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Micheal Aaron Jayne is accused of hitting and killing a Santaquin police officer Sunday, May 5, 2024, on Interstate 15.

Courtesy Utah Department of Public Safety

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Sgt. Bill Hooser is pictured.

Courtesy photo

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More than a year after Sgt. Bill Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department was killed in the line of duty while responding to a traffic stop on Interstate 15, the man accused of intentionally running over the officer made a virtual court appearance on Wednesday.

Michael Aaron Jayne requested the court hearing because he wanted to share his concerns about his current defense team and he wants one of his attorneys removed from representing him in the case, KSL TV reported.

Jayne, 43, of Garrett, Indiana, faces nine felony charges, including aggravated murder for allegedly striking and killing Sgt. Hooser with an 18-wheeler semitruck while the officer and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper stopped him just after 6 a.m. on May 5, 2024.

The UHP officer and a woman who court documents allege Jayne was holding against her will in the semi both reportedly jumped out of the way as he was steering toward all three of them and survived.

Jayne then allegedly fled the scene, eventually abandoned the semi and ran to a nearby gas station where, according to court documents, he stole another semitrailer and proceeded to head toward eastern Utah. During his travels that morning, he allegedly stole several other vehicles in different Utah towns before troopers captured him just before noon near Vernal.

He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital to assess numerous injuries he’d sustained throughout the morning’s events. He was later booked into the Utah County Jail.

Fourth District Judge Thomas Low, who granted Jayne’s request for Wednesday’s hearing, said that he may consider adding another attorney to the defense team to join Rudy Bautista, who was assigned to the case last year, but wanted more time to think about it and hear more from Jayne regarding his concerns.

Bautista said during the hearing that he wouldn’t have a problem with the switch and noted that there was some “breakdown” between Jayne and the previous attorney, KUTV reported.

Chad Grunander, the state’s attorney, also said he’d be OK with the defense attorney change but expressed concern about adding new counsel at this stage of the case as Jayne’s preliminary hearing is set to begin at the end of June, according to KSL TV.

Grunander said he didn’t want there to be any cause for a delay but also noted the high stakes involved in the case since Utah County attorneys said they were seeking the death penalty and he wants to make sure the proceedings are handled correctly.

Jayne, appearing virtually from the Utah County Jail, spoke about his concerns and apparent distrust of his own counsel.

“I’m reluctant to speak with the prosecution (and them) listening to what I have to say about concerns of my defense your honor. My life is at stake. I’m fighting for my life, and I do have some serious concerns about my defense,” Jayne said before the judge, his attorney and the prosecution.

He also expressed concerns of media outlets being on the virtual meeting and said he wanted to have a private discussion with the judge. Jayne’s attorney encouraged him to stop talking about his “concerns” Wednesday since reporters were listening, KSL TV reported.

Ultimately, Low set another hearing for Wednesday to see if Jayne’s concerns with his legal team can be addressed and worked out ahead of the scheduled preliminary hearing dates, tentatively slated for June 30 and July 1.

From there, the judge will determine if the case will proceed to a trial.