Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mascaro, Mitch]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mitch Mascaro]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Mitch Mascaro]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Wilkin, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends; Law enforcement; Trespass;]]> legend-tripping; St. Anne's Retreat; Logan Canyon legends;]]> Zsiray, John]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> colored photographs;]]> image/jpeg;]]> Image;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Wreckers (Vehicles)--Utah--Mendon; Wrecking--Utah--Mendon; Elementary school buildings--Utah--Mendon; Elementary school facilities--Utah--Mendon; School buildings--Utah--Mendon;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> image/jpeg]]> eng;]]> Image;StillImage]]> http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Mendon/id/3169]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Wreckers (Vehicles)--Utah--Mendon; Wrecking--Utah--Mendon; Elementary school buildings--Utah--Mendon; Elementary school facilities--Utah--Mendon; School buildings--Utah--Mendon;]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library]]> image/jpeg]]> eng;]]> Image;StillImage]]> http://digital.lib.usu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/Mendon/id/3170]]> 1990-1999; 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[Photo by Mitch Mascaro/Herald Journal. Caption: Cache County Sheriff Sgt. Brian Locke answers questions from parents and youths who gathered at the sheriff’s office Saturday to express concerns about the youth’s treatment at the hands of three men apparently serving as watchmen on posted property in Logan Canyon.]

Trespassing teens claim they were terrorized by watchmen
By Phil Jensen
Staff writer

About 30 Cache County teen-agers said they walked into a night of Vietnam-style terror in Logan Canyon Friday night when they were ambushed, shot at, handcuffed, tied together by their necks and threatened with their lives by shotgun-toting private guards.

A sergeant with the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, saying he’s never seen anything like this in 11 years on the force, said an investigation is under way. No arrests were made.

One teen-age boy, allegedly butted by a shotgun, was treated at Logan Regional Hospital and released. Some girls said they were sexually molested and other teens showed wrist marks left by the plastic, store-bought handcuffs.

The Halloween-come-early started about 10 p.m. Friday when several carloads of high school students, driven by curiosity of a “scary place,” arrived at an area formerly called St. Anne’s Retreat midway up Logan Canyon.

The teen-agers told authorities they walked over a small bridge and through a green gate topped with barbed wire when someone carrying a shotgun jumped from the bushes, ordered them to hit the ground, then fired a shot over their heads.

They said three men appeared armed with shotguns with flashlights on the end of the barrels, searched and handcuffed them, then ordered them into an outside, empty swimming pool.

There, they said, they were strapped together by ropes around their necks and told that the ropes were linked to explosives. If they tried to get free, they were told, the ropes would tighten and blow their heads off.

They said they also were told that if they tried to run, the guards would shoot off their legs.

One guard bragged about using the same tactics on Viet Cong in the Vietnam War, said one of the teen-agers.

The teens said the guards posted themselves outside the pool, shouting obscenities and threats at the line of teen-agers in the pool. They said the guards also took photographs of each teenager and took their names before sheriff’s deputies showed up.

[Photo/caption: The barb-wire reinforced gate leading to what locals call ‘The Nunnery’ stood open Saturday afternoon.]

Deputy Troy Liquin was first on the scene, followed by three other deputies.

Deputies said they ordered the guards to cut off the handcuffs and free the youngsters from the neck ropes, then cited the teen-agers with criminal trespass and sent them home.

Sgt. Brian Locke said deputies got the names of the three guards but did not confiscate their weapons. He said the sheriff’s office did not know the name of the property owner who hired the guards.

Teenagers told authorities they were scared for their lives.

One 16-year-old Sky View High School student said he was ordered face-down on the ground as he and several friends walked through the gate, then hand cuffed.

“I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do, and this guy picked me up by the back of my shirt and tossed me,” the boy said. “These guys are psychos.”

Girls gave statements to the sheriff’s office that they were sexually molested by being fondled under their shirts. The girls said they were told they were being frisked.

The boy treated at Logan Regional Hospital said he was kicked in the stomach and knocked unconscious by a glow to the head. He was treated for a concussion and head wound.

Others quoted one of the guards as saying, “I hope you run so I can take your legs off.”

About 40 parents and teenagers showed up outside the sheriff’s office in Logan Saturday afternoon demanding action, saying they were concerned primarily with what might happen to unwitting teen-agers drawn to the old St. Anne’s, also know [known] locally as “the Nunnery,” Saturday night.

“A friend of one of these kids might wind up dead,” one parent said.

One parent from an outlying Cache County town whose son was there Friday night said his main concern is that this won’t happen to kids again. “This is well beyond what is reasonable and what is legal,” the father said. “And I want to see them (the watchmen) prosecuted.”

Locke, the sheriff’s sergeant, said statements have been and are being taken from the teen-agers and the incident will be investigated by detectives.

“This is serious,” Locke said. “I have never seen anything like this in my 11 years.”

“If there was use of deadly force, they will be arrested,” Lock [Locke] said. Locke, who responded to the scene, midway between Card Canyon and the Right Hand Fork turnoff, said it looked like a “prison camp” with the gates topped with barbed wire. “There’s nothing like it in the country,” Locke said.

Lock [Locke] said the area has changed ownership and was under renovation. He said there have been several recent reports of vandalism including one early Friday morning.

A separate encounter about 4:30 a.m. Friday may have been even more frightening, according to statements given the sheriff’s office by five boys and two girls.

They said they were drawn to the area out of stories that it was a “whacked out place” and were accosted by three guards armed with shotguns, pistols and knives.

They said one of the guards pointed a gun at an Asian teen-ager, called him a “gook,” and said, “I know something about you Vietnamese…I have killed many of them.” A guard put a pistol to The [the] Asian boy’s head and threatened to shoot, then discharged the gun into the ground, the boys told authorities.

They said the guards took their pictures, saying, “Sit up straight or I will slit your throat.” The picture-shooting continued after the deputies arrived.

When three deputies arrived in three cars, they replaced the plastic handcuffs with official handcuffs. The youths were then taken by squad cars to the sheriff’s office, where they were cited for trespassing and released. Their two cars were impounded.

As they were being escorted by deputies off the land, one of the watchmen walked behind with a shotgun and another took pictures of them and their license plates, they said. The teens were puzzled that this behavior did not seem to concern the deputies.

“I’m just happy to be alive,” said one 19-year-old. “But I don’t like the idea of them having by [my] license plate number.”

Lt. Von Williamson, who is investigating, said he doesn’t know the details of Friday morning’s incident. But he said, “I doubt very seriously that that occurred,” Williamson said.

The teen-agers in both incidents said they showed up only as a Halloween-time curiosity and did not vandalism

“I’ve been here (in Cache Valley) since the 8th grade and have never been there until now, but I bet every teen-ager in the county has been up there,” said one 19-year-old, referring to the old retreat as the local “haunted house.”

Williamson said Saturday night that deputies instructed the watchmen on the proper use of weapons and didn’t anticipate any repeats of the alleged menacing Saturday night. He said, as far as the sheriff’s office knew, the guards had left the area, although manpower shortages prevented the office from posting a deputy at the scene overnight Saturday.

A press release issued by the office Saturday night referred to statements from teenagers of shots fired, excessive force and fondling of female teenagers.

“Due to the volatility of the situation, no action was taken on those allegations at the time,” the release said. It said evidence will be turned over to the county attorney.]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> legends (folk tales);]]> application/pdf;]]> 2191430 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends;]]> legend-tripping;]]> Guest commentary
Jake Jeppson

I am writing this as an answer to the recent articles and reports in the local media concerning my brother, John Jeppsen, who is the lead watchman at St. Anne’s Retreat.

I feel it’s necessary to bring out some facts that have not been mentioned, and to say something about circumstances involved.

It is my understanding that the shotgun shells which John had were loaded with rock salt. Years ago these were used for raiders of melon patches, hen houses, private outhouses or stray dogs. These to sting severely, not kill.

A great to-do was made about the fellow that was knocked unconscious. Nothing is said about him coming up behind John to jump him during the arrests. John was an Airborne Ranger in Europe. Rangers are one of three groups of America’s finest fighting men. John was not, nor is he, a Vietnam vet (with mental and emotional problems), as earlier articles implied.

Emotions? Name me as any man anywhere who would not be wound tight while arresting 38 people as big as himself in the darkness or poor light, alone, in Logan Canyon at that time of day? Especially in view of the monetary value of property damage at the site and the later made threats which I know were made.

Nothing has been said about the threats made against John; i.e. “We’re coming back to get you.”

There are inconsistencies in the young people’s stories. The Herald Journal stories say the trespassers were arrested just inside the gate. An article in the Statesman quotes a young man as saying “just as he jumped down into the empty pool.” Another was that the fellow who was knocked out was struck with a billy club. That man was struck with a bullstroke (military term), from the shotgun butt as he attempted to jump on John’s back. In other words, John did his job (a tough one) and got the attacker before he could get him.

The rope and knots are a tool to contain and retain prisoners as taught to the Airborne Rangers. The knot is not a “slip-knot” nor a “hangman’s knot” as implied. It is a knot like the “bowline” used to tie boats or tie a horse “expressly) because the knot will not slip. The loop is tied loosely or semi-loosely as needed to hold.

The owner of the property says he was “allowing John to stay there.” As if John was some homeless poor soul. John may have been staying there as part of their agreement, but he has a beautiful wife who is a fine woman, with whom he lives and they live with and care for our mother who is convalescing from a broken hip and joint replacement. The home they are living in is a very neat, clean and modern brick home in Providence with several bedrooms.

Now about the vandalism which is occurring all over our area. I was on top of Logan Canyon yesterday and stopped to use the public restrooms near Peter Sinks. On the older building the door had been totally ripped off and destroyed. There were unspeakable things which had been done inside and outside the restrooms. This is common all over now.

Several years ago there was a movie made called Walking Tall. It was a true story about a sheriff down south who was man enough to take on a corrupt system and individuals with his famous pick handle. He became a national hero. Two or three movies were made about his life.

Then there are the Rooster Cogburns and Big Jake’s of John Wayne. We cheer these men, yet seek to destroy a man who is striving to do his job and enforce the right of property owners to have their property be secure.

In Salt Lake City yesterday, a police officer was acquitted for shooting a dog while he was jogging. The owners were allowing it to run loose and get in trouble. Needless to say isn’t it lucky we don’t have such a law for kids and parents who cannot control their children and are embarrassed at the stunts they pull. I know, I have six of my own, two step-children and 22 grandchildren. Some of the finest people I know are also sharing this problem.

A remark was made in a commentary about the legends of St. Anne’s retreat, that a certain prominent attorney said he used to go up there when he was a kid, too. I don’t care if it was Thomas Jefferson, would that make breaking the law right? Or trespassing/vandalism?

John may not have done everything perfect, but who could under such conditions.

In my mind, John is a fine man, made of the stuff heroes are made of. If you think not-you try arresting 30 hell-raising young adults in the dark, lonely, middle of the night.]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> legends (folk tales);]]> application/pdf;]]> 591695 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends;]]> legend-tripping;]]>
Three men are arrested. Thirty-eight teen-agers have been dismissed from criminal trespassing charges. But what has Cache Valley learned from the incident at St. Anne’s retreat last weekend?

It appears that the citizens stand divided on the issue.

While most agree that what the youth did was wrong and should be punished most will admit they too have gone up to St. Anne’s for some pre-Halloween haunts in their day.

The other half of the citizens believe the men had every right to use the tactics they did. The three men were taking bold steps to defend the rights of property owners who have been continually invaded by thrill seekers.

Some defend the gun-toting men claiming they had no other choice but to detain the youth and protect themselves. Friday evening it was 30 on three. Some ask the question, how were the men supposed to detain the youth and protect themselves from retaliation?

However, the Cache County Attorney Scott Wyatt disagrees that the men were justified and felony aggravated assault charges have been filed against the three men. He said the threats the men made, the shots that were fired and the abuse the youth incurred while under their restraint were beyond reasonable force.

The citizens of Cache Valley must take this incident seriously. This is only the beginning of this controversy. What is acceptable? Can teen-age thrill seekers continue to invade property owners’ privacy to fulfil a family tradition? Can anyone owning land and a gun, use any force possible to defend their land? We must decide for ourselves what adventures we take accountability for.]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> legends (folk tales);]]> application/pdf;]]> 398118 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends;]]> legend-tripping;]]> Canyon watchmen identified
By Ryan Robb Oliver
Staff writer

The Cache County Sheriff’s Office this morning released the names of three watchmen accused of terrorizing a group of teen-agers trespassing at the former St. Anne’s Convent in Logan Canyon on Friday night.

John Jeppson, 50, of Pocatello, Idaho, is the head watchman that made the initial trespassing call from Zanavoo Restaurant and Lodge to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office at around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

The other two watchmen were identified as Christopher Doerr and Arthur Peasnall, both of Tooele County.

When The Herald Journal telephoned John Jeppson this morning, an unidentified woman answered the phone and said she’d leave a message for Jeppson but hung up before the paper’s number could be given.

When Peasnall was called and asked to give his side of the story, he repeatedly said, “I have no comment.”

Doerrs telephone number could not be located.

Chief Deputy Mike Stauffer with the sheriff’s office said the three men are being investigated and it will be up to the Cache County Attorney’s Office if charges are filed.

Deputy Troy Liquin, in his report of the incident, stated that when he arrived, he was met by the three watchmen each with flashlights taped to the end of their shotguns. Jeppson also was wearing a holstered pistol strapped to his belt.

When he told them to put their weapons in their vehicles, all of them complied except Jeppson, who Liquin said had to be told three times before he put his weapon away.

Liquin said he discovered the 30 trespassing youths in the pool on their knees. Twenty of them had a continuous nylon cord wrapped around their necks and if one person moved, they would all choke, he said in the report.

Some of the girls were crying and two or three other males were near tears because their hands were tied so tight with plastic cuffs, according to the report.

“As I looked at their hands, on the girls particularly, most of them were turning white in color, almost bluish in color. Visible swelling as well as red marks were observed on the majority of the individuals,” Liquin stated.

Liquin said he ordered the cuffs to be removed, and the youths complained of being hit and yelled at. One girl said one of the guards fondled her, according to the report.

One teen-ager handed a spent Federal 12-gague shotgun shell casing to an officer and said it had been shot near his head. Another said a guard shot next to his feet, the report said.

When deputies approached the three watchmen, Liquin said Peasnall used a military identification card to identify himself.

“Mr. Jeppson was very upset about the juveniles being there. He stated, ‘What am I supposed to do?’” according to the report. “Mr. Jeppson…began talking about Vietnam and how this was similar to troops being placed in Vietnam, and went on with some conversation about police powers in the war.”

Stauffer said the watchmen weren’t arrested because an investigation would need to be conducted to determine which of the juveniles were telling the truth.

“We arrested the juveniles because it was immediately apparent they were trespassing,” Stauffer said.

He said the fact the juveniles were trespassing and had to cross through a barbed wire fence to get there has been underplayed in this incident.

“Obviously, someone didn’t want them on their property,” he said.

The thirty people were cited and released for trespassing.

Another six people, three youths and three adults, were cited earlier Friday for trespassing on the same property.

Action beyond legal limits?
By Phil Jensen
Staff writer

Trespassing laws do not allow the kind of force or confinement allegedly used by three armed caretakers who terrorized Cache County teen-agers in Logan Canyon on Friday.

The Cache County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two incidents of teen-agers who said they were held captive, abused and threatened with their lives at the old St. Anne’s Retreat midway up the canyon.

Detectives said the case will be turned over County Attorney Scott Wyatt who will determine what if any charges against the caretakers will be filed.

Wyatt said he was meeting today with sheriff’s investigators and should know by Tuesday morning what action his office will take.

A Logan attorney read to reporters parts of the state law covering trespassing and what a property owner legally can and cannot do.

The use of force such as weapons against a trespasser or confining a trespasser is against the law unless the owner feels his life or the life of others is in danger, the law states.

“They could be liable for false imprisonment, assault and battery and a whole host of things,” said Joe Chambers, a Logan attorney and former Rich County deputy attorney.

Chambers said the law also covers “intentional infliction of emotional distress” against a trespasser, saying it is illegal to do something “so extreme and outrageous that if you hear about it the average person would say, I can’t believe they did that,” Chambers said.

Chambers, who has a 17-year old son, said he would have been outraged if his daughter had been fondled by the caretakers, as one of the teenagers alleged. “I’d be sitting on Scott Wyatt’s doorstep right now,” he said.

Chambers said the owner also has liability.

“You can’t just hire a bunch of crazies to take care of your property and have no liability, Chambers said.

According to records at the Cache County recorder’s office, the property was sold by the Catholic Church in 1992 to Peggy Godfrey for $120,000. Records also contain the name of Richard Salvitti of Salt Lake City as the person responsible for taxes. Efforts to contact both Godfrey and Salvitti were not successful.]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> legends (folk tales);]]> application/pdf;]]> 1085016 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]> Legends;]]> legend-tripping;]]> By Ryan Robb Oliver
Staff writer

A watchman accused of terrorizing 38 trespassers at the former St. Anne’s Retreat in Logan Canyon was arrested Monday afternoon by a Cache county lieutenant sheriff.

John Jeppson, 50, of Pocatello, Idaho, was arrested at his parents’ home in Providence by Lt. Von Williamson, the lead investigator.

Warrants for the arrest of two other watchmen suspected of assisting Jeppson have been forwarded to Tooele County. The other men have been identified as Arthur Peasnall and Christopher Doerr, Jeppson’s son-in-law, both of Tooele County.

The suspects in the case have each been charged with six counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in jail for each count.

Cache County Attorney Scott Wyatt said he chose to file six counts because it was a “representative sample” of what happened Oct. 10. He said the number was also agreed upon by a group of parents of the alleged victims he met with last week.

Six charges, he said, “was sufficient for every aspect of the trial.”

Wyatt said he will also name only six alleged victims to testify for the state during trial. He said he didn’t want to needlessly stack dozens of charges and witness testimonials against the men.

The trespassers have accused the three watchmen of tying them together by their necks, handcuffing them and holding them at gunpoint in a swimming pool in two separate episodes Oct. 10. The mostly teen-aged victims said their lives were threatened, shotguns were fired near them, and one female said Jeppson felt her up.

“If these gentlemen had handcuffed them and secured them and stopped there, we probably wouldn’t be filing charges,” Wyatt said. “You’re entitled to use a reasonable amount of force to protect property.” But Wyatt said the men acted beyond what the law allows.

The sheriff’s office originally cited all 38 trespassers, but the trespassing charges were not filed. Property owners who allowed Jeppson to tend the St. Anne’s property were sympathetic to the treatment they received at the hands of the watchmen, Wyatt said.

Jeppson was released from the Cache County Jail on Monday on a $5,000 bail.]]> Digitized by : Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library.]]> legends (folk tales);]]> application/pdf;]]> 414298 Bytes]]> eng]]> Text;]]> Logan Canyon (Utah); Cache County (Utah); United States;]]> 1990-1999; 20th century;]]>