Jensen records subpoenaed

Utah's Division of Consumer Protection has initiated a subpoena of bank records for the Parker Jensen Support Fund after Daren Jensen told a southern Utah audience that a citation issued by the division is another instance of how the state has harassed his family.

Division director Francine Giani said Wednesday her agency had tried to work with the Jensens to resolve the matter, but letters sent by registered mail went unanswered and repeated promises to supply information to the division were not kept.

The citation was issued last week after the family failed to comply with requests to complete the legal process allowing them to solicit and collect funds to help pay for 12-year-old Parker Jensen's medical care. Parker was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer last spring. His parents' disagreement with doctors over treatment forced the family into a months-long public custody battle with Utah authorities. Last month the state withdrew its petition for custody of the boy, which would also have placed him in court-ordered chemotherapy treatments.

"We were promised on three consecutive days by Tracy Jensen that we would be getting the information and it's been stalled," said Giani. "Frankly, I thought we had all of this arranged."

But statements made Tuesday by Daren Jensen to the Dixie Republican Forum in St. George about the division's interaction with his brother, Tracy, were inaccurate and an affront to the division, Giani said. The division has never received the necessary information and is only attempting to close the books on a process begun in September after Tracy Jensen sent the division a letter stating his intention to establish the fund under Utah Charitable Solicitations Act. The act allows for the establishment of temporary charities.

Frustrated by the stalled process, including the cancellation of a meeting this week, Giani decided to move to the next step. She canceled, by letter, a planned meeting for next Monday with Tracy Jensen and Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, and informed them that a subpoena was being sought.

Christensen, who is an attorney and said he is only assisting Tracy Jensen in understanding the process and the law, said Wednesday that "an unfortunate breakdown in communications" has placed the Jensens at this most recent crossroads. He said he believed that Daren Jensen's remarks were made without knowing a resolution was in the works.

Christensen was apologetic and said the Jensens' intent was never to defraud contributors to the fund. The Jensens have always intended to comply with the law, but did want some legal clarification of what was required he said. Tracy Jensen told the Deseret Morning News last week that he misunderstood some of the division's directions to him, including that a letter from a Boise physician would not meet the state's requirements.

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