Jesse Taggart was sentenced in Utah on April 6, 2026, to 15 years to life in prison for a shooting that occurred during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Provo. He was convicted by a jury of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault, and riot for shooting a driver, Kenneth Dudley, and threatening others. Key Details of the Case and Hearing: Sentencing: Judge Kraig Powell ordered the maximum sentence, with multiple charges running consecutively. The Incident: In June 2020, Taggart fired two rounds into an SUV driven by Dudley, hitting him in the arm, during a protest. Taggart claimed he was defending others from the driver. Justification Hearing: Prior to the trial, Taggart requested a "justification hearing"—a relatively new Utah procedure where a judge decides if a shooting was legal self-defense. Judge Powell rejected this claim, finding that Taggart was not in danger and was not justified in using deadly force. Evidence and Verdict: Prosecutors argued the shooting was premeditated, presenting text messages where Taggart bragged about shooting a "Nazi". Appeal: Taggart’s attorney indicated that arguments for a new trial, including claims of ineffective counsel, will be raised in an appeal. Contextual Information: Victim Impact: The driver, Kenneth Dudley, told the court he almost bled to death, stating, "On June 29, 2020, Mr. Taggart attempted to end my life". Taggart's Defense: Taggart's family described him as a "loyal protector and a peacemaker" during the hearing, seeking leniency. Prior Legal Action: Taggart previously attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing police acted with bias and failed to properly collect evidence at the scene. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOdH5V1hktXOmjh3q-pK3vQ/join