A West Salt Lake man was sentenced to prison Monday for the beating death of a man at a Sugar House transient camp.
Randolph Dan Begay, 25, was originally charged with murder for the Aug. 22 slaying of Kenneth W. Palmer, 46, a transient. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, as part of a plea bargain.Third District Judge Michael Murphy sentenced him to serve one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.
"He doesn't remember a lot from that evening . . . but his conduct was at best reckless," said defense attorney Patrick Anderson.
Begay admitted he had been drinking with the victim the night of Aug. 21. Friends found Palmer's body the next morning in a wooded area near 2420 S. Highland Drive. He had been beaten about his head and torso.
Begay told detectives he kicked and hit Palmer that night and left him unconscious on a mattress.
Begay told the judge he has stopped drinking and has made efforts to change his life. "His personality is so different when he's not consuming alcohol," Anderson said.
Murphy said although he could not condone what he did, he said Begay has since acted "as an honorable man." In addition to the prison time, the judge ordered him to pay $3,500 to the Victim's Reparation Fund.