ST. GEORGE, Utah — A federal judge ruled Monday that the former chair of the Iron County Republican Party violated terms of his release before sentencing for embezzling $2.1 million from a homeowners association he managed.

Blake Cozzens appeared remotely in the St. George courtroom from Purgatory Jail in Hurricane, where he has been since being arrested on alleged kidnapping and abuse charges Saturday .

Judge Paul Kohler said circumstances have changed since he granted Cozzens his release from jail for health reasons after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement in April.

The judge said Cozzens is no longer a good candidate for release based on new charges in Washington County as well as potential for harm to himself. In an interview with FOX 13 on Sunday, Cozzens said he tried to take h

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