John Pendergrass has been sentenced to five years to life, with an additionalfive years for using a firearm, in the murder of an Ogden man last year.

Pendergrass, 20, Layton, was sentenced Thursday, two days after he was convicted of second-degree murder and theft. First District Judge Gordon Low imposed a one-to-15 year sentence for the theft conviction.Pendergrass was arrested in California in August 1987, and extradited to Utah on forgery charges. He was then questioned concerning the victim, Ray Jenkins, 22, who was last seen with Pendergrass on May 27, 1987. They had gone to Willard Bay to fish and camp.

Pendergrass was also ordered by Judge Low to pay restitution to Jenkins' family for the truck he took after he killed Jenkins. He will also be required to pay some of the court costs of his six-day jury trial. That amount will be determined by the Board of Pardons, Box Elder County Attorney Jon Bunderson said.

View Comments

Defense attorney Dale Dorius said he doesn't know yet whether an appeal will be filed.

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.