June sentencing hearing set in Utah County for toddler's killer
Jason Putnam, 24, pleaded guilty in March to a first-degree felony of aggravated murder after prosecutors agreed they would not seek the death penalty.
Putnam was arrested in June after calling 911 to report that his son had fallen off the bed and wasn't breathing. He was taken to the hospital and later died.
Subsequent reports indicated severe bruising and trauma incompatible with a fall. Putnam later admitted he had squeezed and hit the boy to teach him to "be a man" and not cry, according to police reports.
Tuesday's hearing was set almost as a precautionary measure, to ensure that the pre-sentence report was completed, correct and acceptable to both parties.
Defense attorney Gunda Jarvis told Judge Steven Hansen they found no errors in the report and were ready for the sentencing phase of the case.
In this case, sentencing will be conducted in a separate "trial," or hearing, where both sides will present evidence and call witnesses before the judge makes his recommendation about whether Putnam should face life in prison without parole, or given the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors indicated they might use the first half of the first day, and Jarvis can take the remaining time.
"If we don't use all the time, that's great," she said. "I just don't want to be stuck without enough time."
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com
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