By DENISE PALMER
Thomas K. Welch, president and chief executive officer for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic games, was charged Monday with a single count of domestic violence battery.
Police were called to the Welch home on July 9 by the Welch's 11-year-old son. Alma Welch said she had been thrown against a garage wall and wrestled to the ground by her husband. Mrs. Welch said she was trying to see letters and gifts in Mr. Welch's car after he admitted to having an affair, according to the Associated Press.
G. Frank Joklik, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the SLOC, released a statement on Monday.
'The Board is aware of the concerns caused by recent publicity involving President Tom Welch. This matter is now in the courts and it would be inappropriate for us to comment while this process is ongoing,' Joklik said in the statement.
Mike Korologos, public information director for the SLOC, said the committee has not spoken to Welch since the charges were filed.
'The Executive Committee expects to meet with Mr. Welch upon his return from abroad and will recommend to the Board a course of action in due course,' Joklik said in the statement.
Korologos said the SLOC does not know what course of action will be taken.
'That's up to the executive committee. They will obviously talk with Tom when he gets back and see what course is appropriate. There's no talk of replacement,' he said.
Korologos said the Board is made up of 36 individuals including athletes, national Olympic officials, international Olympic officials and Utah community and business leaders.
The AP reported that the charge against Welch was filed over the objections of Alma Welch and other family members. This is possible because of a 1996 change in Utah law.
Melissa Herbert, a member of the Provo Police Department, said the new law takes the burden off of the victim.
'Once an officer responds, if he or she determines that there was in fact domestic violence, charges are filed from there. Then at no point can the victim come back and say they don't want to press charges anymore,' she said.
The charge against Welch is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Herbert said most first-time offenses are usually given probation or a fine.
Many first-time offenders are given the opportunity to plead guilty and have that plea 'held in abeyance,' according to the AP.
'What that means is that he'd have to plead guilty to the charges. Then he does six months of probation ... If he violates (his probation in any way), then it automatically stands as his guilty plea and then he's sentenced from there,' Herbert said.
'If in fact he does hold out his whole probation period without violating it, it's not listed down as a guilty plea,' she said.
Joklik's statement said the charges against Welch will not affect the preparation for the 2002 Olympic games.
'We would like to assure all interested parties that our primary concern is to uphold the image of the Olympic movement and respect for its ideals,' Joklik said.