to get to a phone and call police, continued Drolc. The first law enforcement official to arrive at the scene was Price Officer Kevin Mele, who called for medical assistance and reported the fugitive to the public safety dispatch center.
Authorities from Price, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, adult probation and parole and Utah Highway Patrol participated in the search for the suspect.
“A citizen reported him hiding behind a tree in the field and he was taken into custody by Officer Kevin Christensen,” said Drolc.
On Friday, the Price City Police Department sent a detective to Utah County to interview the victim.
The Carbon County Attor-ney’s Office filed a criminal complaint in 7th District Court on July 15 charging Joshua Sacco with second degree felony attempted murder in connection with the incident.
The defendant appeared at an initial hearing in the felony level criminal case last Friday before Judge Bruce K. Halliday. The court confirmed bail in the matter at $500,000 and appointed public defender David Allred to represent Joshua Sacco.
In conclusion, the court set an Aug. 20 preliminary hearing date in the second degree felony attempted murder complaint.