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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Convicted sex offender Karl Otterson has been accused of hiring a supposed hit man to kill a Utah County prosecutor.
Otterson, 40, was charged Thursday with first-degree felony solicitation of aggravated murder.
He is accused of hiring a man who actually was an undercover officer to kill Deputy Utah County Attorney David Sturgill to prevent him from being at Otterson's sentencing.
The Sept. 13 sentencing went ahead as scheduled. Fourth District Court Judge Samuel McVey sentenced Otterson to one term of 15 years to life in prison and four terms of five years to life in prison for sex abuse of a child.
"I thought he was one of the more horrific pedophiles we've seen come through our office," said Deputy County Attorney Tim Taylor, who stood in for Sturgill at the sentencing.
Sturgill declined comment.
According to court documents, an inmate at the Utah County jail told authorities in August that Otterson was looking for someone to kill Sturgill.
The inmate told Otterson he knew someone who could do the job, according to the documents.
On Aug. 29, an undercover officer visited Otterson at the jail.
Otterson communicated by notes, allegedly telling the officer to collect $1,000 from his mother in Orem and buy a gun if he needed one.
The money "was to take care of David Sturgill," according to court documents.
The undercover officer picked up $910 from Otterson's mother Aug. 31.
Otterson's mother indicated she thought the money was to get her son to a treatment facility, instead of prison, according to court documents.
She also told an investigator she has paid out approximately $14,000 to have her son placed in a treatment facility.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
