No more 'media visits' for Gregerson

Craig Roger Gregerson, who is charged with capital murder in connection with the death of 5-year-old Destiny Norton, most likely will not be talking to news reporters again any time soon.

Third District Judge Robin Reese on Saturday issued a verbal order directly to the Salt Lake County Jail forbidding any "media visits" with Gregerson. It was issued at the request of Gregerson's four-member defense team and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, according to Nancy Volmer, public information officer for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Volmer said Reese is considering holding a hearing on the issue later this week, but as of Monday had not decided whether to do so. Salt Lake County Jail officials are now refusing all requests to talk to Gregerson.

The judge's order came after a jailhouse interview that Gregerson gave KSL-TV for a half-hour on Saturday. No cameras were present.

During his KSL-TV interview with reporter Gene Kennedy, Gregerson said, among other things, that police "exaggerated the details" of his alleged confession about killing Destiny.

He did not directly respond when asked whether he committed the crime, according to KSL-TV, but did say he was not insane when Destiny was kidnapped and killed. He said he plans to go to trial and plans to plead not guilty. KSL-TV also reported Gregerson said he is not afraid of the death penalty and has become "a strong advocate against pornography."

Along with the capital murder charge, which carries a possible death penalty if convicted, Gregerson, 20, also is charged with first-degree felony kidnapping. He is being held on $5 million bail.

KSL-TV also reported Gregerson offered this statement: "I do apologize to the public and everyone else who's been involved in what happened."

Prosecutors claim Gregerson on July 16 lured Destiny from her Salt Lake back yard into his nearby house, smothered her and sexually assaulted her body, which police found hidden in a closed container in the basement.

Gregerson on Monday made a brief court appearance before 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton, looking relaxed and smiling, wearing a beige jail jumpsuit and olive-green bulletproof vest.

"Seeing him for the first time face-to-face, it made it really hard for me to control my emotions," said Destiny's uncle, Peter Brooks. "I don't know what to say about that smirk ... that set me off. He had the audacity to walk in and smile knowing that family and friends were there."