Pualale is charged after a South Salt Lake death. Leaving the scene is not a finding he caused it.

Leaving-the-scene and obstruction captions, plus a requested no-bail hold, are accusations and custody advocacy, not a finding that he caused the death or that every element is proved. Statements attributed in charging papers are evidence, not verdicts, and Pualale's prosecution is separate from the Gabriel Fulgencio Utah County case: a different defendant, a different county, and a different theory. James Shama Pualale, 53, of West Valley City, was charged Thursday, in reporting dated Sept. 17, 2026, in 3rd District Court.

KSL, citing 3rd District Court charging documents and South Salt Lake Police, says Tewelde Mekonen, 51, was found Friday about 10 p.m. lying in the road at 3265 S. 900 West and was pronounced deceased on scene. Car parts with a partial serial number pointed investigators toward a 2014–2020 Toyota Sienna. Surveillance showed a Sienna near 900 West and 3365 South making slow U-turns and then leaving. A person in the road, recovered parts, a model-year range, and surveillance are investigation claims. They are not a finding that Pualale caused the death.

A damaged Sienna was found Sept. 12 at a nearby apartment. Pualale is the registered owner, and reporting says he did not have a valid license. On the ride to the station he allegedly asked, "is that guy OK?" At the station he allegedly said, "I didn't even see him, he just ran out into the road." Charging papers say he described it as very dark and said he could not avoid the person. He claimed he had no phone, so he drove home to call for help. He admitted, as alleged, that he knew the crash was in front of a fire station and the Sheriff's Office and thought going home would be faster. He then said he "thought about" calling 911 but instead ate and went to sleep, and he admitted wiping the car. Those are statements attributed in the charging papers. They are evidence. They are not a verdict, and an admission claim does not by itself prove every element of leaving the scene or of obstruction.

The charges, as reported, are leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a second-degree felony; obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony; and driving on a denied license, a class C misdemeanor. Prosecutors are seeking a no-bail hold, citing a lack of responsibility and a risk to the community. A requested hold is advocacy. It is not a finding that he caused Tewelde Mekonen's death, and this note does not treat the request as an order already entered. This is not the Gabriel Fulgencio Utah County file. Different defendant, different county, different theory. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.