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PROVO — A Lindon man who shot and killed his ex-wife's new husband was sentenced to up to life in prison Monday.
Fred Lee, 62, was ordered to 15 years to life in prison for murder, a first-degree felony, in the shooting death of Mike Sidwell, 42, in July 2014. He was originally charged with aggravated murder, potentially a capital offense.
Lee was also sentenced to consecutive prison terms of five years to life for aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; one to 15 years for stalking, a second-degree felony; and up to five years for domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony.
Between the four charges, Lee will spend at least 21 years and potentially the rest of his life behind bars.
Lee admitted last month he had gone searching for his ex-wife, Joy Sidwell, despite a stalking injunction that had been in place for nine months prohibiting Lee from contacting the woman or her husband. Lee said he intended to kill the woman, but when he encountered her new husband, Lee shot him instead.
A 5-year-old granddaughter who was in the house at the time witnessed Lee's attack, plea documents state.
After searching the home, Lee went to another unit in the building as he continued looking for his ex-wife, firing his gun through the door before kicking it in.
In February 2015, Lee was found to have a cognitive disorder, according to court documents, and was deemed incompetent for the case to proceed. After treatment at the Utah State Hospital, Lee was deemed in May to be capable of facing the charges.
Prosecutors had said in September 2014 they intended to seek a death penalty if Lee was convicted. Because Lee pleaded guilty to murder rather than aggravated murder, the option for the death penalty was taken off the table.
In exchange for Lee's guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed five additional counts against him: attempted murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.
