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KEARNS -- Police say the accomplice to an attempted burglary in Kearns Monday morning, where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed, actually knew his friend had been injured during the crime.
Eighteen-year-old Derek Sego is in jail on felony charges of burglary and obstruction of justice. The obstruction of justice charge is because Sego knew his friend, 19-year-old Kyle Poulton, had been shot during their attempted burglary, yet he never called police.
Police originally thought Poulton was alone during the attempted burglary; however, after talking to several of his friends, checking his phone and Facebook page, they knew there was a possibility the two were together during the crime. Police say when they located Sego at his house Monday night to question him, he admitted to being involved in the crime.
"He is suggesting that they were going to break into the home and that he was at a different location, at a window that was at a different part of the house than Mr. Poulton was at the time of the shooting," Lt. Don Hutson, with Unified Police Department, said. "He did say he did hear the shot and heard reaction from Mr. Poulton, and then he immediately left the area and ran all the way home."
Sego reported to police that he and Poulton were under the impression that no one was in the house when they attempted to break in. He says they rang the doorbell and then checked in the garage for cars.
Police say it appears to have been a crime of opportunity. "I think they probably looked at other homes as well and ultimately made a decision," said Hutson, who doesn't believe the two young men knew anyone living inside the home.
Sego told police an hour and half later he and Poulton made their attempts to get into the house to get what they could for money.
Police say Sego's statement contradicts what the homeowner told them about what happened that morning. The homeowner told police he turned on his lights and walked outside to see who rang his doorbell. Police say it's unclear if Sego is telling the truth.
Sego turned 18 in August. He does have a juvenile record, but police say those were just minor run-ins, mainly some fighting when he was in school. In some of those cases, he was actually the victim.
Poulton had been living on his own for a period of time and had recently been allowed to move back home.
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Story compiled with information from Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen
