Trial set in Jordanelle State Park slaying

HEBER CITY — A Taylorsville man accused of ordering the murder of a woman at Jordanelle State Park has pleaded not guilty.

A 10-day trial starting April 23 has been set for Joshua Binkerd, 23, who authorities say gave the "green light" for the shooting of Ashley Sparks, 21, the day after Christmas last year.

He is charged with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, because prosecutors believe Sparks was killed to prevent her from testifying against him and others.

In a videotaped interview played at a preliminary hearing last month, Binkerd's self-described "partner in crime," Christopher Alvey, 20, said he carried out Binkerd's order to kill Sparks. Alvey pleaded guilty earlier this year to aggravated murder, admitting he shot Sparks several times. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and agreed to testify against Binkerd.

On the tape, Alvey told investigators he and Binkerd first met Sparks when she came to their house to smoke methamphetamine. According to Alvey, Sparks eventually became a threat to the men when she told them she was "snitching" to cops about their drug-selling and check-forging operations.

Binkerd's defense attorney, Edward Jones, said Alvey was high on meth and misinterpreted Binkerd's suggestion to ditch Sparks in a remote spot, as they had previously done.

— Paul Koepp