Judge calls state sentencing recommendation 'comical'

OGDEN — Calling it "comical" and "ridiculous," a judge balked when presented with state guidelines suggesting that a man who stole more than $200,000 from his friend be sentenced to just 45 days in jail.Instead, Judge Michael Direda sent Jason Reed Barber, 48, of Liberty, to prison to serve one to 15 years while blasting the Weber County man's actions and the state's Justice Reinvestment Initiative's sentencing matrix."I’m happy to stand face-to-face, chest-to-chest with any legislat