Morgan County Denies Journalist’s Public Records Request, Cites “Mailing Address” Requirement Not Found in Law
In a move raising serious concerns about transparency and constitutional accountability, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office has denied a public records…
In a move raising serious concerns about transparency and constitutional accountability, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office has denied a public records request from We The People News—citing a requirement that doesn’t exist in state law.
On April 22, 2025, Records Clerk Kylie Earl sent a formal denial to journalist Don Matthews, claiming his request under Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) was invalid because it lacked a physical mailing address. The problem? Utah Code § 63G-2-204 explicitly permits email address or phone number as sufficient alternatives.
Matthews filed an immediate appeal, calling the denial “unlawful, retaliatory, and blatantly contrary to the statutory language.”
“This is a slap in the face to every citizen who believes in government accountability. I gave them everything the law requires. They’re just grasping for a reason not to comply,” Matthews told We The People News.
The GRAMA denial form also admits that the request may serve the public interest but still denies the requested fee waiver—an apparent contradiction of Utah Code § 63G-2-203(4), which encourages waivers for public benefit records. Matthews says the entire episode reeks of intimidation.
“I’ve been doxxed. I’ve been falsely accused. I’ve been jailed for my journalism. So no, I’m not handing over my private address. And no, I’m not letting this go,” he added.
Matthews is demanding immediate reversal of the denial and has pledged to escalate the matter to the Utah State Records Committee if necessary. He warns that if Morgan County continues to obstruct access, it could face constitutional litigation for viewpoint discrimination and First Amendment retaliation.
As Utah faces increased scrutiny over government transparency and accountability, this case could become a defining moment in the fight for access to public records.
Stay tuned to We The People News for updates.
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