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SALT LAKE CITY — A Payson man wrongly accused of killing his father pleaded guilty Monday to a federal firearms charge.
Roger Kay Mortensen, 49, admitted in U.S. District Court to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Federal prosecutors agreed to drop two other gun charges as part of a plea agreement.
The charge carries up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. Prosecutors also agreed to recommend Mortensen be sentenced at the low end of federal sentencing guidelines. A hearing is scheduled for June 16 before Judge Tena Campbell.
Mortensen admitted to possessing seven handguns and rifles that Utah County sheriff's deputies found during a search of his home last summer. Six of the guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were in a hidden compartment under a furnace in the garage. Another gun was found in a safe in the garage, according to court records. The guns were part of his father's estate.
Because Mortensen was convicted of felony theft in 1998, it is unlawful for him to possess firearms.
Mortensen and his wife Pamela spent four months in jail last year on murder charges in connection with the November 2009 fatal stabbing of his father, retired BYU professor Kay Mortensen. Utah County authorities dropped charges against the Mortensens last December when two other suspects were arrested.
Mortensen, through his attorney, declined to be interviewed Monday.
Email:dromboy@ksl.com
