Destiny Norton's father pleads guilty in drug case

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The father of a 5-year-old girl who was murdered in 2006 has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug possession and child endangerment charges.

Rickey Lee Norton entered the pleas Monday in 3rd District Court. The 33-year-old was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to take substance abuse therapy and continue mental health therapy. Five other charges were dismissed.

Norton was arrested Sept. 8, 2009, in West Jordan. Charges alleged police found marijuana and a loaded handgun in his home, and that there were three children under the age of 6 inside.

His daughter, Destiny Norton, was missing for eight days in 2006 before police found her body stuffed in a plastic storage box in neighbor Craig Gregerson's cellar. Gregerson pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing the girl. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.