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UTAH STATE PRISON — A man who was incarcerated in the Salt Lake County Jail when he was just 16 and later sent to the Utah State Prison at 19, after killing his stepfather, says he's ready to re-enter society.
Rosco Dewayne Brackett, now 27, of West Valley, was convicted in 2015 of manslaughter and felony discharge of a firearm. He was sentenced to up to life in prison.
Brackett says at that time he had a poor home life, was doing poorly in school, and was addicted to drugs at age 15.
"I just kind of disobeyed everything that everybody told me to do," he told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole on Tuesday.
On Sept. 14, 2012, just five days before his 17th birthday, Brackett was arguing with his stepfather, James Michael George, 52, about dropping out of school. Family members say the two fought often and Brackett's mother later testified in court that the family's relationships had reached a breaking point, and said her husband had been "controlling."
On that day, George issued an ultimatum to Brackett to either go back to school or get a job. The argument escalated to the point that Brackett — who says he had been up for several days straight after using methamphetamines — grabbed a gun, fired one shot that missed, fired a second round that struck George in the head and then repeatedly shot George while he was on the ground, according to charging documents.
On Tuesday, Brackett had his first parole hearing.
"To begin with, I'd like to say, I'm sorry. I should have never selfishly took James' life that day," he told the board.
Brackett said "it wasn't easy" being incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center starting when he was 16 and then placed into the general population at the prison at 19.
"It took some time to adjust," he said, while also noting that his disciplinary issues when he first arrived at the prison were because he "had a false sense I had to be something that I wasn't ... so I was acting up."
After being written up several times for disciplinary violations and having privileges taken away, Brackett said he wasn't able to talk to his mother for six months. When he finally was able to speak to her again, "all she could do was cry and asked me what I was doing with my life, what I was doing with myself?" Brackett recalled.
It was at that point that Brackett said he needed to figure out who he was, grow up and "not just waste my time here."
Board Vice Chairman Marshall Thompson, who conducted Tuesday's hearing, noted that since that time, Brackett has done well in prison. He has had no disciplinary violations for six years and during his last assessment he was rated as being a "low risk" for reoffending.
Brackett said he has been taking medications for anxiety and depression for a few years. His hope, once he is released, is to move to Wyoming and get a job in welding.
In his concluding remarks, Brackett says he hopes the board sees him as who he is today and not the "foolish kid" he was when he was arrested and convicted of the crimes.
The full five-member board will now vote on whether to grant Brackett parole. A decision could come as early as two weeks to a month.
