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The man accused of killing a 24-year-old Magna woman in her home last month — part of an alleged robbery in which several pounds of marijuana, two guns and hundreds of dollars in cash were taken — made an initial court appearance Friday.
Jason Alan Black, 26, appeared via video feed from the Salt Lake County jail for a brief hearing before 3rd District Judge Heather Brereton.
Black is charged with first-degree felony aggravated murder — which carries the possibility of the death penalty — for allegedly killing 24-year-old Natalia Casagrande at her home on May 31. He is also charged with attempted aggravated murder, also a first-degree felony, for allegedly trying to smother the woman's 5-year-old daughter with a pillow.
He is also charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
On Friday, the defendant was assigned a pubic defender, Michael Peterson, and a July 11 scheduling hearing was set.
Peterson requested a June 24 bond hearing for Black, who is being held without bail.
Black's appearance was delayed shortly while jail officials conveyed him from the medical unit where he has been recovering after being shot by police in a "gun battle" that ensued when officers arrested him on June 2. He sat in a chair and took long pauses before answering "yes" and "no" to the judge's inquiries about his identity and income.
Black was supposedly a regular customer at Casagrande's home where the woman and her husband, Steven Arceo, sold him drugs. Black was scheduled to be at the home the night before the May 31 homicide but never showed; he came to the house the next evening, according to charges, looking to purchase marijuana.
Casagrande was texting Arceo about what marijuana to give Black when the conversation stopped abruptly, charges state. Arceo told police he rushed to the house where he found his wife dead. Arceo also said that about 3-4 pounds of marijuana, $600-$800 in cash and two handguns were missing, charges state.
Officers later tracked Black to a home in West Jordan. Upon entering, officers were immediately confronted in a hallway by Black, who brandished a firearm, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder has said. Black was struck by several bullets in the exchange. No officers were injured.
Black's alleged getaway driver, Estephania Sanchez-Mendoza, 24, also made an initial court appearance Friday, telling the judge she planned to hire her own attorney. A scheduling hearing was set for July 1.
Sanchez-Mendoza is charged with one count of second-degree felony obstruction of justice for allegedly driving Black from Casagrande's house on May 31 and booking him a hotel room in which to hide out.
She was arrested June 3 without incident at her home in West Jordan, and was being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Twitter: @CourtneyLTanner