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SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge emphasized the need to protect the public Wednesday as he ordered a Ford Duchesne man to serve 45 years in prison for shooting and killing a man in 2018.
Brandon Redfoot, 28, was found guilty of murder within Indian country, a second-degree felony, on Aug. 18 for shooting Julio Rodriguez, 24, outside his home near Randlett on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation on June 7, 2018. Rodriguez died the next day.
Redfoot was also found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon while within Indian country; felony in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and two counts of discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Redfoot was sentenced to two terms of 10 years each for the two charges of discharge of a firearm. He was also sentenced to a term of 25 years for the other three charges, with all charges to be served consecutively, adding up to 45 years in prison.
According to testimony at trial, Redfoot and Rodriguez fought outside a store in Randlett on June 7, 2018. They parted ways, driving separately, and then Redfoot told the driver of his vehicle to turn around and follow Rodriguez, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office of Utah.
The driver refused to turn around and Redfoot threatened the driver with a KelTec Sub-2000 9mm folding rifle. Prosecutors say the driver complied, following Rodriguez to the outside of a home on the reservation, where Redfoot fired at least 29 shots toward Rodriguez and others, hitting him in the back of the head and killing him.
Redfoot said Wednesday he acted in self-defense, despite witnesses describing the intentionality of Redfoot's pursuit of Rodgriguez.
"I apologize to the court, to the Rodriguez family, but I don't apologize for defending myself," Redfoot said, shaking at the stand.
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups said he took into consideration the "intentional criminality" and "seriousness of the offense," but also Redfoot's age and prospect of changed behavior in prison.
But prosecutor Michael Thorpe said Redfoot hasn't changed in the past five years he's spent in jail. He argued for a term of 50 years, pointing out Redfoot's criminal history which he said includes convictions of drug possession, buying or owning a firearm as a restricted person, domestic violence in the presence of a child and assault.
"This was not an isolated incident," Thorpe said. "This was an exceedingly violent situation … a violent choice Brandon made without regard for human life."
Defense attorney Rudy Bautista asked for 35 years, calling the incident "tragic and uncalled for" but also emphasizing Redfoot's upbringing, which included alcohol exposure at a young age that he said stunted his client's brain development and was likely a factor in his criminal history.
"His brain will be able to heal and form" without the impact of drugs or alcohol while he is in prison, Bautista said of Redfoot.
But Thorpe said of the victim: "He, too, had a full life ahead of him, and that was taken by Brandon Redfoot."
Thorpe also read a statement from Rodriguez's mother, Lisa Rodriguez, in which she said, "Losing him has left me with a broken heart and a sadness I will carry forever."
Redfoot will serve his time in a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, to facilitate family visits.
