Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — An 18-year-old Ogden man will spend a least the next few years in a juvenile care facility after pleading guilty in September to accidentally shooting and killing his best friend last year.
Brandon Parker, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, was sentenced Tuesday to a term of one to 15 years in prison, though he will remain in the custody of a juvenile care facility until he is 21.5 years old. At that time, Parker could be released or transferred to an adult prison, and that decision would ultimately fall to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
Parker was arrested shortly after he shot 16-year-old Caden Ferguson in the head on March 14, 2020, in Parker's Ogden home. Police were called to the home and found Ferguson dead with a gunshot wound to his forehead, according to charging documents. Parker allegedly told police, "I killed my best friend."
Though he initially was charged with first-degree felony murder, Parker later pleaded guilty to the second-degree felony manslaughter charge on Sept. 27 as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He also was charged with three other felony counts, including possession of a firearm by a restricted person, theft and obstructing justice. Those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Parker appeared in Ogden's 2nd District Court alongside his attorney, Randall Marshall, on Tuesday for his sentencing hearing. Marshall said Parker lost his best friend, which Parker will have to live with forever. Marshall asked the court not to outright sentence Parker to prison, and instead consider a commitment to a juvenile secure care facility or probation. He added that Parker will at some point be released back into society, given his age, and the manslaughter charge, and isolating him in an adult prison would only cause future harm.
Two of Ferguson's family members spoke, including the deceased teen's mother. She described her son as someone with his whole life ahead of him, and the kind of person who could light up a room with his smile and personality. In the days following his death, Ferguson's mother learned he was accepted to the Clearfield Job Corps Center for automotive training. She said his death has taken a large toll on her family emotionally, as well as for her personally.
"I blame myself for not being able to protect him," the mother told the court. She added that her family wants Parker in prison.
Deputy Weber County attorney Patrick Tan pushed the court to sentence Parker to adult prison, arguing that Parker would be able to complete treatment and get an education while incarcerated.
When given the chance to speak, Parker addressed the court and apologized numerous times for the death of Ferguson — someone he considered to be like a brother.
"Nothing can change what happened," Parker said. "I'm so sorry for what happened."
Judge Cristina Ortega said there are few words to describe this case but that she would sum it up in a single word: tragic.
"A life has been lost and that cannot be undone," Ortega said.
She sentenced Parker to the prison term but decided not to send Parker to prison outright. Instead, she opted to send him to a juvenile care facility until he's over 21 years old, and the state parole board will determine whether he should be released or sent to an adult prison.
Parker will be sent to a juvenile detention center until he can be taken to a secure facility to serve his sentence.
