OGDEN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - The accused Ogden cop killer is now making his first appearance in court. For the first time, Matthew David Stewart faced charges for the last month's deadly police shootout.
The hearing set in motion a court case that could put Stewart in prison for life, or get him the death penalty. Wednesday's hearing was done by video conference, because none of the key players were in the same room. Stewart was in the Weber County Jail, prosecutors were in the Weber County Attorney's Office, and the judge was at the 2nd District Court in Ogden.
Members of the media were confined to watch on a tiny screen inside a separate room. The court read Stewart the charges against him. He stood next to his attorney, shackled and quiet.
He faces 10 charges, including one count of aggravated murder, 7 counts of attempted aggravated murder, a danger weapons enhancement added to those counts, and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
If convicted, the court told him he could face the death penalty, life in prison with and/or without parole, or somewhere between one to 90 years behind bars, depending on how many charges he's found guilty of.
ABC 4 is told the attorneys in this case will meet again next Tuesday. The hearings are being moved to the biggest courtroom in the 2nd District Court building so the media can better show viewers what's happening inside. No word yet on when the trial might start.
