This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An arraignment for Craig Roger Gregerson, charged with smothering 5-year-old Destiny Norton and then sexually abusing her body, has been postponed until next week.
Gregerson was scheduled to appear Monday morning before 3rd District Court Judge Robin Reese.
But the arraignment, in which Gregerson was expected to plead guilty or not guilty to a capital murder charge, was rescheduled to Dec. 4.
Gregerson, who had been brought to an adjacent holding cell, was not required to appear in the courtroom.
Defense attorney Michael Peterson gave the judge no reason for the continuance, and prosecutor Robert Stott did not oppose the request.
"This is a capital case," Stott said after the hearing. "A week [of delay] is no big deal."
Gregerson is charged with aggravated murder, which is punishable by death or life in prison, and child kidnapping, a first-degree felony punishable by five years to life in prison. He is being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $5 million bail.
Last week, Gregerson waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Destiny disappeared from the backyard of her parents' home the night of July 16.
Police and volunteers in Salt Lake City searched eight days before Gregerson, a next-door neighbor, allegedly confessed and police found the girl's body hidden in the basement of his rented apartment. shunt@sltrib.com