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A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to two 2007 homicides was sentenced to serve up to life in prison by a 3rd District Court judge on Friday.
Samuel Paul Krokaugger showed little reaction as Judge Judith Atherton sentenced him to 15 years to life for the shooting death of 20-year-old Aaron Wheelwright on June 29, 2007, and two to 20 years in prison for handing a gun to a man who subsequently killed 17-year old Luis Trujillo on June 24, 2007.
He was also sentenced to two to 20 years in prison for shooting and wounding Kasey Ketron, who was throwing water balloons at people out of a car with her friends on June 23, 2007.
Atherton ordered the three sentences be served consecutively, meaning Krokaugger will serve a minimum of 19 years behind bars.
Krokaugger declined to address dozens of family members of the victims gathered in the courtroom, which puzzled Atherton.
"You certainly have a right to not speak, but it leaves me with more questions than anything else," she said, calling Krokaugger's offenses "senseless to the point of numbing."
Krokaugger's attorney, Adam Elmore, said his client is sorry for his actions and understands the "irreparable harm" he caused. He called Krokaugger a "wannabe gangster" who has vowed to change his life while in prison.
Krokaugger pleaded guilty to murder for killing Wheelwright, who tried to stop Krokaugger from robbing a drug dealer outside a South Salt Lake apartment complex. Krokaugger later told police he carried the murder weapon - a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol - with him everywhere he went.
Wheelwright's mother, Angela Brainich, told Krokaugger on Friday he had shattered her family's hopes for her son - a man who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in 2005, but had overcome the odds and was moving forward with his recovery.
She said her only comfort is knowing that Krokaugger's soul will "burn for eternity."
Krokaugger pleaded guilty to a reduced count of second-degree felony manslaughter for handing a gun to 19-year-old Mohamed Daffalla Kabor. Kabor allegedly fired at another car near 2100 South on Interstate 15, killing 17-year-old Trujillo, in a case of mistaken identity.
Kabor, charged with first-degree felony murder, is scheduled for trial in November.
Trujillo's mother, Guillermina Rodriguez, recalled her son as a man who took on construction work while attending school to help support his mother and siblings.
"The space that has been left in us has been very great," she said.
Krokaugger also had pleaded guilty to second-degree felony aggravated assault for using the same gun involved in the other shootings to fire at Ketron and wounding her in the head.
Ketron told the judge she is getting married soon and doesn't want to worry about Krokaugger being out on the streets.
"I don't want him to get out and hurt anyone else," Ketron said. "He obviously doesn't care."
Another case, where Krokaugger allegedly shot and wounded another driver in the hip on June 29, was dismissed as part of the plea deal.