Convicted rapist seeks parole 4 years after victim took her own life

GUNNISON — A Salt Lake man convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman at gunpoint in 2012 is now seeking to be released from prison.

But while Brian Newton, 34, was able to speak on his own behalf during Tuesday's parole hearing from the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, his victim was not.

In September of 2020 — just four months after the Utah Supreme Court upheld Newton's conviction — Mckenzie Fronk took her own life because of her fear that Newton would be released and that he would come after her.

"She took her own life as a direct result of the trauma Mr. Newton inflicted upon her," attorney Joseph Hill said. "(She suffered) emotional wounds that never fully healed."

On May 30, 2012, Fronk went with her friends to a house party in West Valley City. Newton was also at the party and at some point during the night asked her if she wanted to go get food with him.

Hill says they went to a Subway and got something to eat. But after, Newton drove to another location, strangled Fronk, put a gun to her head and raped her.

After the attack, as they were driving, Newton told Fronk "that he might have to 'kill her' because she seemed like a girl that would 'cause problems for him,'" charging documents state.

As their car slowed for a red light on the Bangerter Highway, Fronk opened the door and jumped from the vehicle. She walked along the Bangerter Highway barefoot and with her dress on backward until she could find help.

A Salt Lake SWAT team later arrested Newton at his home.

Newton was charged with four felony crimes, and in 2014 a jury convicted him of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault. Hill, who worked for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office at that time, was the lead prosecutor in the case.

Newton was sentenced to a term of 10 years to life in the Utah State Prison. He appealed his case to the Utah Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction.

On Tuesday, Newton went before a representative of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole for his first hearing. Hill was asked by Fronk's family to address the board on their behalf.

Hill recalled how Fronk bravely confronted Newton during his trial and testified against him. He also recounted to the board Newton's "fictitious version" of what happened.

"To this day I still remember Mr. Newton's chilling testimony," he said, while adding that he had "never seen a defendant spin a fictitious story so easily."

Fronk and her family felt relief when Newton was convicted. But Hill says that relief was fleeting as Fronk "struggled to cope with the mental trauma" and could not shake the fear she lived with that he might one day be released.

"Her beautiful life is not forgotten," Hill said, while asking the board not to release Newton, whom he called a "violent, unremorseful and unrepentant serial rapist."

Hill says his office and the family received several letters from others who claimed to be victims or family members of victims of Newton but were too afraid to confront him in court. According to Hill, Newton has "refused to accept responsibility for his heinous crime" and has exhibited "violent predatory behavior."

"Please do not free this predator," Hill asked the board.

When it was Newton's turn to speak, he read a prepared statement but did not talk much about the events of May 30, 2012, only noting, "We have differing stories as to what happened."

Newton called Fronk's death a "horribly tragic event" and offered his apologies to her family and friends. He went on to tell the board that he has worked to improve himself while incarcerated and is "not the same person I was when I was first locked up."

"I know I can be a productive member of society," he said.

The board acknowledged Newton's achievements while in prison. But also noted that he has had five disciplinary violations, including one for having explicit photographs of women. He has not had any disciplinary violations in the past year, but the board noted that Newton has yet to complete a sex offender treatment course.

When asked how he has changed the most since being sent to prison, Newton explained that with his military background his first response to a situation used to be violence.

"Words are much more powerful than any physical action," he says he has learned.

"I know what all the records show, and I know the person I am now, and I'd just like that chance to show that to everybody," Newton said in conclusion.

The full five-member board will now vote on whether to grant parole or set another hearing for a future date. The expiration date listed for Newton's life sentence is the year 2112.

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