Two fugitives from Oregon who were taken into custody in Summit County last August after shooting a companion and stealing a car are set to begin lengthy prison sentences later this month.

On August 16, 2011, Roy Scott Fritts, 34, and Jessica Lorraine Fritts, 36, were captured by Summit County deputies after a standoff in Echo. Roy Fritts had just been released from jail in Oregon for attempted murder and had broken his parole. Roy and Jessica were hitchhiking in Wyoming when they were picked up by a male driving a van. Shortly after, the pair shot the man in the leg and fled in his truck westbound on Interstate 80.

After the van's tires were deflated by tire spikes near Echo Junction, they carjacked an Echo resident's vehicle, but were unable to operate because it was a manual transmission. Both suspects were captured by Summit County deputies a short time later.

Jessica Fritts was tried in federal court in Wyoming and Roy Fritts was tried in District Court. According to Jim Anderson, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Jessica Fritts was tried in federal court because she committed crimes in multiple states, including Oregon, Wyoming and Utah. Anderson said Roy Fritts was transferred to district court so he could be given a harsher sentence.

"Both took plea bargains and pleaded guilty to the charges we brought against them," Anderson said. "We wanted to make sure Mr. Fritts would be in jail for the rest of his life and Mrs. Fritts would be in federal prison for a very long time."

Jessica Fritts was charged with and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking and a felon in possession of a firearm. Andersons said she was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

Roy Fritts was charged with and pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and grand larceny. Anderson said he was given life in prison with no possibility of parole and eight to 10 years for theft of a vehicle to be served concurrently.

According to Anderson, Roy Fritts took his plea bargain, even though it meant he would never get out of a prison, just so his wife could have a lighter sentence. The pair met while they were both incarcerated in Oregon.

"We said we wouldn't offer one person a plea deal unless they both agreed to plea deals," Anderson said. "So if he wanted his wife to get a more favorable sentence then he had to take the life in prison offer. We transferred his case to district court because in a federal court we cannot offer the sentence of life without parole."

The pair will begin their jail terms at the end of August or beginning of September, according to Anderson.