A 4th District judge ruled Tuesday that an Orem man who burned his roommate to death on Labor Day 1994 suffers from mental illness, but state law requires that the man still be sent to the Utah State Prison.
Judge Lynn W. Davis ordered that Scott Austin Causey, 23, serve two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison on charges of murder and aggravated arson, both first-degree felonies. Causey must also pay more than $174,000 in restitution."It was a heinous crime," Davis said.
In May, Causey pleaded guilty but mentally ill to killing Glen Cowden on Sept. 5, 1994. Following an argument at Cowden's Orem home, Causey doused Cowden and the home with gasoline and ignited the liquid. The flames burned the home and caused fatal injuries to Cowden. Cowden had befriended Causey and was allowing him to stay at the residence.
Three psychiatrists testified that Causey suffers from bipolar disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress syndrome caused by being physically and sexually abused as a child. However, the doctors said Causey is not a threat to himself or others as long as he takes medication and remains in a secure environment.
Causey's attorney, Lee Rasmussen, urged Davis to send his client to the Utah State Hospital for a short while so a treatment program could be outlined and carried over to prison. Rasmussen is most concerned that Causey receive treatment at prison for post-traumatic stress syndrome, a condition that makes Causey violent and makes him a risk to be an abuse victim in prison.
"The thing that concerns me is there is no accountability from the prison system back to this court," Rasmussen said.
Utah County Deputy Attorney John Allan said state law clearly says that a mentally ill defendant who is not a danger to himself or others must go to prison. Allan argued for consecutive sentences, saying there is no guarantee that Causey will remain under therapy or medication if released early. He said the crimes were heinous and society's only protection from Causey is to keep him incarcerated for as long as possible.
"I cannot think of a more painful and terrible way to die," Allan said.
Causey told the judge that all he wants is help. He doesn't mind going to prison if he will receive treatment for his illnesses.
"I don't want to be out of prison and have something like this happen again," he said.
Davis said society is best protected if Causey is incarcerated and receives treatment. Since there is no guarantee that Causey will continue with therapy and medication upon release from prison, Davis strongly recommended that parole only be granted on the condition that Causey continue therapy for post-traumatic stress syndrome.