SALT LAKE CITY — May 6, 2016 The Office of the Utah Attorney General (OAG) announced this week that Steven Crutcher, a former inmate at the Central Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, a capital felony. A jury trial to determine Crutcher’s sentence will begin January 9, 2017.
“While the sentencing phase still remains, I want to congratulate and highlight the dedicated efforts of our attorneys and staff on their work with Sanpete County to pursue justice in this case,” said Attorney General Sean Reyes. “They have assisted Sanpete County Attorney, Brody Keisel, in preparing for trial in the case and in responding to various defense motions over the last two years. Congratulations to Daryl Bell, Section Director, Janise Macanas, Section Director, Craig Barlow, Criminal Deputy, and Michelle Rasmussen, legal assistant, for their excellent work in assisting on this case.”
Crutcher could be sentenced to a sentence of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. In addition to assisting in the Crutcher case, the OAG is also assisting Sanpete County State of Utah v. McFarland, also a capital murder case. A trial date has not been scheduled in that case.
The Crutcher case was charged as a capital murder because he was serving a sentence for aggravated kidnapping at the time the murder was committed. The OAG periodically receives requests to provide assistance to county attorneys on capital murder cases and other serious felonies when county resources are limited or other special circumstances are present.
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