I was not present at the hearing, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Remember, this is not a plea agreement he rejected, just a request by the prosecutor to reduce the charges. I have seen judges do this a number of times. Off the top of my head, here are some of the possible reasons:

1. Prosecutor may have made a verbal motion and the judge requested it in writing.

2. May want the prosecutor to take some time to get all the information.

3. May want to wait and do that at a more formal hearing (instead of a bail hearing, where this took place).

4. May want to keep the case (if the charges were dropped, and re-filed as misdemeanors, they would be taken out of the Provo court, and sent to the Orem court. Some judges tend to be protective of their own cases.)

Anyway, those are just a few of the reasons. The one thing I can guarantee you is that the judge will not refuse a request "in order to make an example" of anyone. You have to understand what great lengths these judges go through to treat everyone equally. This judge (and again, I know the judge personally) will treat these players the same as any other defendant before the court. No better, no worse.

One other thing: a judge cannot "pursue" a case. A prosecutor is the one who has to move a case forward. The judges are not advocates, and that is a position they all take VERY seriously.