Driver's Jail Time Suspended After Half-Sisters Found in Refrigerated Trailer

Key Details A 28-year-old truck driver's jail sentence has been suspended following his September arrest on Interstate 15 in Utah. Jacob Ortell Scott was discovered transporting his two half-sisters, ages 12 and 14, inside a refrigerated trailer after his rig blew a tire and caused a multi-vehicle crash. Why It Matters Officers spotted the children during the crash investigation and found Scott had been using the refrigerated compartment as makeshift seating due to insufficient passenger space. The girls disclosed this wasn't their first time being transported this way, raising serious child safety concerns. Court Resolution Scott pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated child abuse, a class A misdemeanor, after prosecutors reduced charges from first-degree felonies. The 4th District Judge Thomas Low suspended his one-year jail sentences in favor of two years probation. Conditions Ahead The driver must complete parenting classes and family counseling as part of his probation terms. This case underscores the critical importance of vehicle safety compliance and proper passenger accommodations in commercial trucking operations. Drivers should review their rig configurations to ensure all occupants are properly secured in designated seating areas.