This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Murray man will spend at least 40 years in prison for shooting and killing two men in the back with a rifle after an argument over bad directions escalated.
Christian C. Sweeten, 29, was sentenced Friday in 3rd District Court to two consecutive terms of 20 years to life in the Utah State Prison for two counts of murder, a first-degree felony, for the deaths of Michael T. Ehlert and Anthony M. Gaines.
With chains dragging from his ankles and shackles around his wrist, Sweeten showed little emotion as Judge Ann Boyden handed down the sentence after calling the September 2008 incident "as sad a situation as any that exists in humankind."
Sweeten had earlier explained what had happened.
"I messed up," Sweeten said, noting among other things that he had tarnished his family's name. "I'm absolutely ashamed of myself."
During the hearing, Ehlert's sister tearfully said she thinks about her brother every day. Her brother leaves behind a 4-year-old son. She said she hopes Sweeten realizes what he did to their family.
"I cannot forgive you … maybe one day, but not today," she said.
In addition to providing a written statement, Sweeten told the judge how "terribly sorry" he was for reacting "very poorly" during an argument with the two men.
According to charging documents, early on the morning of Sept. 22, 2008, Sweeten asked two men for directions and became upset and began arguing with them after he ended back where he started, near 500 North and 1000 West. Sweeten claimed he was acting in self-defense when he pulled out a .22-caliber rifle and shot Ehlert and Gaines, according to the charges.
Defense attorney Michael Sikora said Sweeten "wasn't going out to hurt anyone" that night and had been drinking. His blood alcohol level was likely up to three times the legal limit at the time of the shooting. He said after contemplating whether to end his own life Sweeten called and turned himself into police several hours later.
"I want to acknowledge the pain and anguish I have caused," Sweeten said. "I deprived a mother of her son, a sister her brother, and a son his father."
Sikora said at the time of the shooting Sweeten's life was "spinning out of control," but before, he had been engaged and a substitute teacher who had completed a few college classes. He said Sweeten wants "to make the most of his situation" and teach music to inmates in prison.
Salt Lake County prosecutor Robert Stott said Sweeten robbed two men of their lives.
"I don't think any punishment we can give is commensurate to a murder, or in this case two murders," Stott said, adding that an up-to-life sentence will give Sweeten "time to think" for the rest of his life.
Sikora said with an up-to-life sentence, "three families are devastated because of this."
Sweeten nodded toward his crying family as he was taken away.
Outside of the courtroom after sentencing, Ilse Ehlert-Davis, the mother of Ehlert, said it was good to hear Sweeten take responsibility.
"I appreciate what he said," said Ehlert-Davis, who later comforted Sweeten's mother with a hug.
A three-week trial had been set to begin in September, and prosecutors said they intended to seek the death penalty for Sweeten. But Ehlert's mother said her son never would have wanted that. A plea agreement was met instead, and Sweeten pleaded guilty a month ago.
Twitter: @CimCity