By Marion Crawford
The man accused of kidnapping a 5-year-old Mapleton boy last October was sentenced to 15 years to life at the Utah State Penitentiary.
Robert Allen Kartchner, 21, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, attempted murder and child neglect in separate incidences involving four boys. On Tuesday, Kartchner''s attorney argued before 4th District Judge Lynn Davis to have the guilty pleas removed and replaced by a no-contest plea, citing recent psychological evaluations that showed problems with his mental capacity.
That request was vacated as Davis moved forward with the sentencing.
Police reports show the boy was riding his scooter home from school last October when Kartchner abducted him, bound him with electrical tape and cut his legs with a knife at Diamond Fork Canyon.
The boy was found by a group of men wandering on a country road, his hands still bound with electrical tape.
During the sentencing stages, Kartchner read Thursday from a statement to the court: 'I would like to express how sorry I am for the pain that I caused these victims. I never meant to hurt anyone.'
In a special interview with The Daily Universe, Kartchner expressed his regrets for his actions and talked about the incident that led to his conviction.
In court Thursday, the victims and the families also read statements before Davis passed judgment.
The 6-year-old victim, Benjamin, his blond head bowed, chin touching chest, stood before the judge, but appeared to be too frightened to make or read a statement. Dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, the only words he could say were his name.
The victim''s mother stepped forward and made a statement in her son''s behalf: 'Um, I just wanted to say what Benjamin was going to say -- Put him in jail forever.'
Todd Martin, a BYU Financial Aid Clerk and father of Andrew Martin, a 12-year-old who Kartchner attempted to kidnap, said: 'When Andrew came home, he was white as a ghost and said, ''I think I almost got kidnapped.'''
Andrew told police he was able to break free from Kartchner''s bear-hug when he was attacked on his way to a friend''s house, Todd Martin said.
Davis called the trial 'a trial within a trial' in rejecting the defense''s motion for a continuance hearing for more time to evaluate Kartchner''s mental capacity because of conflicting statements about abuse from Kartchner''s family.
'We may never know the truth as it relates to those certain events,' Davis said. 'There''s no evidence in the views of the defendants family.'
Prosecutor Donna Kelly said she doesn''t expect Kartchner''s parole hearing to be for at least 20 years.
'Mr. Kartchner knew exactly what he was doing when he committed these crimes,' said Utah County prosecutor Donna Kelly.