'A hard no': Utah man charged with torturing his children on hike denied bail

"At the Dec. 2 hearing, Commissioner Todd Olsen issued a protective order prohibiting Smith from any in-person, written or electronic contact with the children. When Smith asked the court to consider pretrial release, Olsen asked the state's opinion, and prosecutor Clifford Ross opposed the request unequivocally. "That's a hard no, your honor," Ross said. He directed the court to the probable cause declaration, citing safety concerns, and maintained that a no-bail warrant remained appropriate, given the severity of the allegations against Smith."

"The search-and-rescue members first encountered Smith alone on the trail, noting he was "behaving oddly" and did not appear concerned about his missing children. Moments later, rescuers located the children beneath a boulder, where they found the 4-year-old "lifeless." CPR was administered en route to the hospital by emergency personnel. The filings also describe how the the 2-year-old child suffered serious injuries."

Micah Smith, 31, faces six first-degree felony charges, including three counts each of aggravated child abuse and child torture. Prosecutors allege Smith intentionally or knowingly subjected his children, ages 2, 4 and 8, to extreme physical injury and danger during an unplanned roughly 9-mile hike on Broads Fork Trail in deteriorating weather with inadequate food, water and gear. Search-and-rescue teams found Smith alone and later located the children beneath a boulder, with the 4-year-old lifeless and the 2-year-old seriously injured. Commissioner Todd Olsen denied pretrial release, issued a protective order, and prosecutors opposed bail.

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