Former 'Lost Boy' found guilty of murdering, sexually assaulting girlfriend
Made up of six women and two men, the jury returned at 9:15 p.m., with one female juror who walked in sobbing audibly and wiping her eyes. Another woman covered her mouth when the verdict was read.
Dutson, 19, was charged with first-degree felony murder and aggravated sexual assault in 3rd District Court stemming from the April 7, 2007, death of Kara Hopkins.
The jury found him guilty of both offenses and 3rd District Judge Royal Hansen set a tentative sentencing date of Aug. 22. Prior to that, officials will conduct a presentence investigation to determine sentencing recommendations.
The murder charge carries a potential sentence of 15 years to life. The judge could impose a sentence ranging from 6 years to life, 10 years to life or 15 years to life on the aggravated sexual assault conviction.
Hopkins' family wept when the verdict was read, while Dutson seemed to show no emotion, whispering something to his brother at the conclusion of the day's proceedings.
Prosecutors said Dutson gunned down his girlfriend after she refused his sexual advances during a night of partying.
Prosecutors said witnesses reported Dutson had tried to rip Hopkins' clothes off at the party, demanded in vulgar terms that she have sex with him on the spot and then grew angry with her when she resisted. She was shot in the back of the head and witnesses reported that Jeffs was chanting as he knelt by her nearly nude body.
The defense has argued that Dutson grew up in the Fundamentalist LDS Church town of Colorado City, left home at age 16, faced some hard times and wound up drinking and doing drugs.
On the night of the slaying, Dutson, a former "Lost Boy," had consumed alcohol and a concoction of tea brewed with psychedelic mushrooms.
In testimony earlier today, forensic scientist Stephen Golding testified about the effects of psilocybin-bearing mushrooms, which can impair judgment, behavior, speech and coordination.
Golding said one of his clients in private practice got high on the drug about six months ago and jumped off the roof of a building, suffering several broken bones because the man thought he could fly. He was not trying to commit suicide, Golding said, but really did think he could fly because of the drug's effects.
Glen Hanson, professor in the University of Utah's Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, testified as a prosecution witness and stated that psilocybin is a less potent hallucinogen than LSD.
Recent comments
I guess the FLDS were right about this nut.
Rafferty | July 3, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.
FLDS, Mormon, Jew , what have you, bitterness and the hatred of one...
ghostraveler | July 3, 2008 at 9:39 a.m.
I was close to this case and I just want you all to know that the...
close to the case | July 3, 2008 at 8:36 a.m.
