The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office has been barred from prosecuting a teenager, identified as Emiliano, who is charged with murder. Third District Juvenile Judge David Johnson cited a lack of disclosure and transparency, along with the “resulting appearance of impropriety,” as reasons for the disqualification of District Attorney Sim Gill’s office. Judge Johnson stated that the office’s conduct “undermines public confidence in the fairness of these proceedings” and that disqualification is “required to protect the integrity” of the hearings.

The case involves accusations of an inappropriate relationship between Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Adrianna Davis and West Valley City Police Detective Josue Llil. Emiliano’s attorney alleges that this relationship “compromised the integrity of the examination and prosecutorial decision-making.”

District Attorney Sim Gill has denied the allegations, calling them “salacious and unsupported.” He stated he was made aware of the relationship by a whistleblower who provided text messages as evidence.

However, Judge Johnson stated, “the Court finds that the text communications are sufficient to establish the existence of an inappropriate personal relationship between Ms. Davis and Det. Llil.” He added that the texts occurred during “the critical phase of the case’s investigation.” While Judge johnson noted the records lacked sufficient evidence that “Ms.Davis’s decision to prosecute was motivated by personal loyalty to law enforcement or to Detective Llil,” he concluded that “the existence of the relationship gives rise to an appearance of impropriety.”

Emiliano was 14 years old when he allegedly stabbed 24-year-old Niusami Auelua in self-defense on August 17, 2023, in Scottsdale Park in West Valley City. Emiliano claims Auelua pointed a gun at his head and robbed him. auelua was on probation under the supervision of Adult Probation and Parole and was in fugitive status.Toxicology reports indicated he had “extreme levels of methamphetamine” in his system.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office initially declined to file charges, citing self-defense aspects of the case.

However, six months later, Deputy District Attorney Adrianna Davis filed a murder charge against Emiliano with the intent to transfer the case to District court, where the 14-year-old would be tried as an adult.

Meghann Mills, a whistleblower who worked for DA Gill at the time, warned top administrators about the alleged inappropriate relationship between Davis and Detective Llil, claiming it led to the “aggressive filing.” Mills provided emails and text messages as evidence. She resigned in December 2024, after she says Gill took no action.

In response to the allegations, DA Gill sent an email to his staff, expressing disappointment that former prosecutors chose to “inject lurid and irrelevant accusations into court records and media narratives about the private lives of our employees.”