CEDAR CITY - Jurors found Bryan Featherhat guilty of attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery after deliberating less than than two hours Thursday.

After closing arguments, two of the 10 member jury were excused as alternates and four men and four women began deliberations about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Featherhat's trial.

The Cedar City man is charged with attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies.

Featherhat, 32, is accused of shooting Cedar City police Officer Jason Thomas at point blank range with a 12-gauge shotgun Jan. 5, 2007 after Thomas stopped to help Featherhat, whose pickup had slid off a slick street.

Thomas, 33, was saved by a bullet-resistant vest, but sustained wounds to his head, arms and torso from a second blast of a shotgun. A third shot missed the fleeing officer.

After the shooting, Featherhat allegedly stole a car that had stopped to also help and fleeing the scene of the shooting.

Featherhat said he had been taking methamphetamine and drinking bourbon the day of the shooting.

In closing arguments, Iron County Attorney Scott Garrett said evidence presented at trial showed Featherhat tried to murder Thomas and steal the vehicle intentionally and knowingly.

Garrett said attempts to prove Featherhat acted out of diminished mental capacity or from mental illness failed.

He reminded jurors their instructions for deliberation show that voluntarily consuming alcohol or drugs cannot be used as a reason to say Featherhat suffered diminished mental capacity.

Garrett said he methodically followed a plan when he shot Thomas and then escaped in a stolen car from its owner and passenger who feared he would hurt them.

Garrett added that Featherhat told investigators he shot the officer to avoid being arrested. Garrett also said testimony from psychologists heard during the three-day trial that it's likely Featherhat lied to avoid going to prison.

Featherhat told investigators that he was compelled to shoot Thomas by voices he heard commanding him to murder anyone who got in his way.

Defense lawyer Jack B. Burns, reminded jurors his client has an alcohol problem and said his client's drunkenness during the incident could be used as a basis to find Featherhat was guilty but mentally ill or not guilty by reason of insanity.

Burns added that Featherhat asked police of Thomas' condition after being arrested the following day and was relieved when told he would be OK.

Burns, who did not challenge the state's evidence, but concentrated arguments to the jury on the aggravated robbery charge, and said Featherhat took the car as a consequence after the shooting.

Fear and violence were never intended toward the people in the car that stopped to help him, Burns said.

If anything, his client should be found not guilty of the robbery charge or guilty of the lesser crime of unauthorized control of a motor vehicle.

mhavnes@sltrib.com