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WEST JORDAN — A man accused of shooting and killing an alleged fellow gang member has been acquitted of murder.
Steven Sanchez, 32, was charged in 3rd District Court with murder and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Following a three-day jury trial last week, a jury found the man was not guilty of murder.
Sanchez was found guilty of a reduced charge of threat or use of a dangerous weapon in a fight, a second-degree felony, and of the obstruction of justice charge.
He will be sentenced on those charges Aug. 2.
Sanchez and Rodrick Dejolie, 27, were both implicated in the August 2010 shooting of Steven Norman, 29. Dejolie, who was pegged as the actual shooter, pleaded guilty to murder in February and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Witnesses placed both men in Norman's home at the time of the shooting. Prosecutors said Dejolie and Sanchez targeted Norman over issues involving the 38th Street Gang, but defense attorneys countered the shooting stemmed from an issue between Norman and Dejolie's nephew.
Attorneys on both sides of the case conceded that there was an argument that proceeded the shooting between the three men. One witness said Dejolie and Sanchez entered Norman's home toting guns, engaged in an argument with the man for 15 to 20 minutes and then Dejolie opened fire.
The men then fled the state. Dejolie was found in Arizona, Sanchez was in New Mexico.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
