The saga of Ernest John Young, of West Valley City, Utah, and who goes by the name of Jason Aron Presley, isn’t so much a case as a series of fairly outrageous behaviors and lawsuits filed by this man who claims to be the firstborn son of Elvis Presley (and, presumably, Debra Paget) and the sole heir of Elvis’ estate. He also believes that Elvis was murdered in 1977.
Over the years he filed multiple lawsuits in his quest to prove his claim to “the Elvis millions.” The legal history of Mr. Young covers a range of legal areas, from criminal law to civil procedure but we have decided to categorize it under “Wills and Estates” because, as in Presley v. Hanks, the bottom line here is that an individual is claiming the right to inherit Elvis’ estate as an illegitimate child.
Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing various legal documents related to Jason Presley:
- 2006-10-30 Article ‘Son of Elvis Deemed Unfit’ – mentally unfit to stand trail on charges stemming from alleged threats made against Utah judges
- 2007 State of Utah v. Ernest John Young: Brief of Appellee (PDF)
- 2007-11-02 Article “Son of Elvis is Sentenced to Prison” -sentenced to 5 years for threatening judge
- 2008-07-15 Ernest John Young v. Elvis A. Presley et al., UT District Ct., Decision and orders (PDF), includes a decision/opinion
- 2009-03-06 Ernest John Young v. Elvis A. Presley et al., 10 Cir. Ct. App., Order & judgment (PDF), short opinion
- 2009-12-02 Question on JustAnswer.com
- 2011-02-10 Jason Aron Presley v. Debra Paget and Elvis Presley, Utah Ct. of App., Per Curiam Decision (PDF)
- 2012-08-21 Jason Aron Presley v. FBI et al., UT District Ct.
- 2012-10-26 Ernest John Young v. FBI et al., UT District Ct, Order denying motions (PDF)
- 2012-12-12 In re: Jason Aron Presley, 10 Cir. Ct. App., Order re. Writ of mandamus (PDF)
- 2015-12-29 Jason Aron Presley v. FBI et al., 10 Cir. Ct. App., Order (PDF)
- 2019-07-10 Jason Aron Presley v. FBI et al., UT District Ct., Report and recommendation
- 2019-11-05 Jason Aron Presley v. FBI et al. 10 Cir. Ct. App., Opinion (PDF)
We’ll begin with an article posted on The Deseret Morning News website in 2006, when Jason was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial on charges arising from his threats against some judges in Utah.
‘Son of Elvis’ Deemed Unfit
by Sara Israelsen (October 30, 2006)
This article, which is no longer available online, originally appeared in the Deseret Morning News online at
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650202900/Son-of-Elvis-deemed-unfit.html
PROVO — A man claiming to be Elvis Presley’s son has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial on charges stemming from alleged threats made against Utah judges.
Ernest John Young, who also is known as Jason Presley, was declared incompetent Thursday after two medical examiners testified that the man thinks he is the heir to the Presley fortune, among other views and beliefs.
Young allegedly threatened the judges for refusing to file murder charges against the people Young says conspired to kill “The King.”
Young, 49, has been trying fruitlessly to convince officials in government courts, even going so far as to send legal documents to the Supreme Court, to start looking into his conspiracy allegations, said Dave Stewart, the public defender who was recently appointed to Young’s 4th District Court case.
The case was transferred to Provo from the 3rd District because of a conflict with the judges.
Young called two different 3rd District judges multiple times in May and allegedly threatened them with physical harm if they did not act on motions he was submitting.
Those motions ask that the “government (file) murder charges against unnamed persons arising out of a death that allegedly took place in Graceland, Tennessee,” according to court documents.
Young has also asked that any court proceedings against him be stayed until the legal authorities prosecute a handful of people for murder, rape and extortion as he alleges in a series of oddly worded motions.
Young has also previously filed requests for protective motions against Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.
Dr. Richard Wootton testified that during his interview and examination of Young it was obvious the man suffered from “a delusional disorder of a grandiose type.”
“I think he believed he had a clear understanding,” Wootton said. “(But he) would not be able to carry on a lucid, linear conversation.”
The man has a good vocabulary, can read and is intelligent, Wootton said, but the problem is his limited rational understanding and his emphasis is on his delusional beliefs.
Wootton said Young told him about a grave site in Tennessee where two bodies were allegedly buried under a headstone containing his name. The man also talked about money owed to him from the Presley estate, some $700 million dollars.
“His written motions are difficult to read as they contain grammatical omissions, syntax errors and lack cohesive facts that might render his allegations understandable,” wrote Kent Morgan, a deputy Salt Lake County district attorney who is prosecuting the case, in his request for a mental competency review.
With 4th District Court Judge Gary Stott’s ruling, the case involving two third-degree felonies of retaliating against a judge will be on hold for 90 days while Young is sent to the state hospital for an attempt to restore him to competency.
If he is found competent, the case can proceed. If he is still incompetent, the judge may order more time in the state hospital.
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