Utah man pleads guilty to giving gun to suicidal friend

A Logan man has pleaded guilty in connection with offering a handgun to his suicidal friend last month and telling him to pull the trigger.

David Schofield, 48, was charged in 1st District Court with class A misdemeanor reckless endangerment for giving the gun to the 20-year-old man, who used it to kill himself June 13.

Schofield also was charged with second-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person for having the gun, a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, despite a 1997 felony conviction in Arizona for aggravated assault.

On Monday, Schofield pleaded guilty to the weapon charge, and also pleaded guilty to class A misdemeanor negligent homicide.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 24 before Judge Kevin Allen.

Schofield faces up to 15 years in prison for the weapon conviction and up to a year in jail for the homicide count.

Charging documents state that the man who killed himself had argued with his girlfriend June 12 and sent text messages to a friend, saying he wanted to end his life. The next morning, the man went with his girlfriend and the friend to Schofield's home "for assistance in dealing with [the victim's] depression issues," according to charges.

The friend and girlfriend both told investigators that Schofield got out the revolver and gave it to the 20-year-old man, who was sitting on the couch. The friend and girlfriend recalled Schofield saying, approximately, "If you want to do it, then pull the trigger."

"At that time, [the 20-year-old] put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger," charges state.

The Tribune typically does not identify suicide victims.

Schofield told police he received the gun from a relative "some time ago" and has kept it in a lockbox in his bedroom.

Cache County prosecutor James Swink said last month when charges were filed, "This case cries out for a charge that tells the community this is not appropriate; this is the wrong way to approach a person who's in crisis.

"Call 911, call a family member. Take this person to a safe place. The appropriate action is to find help, not to offer a weapon so they can kill themselves."

Swink said it is the first case he has filed where a suspect allegedly facilitated another person's suicide.

"In a nearly 20-year career, I don't know of any other case like this," he said.