Ogden man sentenced to 16 years to life for 2020 murder

OGDEN — An Ogden man found guilty of murder in a 2020 shooting death was recently sentenced to a term of 16 years to life in the Utah State Prison.

Michael Jameel Hines, 31, also received a sentence of zero to five years for possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony; and one to fifteen years for obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. Hines was convicted on the firearm charge by a judge, while a jury convicted him on the murder, a first-degree felony, and obstruction charges, according to court records.

The murder and firearm possession sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Judge David J. Williams also ordered Hines to pay $1,693.75 in restitution.

On March 12, 2020, police responded to a home in the 700 block of North Fairfield Road in Layton after dispatchers received a report that someone had been shot. Kannon Beesley, 18, was found shot in the chest and he later died at Davis Hospital and Medical Center.

Police interviewed Beesley's mother, who told them that Beesley woke her up and told her, "Jeremiah's brother shot me," according to charging documents. Investigators found spent shell casings and a large amount of a "green leafy substance consistent with marijuana spread throughout the room and on the floor."

Investigators later identified "Jeremiah" as Jeremiah Wright, who was in the home when the shooting took place, and Wright was later arrested in Salt Lake City. Wright — who was arrested for investigation of obstructing justice, but court records show was never formally charged — identified Beesley's shooter as Hines. Police say Wright was "best friends" with Beesley. It was not clear from court records whether Wright and Hines are related.

Wright told police that he went to Beesley's home to repay a debt, and Hines was with him. While in the home, Beesley showed the two a large bag of marijuana. Wright said that Hines grabbed the bag of marijuana, and Hines and Beesley began to fight. Wright told police that Hines pulled out a gun and shot Beesley before he and Hines could get out of the home.

Hines initially denied all involvement with the shooting but charging documents state he later told police that he and Wright planned on paying Beesley the money Wright owed him and then robbing him of the marijuana and money. Hines said he grabbed the bag of marijuana and started fighting with Beesley.

Hines told police that Wright shot Beesley, but police said there was "no evidence of that," while there was evidence that Hines was the shooter, the charges state. Police noted Hines "lied throughout the interview and was not completely cooperative."

Court records show that Wright was called to testify during Hines' trial, which took place over multiple days in April.

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