State v. Parsons

781 P.2d 1275 (1989)

STATE of Utah, Plaintiff and Appellee,

v.

Joseph Mitchell PARSONS, Defendant and Appellant.

No. 880102.

Supreme Court of Utah.

October 13, 1989.

Rehearing Denied January 22, 1990.

James L. Shumate, Cedar City, for defendant and appellant.

R. Paul Van Dam, Dan R. Larsen, Salt Lake City, for plaintiff and appellee.

HOWE, Associate Chief Justice:

Upon a plea of guilty, defendant Joseph Mitchell Parsons was convicted of murder in the first degree, a capital offense in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-202 (1978, Supp. 1989). A sentencing proceeding was conducted under section 76-3-207…