UPDATE: Jury finds Andrew Lesky guilty on four of six felony charges

Andrew Lesky, who opted to represented himself in his attempted murder jury trial, interacts with bailiffs from the Cache County Sheriff's Office on Thursday morning in Logan.

LOGAN — A jury has found Andrew J. Lesky guilty of aggravated assault and other felony charges. The jury of five women and three men deliberated for almost nine hours, reaching their verdict at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Lesky, who represented himself through half of the two week trial, sat next to his support counsel, Chad Hutchings, placing his head in his hands and covering his face as 1st District Court Judge Brian Cannell read the jury’s verdict. The 45-year-old was found guilty of aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping, all first-degree felonies, also possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.  They found him not guilty of two other charges. 

The jury also determined that the defendant was a habitual offender, after serving two prison sentences in California, 22-years ago for theft and burglary, enhancing the possible prison sentence.

Judge Brian Cannell scheduled sentencing for December 6.

Because of a gag order, issued by Judge Cannell in November 2015, none of the attorneys from both sides were asked to comment on the jury’s decessions.

In October 2014, Lesky was arrested and charged with trying to shoot his ex-girlfriend. During the trial, the victim and her now husband described how the defendant approached them while they were outside their Logan apartment, near 75 East 600 North. He brandished a handgun and tried to shoot her, but the gun misfired. They said he then produced a knife and cut the man’s clothing.

During closing arguments, Lesky told the jury, there was no physical evidence that he got into a fight with the victims. He later pleaded, saying he was not an animal or killer, and just wanted to go home to California.

Earlier, state attorney Tony Baird said their evidence showed Lesky is dishonest and a liar. He described how the defendant tried to impersonate people and weave complex lies to try and manipulate the victims, and deceive investigators.

Lesky could face up to life in prison when he is sentenced. He still has other cases pending for aggravated assault, damaging jail facilities and other misdemeanor charges. Trial dates have not been set for those cases.

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