Salt Lake Tribune

Brent Ray Brooks - who served more than 12 years in state prison after slaying a convenience store cashier in American Fork - is now beginning a seven-year stretch in a federal facility for possessing child pornography. Brooks, 46, was sentenced Oct. 14 by U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell to 88 months in a federal prison with no chance of parole. Brooks landed in the Utah State Prison for the March 20, 1981, slaying of William D. Bryant, 40, at the Thrifty C convenience store. After shooting Bryant in the head and chest with a .25-caliber handgun, Brooks removed money from the cash register and took Bryant's wallet, according to police and court records. Brooks later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to five years to life. Records from the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole indicate Brooks claimed he never planned a robbery and just wanted to confront Bryant because he believed the victim was involved with his wife. Initially paroled in 1990, Brooks was back for a parole violation after three years of freedom. Paroled a second time in 1995, he was back again on another violation in less than two years. After his final parole in February 1998, Brooks stayed out of trouble until September 2003, when he was indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the possession charge under a plea deal. - Pamela Manson