Brother of last man executed in Utah is protesting the upcoming execution of Taberon Honie

State set to execute Taberon Honie just after midnight on Thursday at the Utah State Prison

Ronnie Lee Gardner was the last person to die by firing squad in Utah, a method state lawmakers voted this week to reinstate

A man facing execution in Utah has addressed state officials asking them to spare him the death penalty. Taberon Honie is scheduled to be executed just after midnight Thursday at the Utah State Prison. He was convicted of murder in the 2005 death of Douglas Lovell, a cab driver.

In a letter to the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles, Honie said he was "deeply sorry" for his crime and that he has changed since then. He said he has earned a college degree, become a certified nurse assistant, and is now a mentor to other inmates.

The board denied Honie's clemency request on Friday. In a statement, the board said it had "carefully considered all of the evidence and arguments presented" but ultimately decided that "the death penalty is the appropriate punishment in this case."

Honie's execution is scheduled to be carried out by lethal injection. He would be the fourth person executed in Utah since 2010.