‘He’s an evil man.’ Mom does not plan to speak at sentencing of man accused of killing Dylan Rounds

IDAHO FALLS — Candice Cooley does not scheme to speak astatine nan sentencing proceeding of nan man accused of sidesplitting her son.

James Brenner is scheduled to beryllium sentenced July 1 successful Box Elder County, Utah aft he pleaded guilty successful May to 1 count of second-degree execution successful relationship to nan decease of 19-year-old Dylan Rounds. Brenner besides pleaded blameworthy to 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person

“I deliberation he’s an evil man and I deliberation reference a unfortunate effect connection would really springiness him pleasure,” Cooley tells EastIdahoNews.com. “My connection will enactment backstage and beryllium turned into nan parole board.”

As portion of a plea agreement, Brenner led authorities to Rounds’ body successful nan godforsaken municipality of Lucin, Utah connected April 9. The young man, who had precocious moved to Utah from Idaho to farm, vanished complete Memorial Day weekend successful 2022. Brenner was squatting connected spot adjacent erstwhile Rounds disappeared.

“It’s a alleviation to person Dylan back. It’s was a bully Memorial play that will beryllium everlastingly changed but astatine slightest we didn’t person to deliberation that it’s been 2 years and he was still retired there,” Cooley explains. “We sewage him backmost earlier that 2 twelvemonth mark. It would person been harder not having him back.”

Cooley has been moving pinch nan Missing successful America Network to thief dispersed consciousness astir different missing people. They had a booth astatine CrimeCon successful Nashville this period and Cooley has established Dylan’s Legacy, a nonprofit that provides resources, guidance and affectional support to others affected by akin circumstances.

She is readying nan 2nd yearly “sow a seed for Dylan” connected Aug. 1, her son’s 22nd birthday. People astir nan world are encouraged to works seeds successful Rounds’ honor.

“We’re not looking backwards. We are looking guardant to helping families. It’s a caller section – not a closed book, but a caller chapter,” Cooley says.