Man pleads guilty to involvement in murder of Morey Pelton
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RIRIE — A 61-year-old man has pleaded guilty to being involved in the murder of a father of two.
Gerald Hamlin was indicted on Feb. 8 on one count of felony aiding and abetting first-degree murder, felony accessory willfully withholding knowledge of a felony from a peace officer, and felony destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence in connection to the death of Morey Pelton.
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As part of a plea agreement, Hamlin pleaded guilty to felony accessory willfully withholding knowledge of a felony from a peace officer and felony destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence.
In exchange, the prosecution agreed to drop the charge of felony aiding and abetting first-degree murder and will argue that Hamlin be given a retained jurisdiction or “rider” at sentencing. They will be free to argue for any underlying sentence.
The plea agreement is not binding, meaning the judge does not have to agree to either party’s recommendations for sentencing.
Hamlin officially changed his pleas to guilty on Tuesday and is expected to appear for sentencing on Sept. 11.
Pelton’s father, Martin Pelton, says he wants justice for his son and he wouldn’t wish this experience “on his worst enemy.”
“What do I say? It’s been two and a half years,” says Pelton. “My kid had two kids…and they just killed him. I just want justice.”
Pelton says hopes for a sense of closure after court proceedings.
“These people drove up to the rest area, my boy was executed and shot in the head,” says Pelton. “They didn’t stop the bleeding, they didn’t try CPR, they left the rest area, they did not call 911, and then they lied about it the whole time.”
Pelton’s body was found on May 13, 2022, at the Lane Clark Rest Area on U.S. Highway 26 between Ririe and Swan Valley. He died of a single gunshot wound, according to Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal.
Another man, Randy Larkin, was indicted by a grand jury in 2022 and charged with one count of first-degree murder. He is in the Bonneville County Jail on $1 million bond and a jury trial is scheduled to begin in his case on Nov. 12.
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