Man who attacked strangers during mental health crisis sentenced to prison | KSL.com

Man who attacked strangers during mental health crisis sentenced to prison | KSL.com

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Salt Lake City Man Sentenced to Prison Following Random Neighborhood Assault

A Salt Lake City neighborhood walk turned into a scene of absolute violence last summer when a man experiencing a severe mental health crisis and under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms attacked a family enjoying ice cream, ksl.com reported. Third District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills sentenced 36-year-old Garrett Thomas Stewart to zero to five years in prison for aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, rejecting a defense request for probation.

Judge Hruby-Mills called the July 19 attack a “horrible” and “bewildering” situation. Despite defense arguments emphasizing Stewart’s character, his career as a barber, and a newly acquired crane operating license, the court prioritized community protection. “My concerns for the safety of the community are so great,” the judge said during the sentencing.

The Attack and the Victim’s Account

The incident unfolded as a family—a mother, her husband, and their two daughters, ages 11 and 14—walked home from dinner. According to statements read in court by the victim’s sister, the family heard Stewart screaming in the street. When the husband attempted to de-escalate the encounter by explaining they wanted no trouble, the situation escalated instantly.

Stewart punched the mother in the face, sending her crashing to the pavement. The victim later recounted seeing blood pooled across the sidewalk. She required stitches for a deep facial cut and suffered weeks of physical pain, headaches, and confusion, leaving a permanent scar that serves as a daily reminder of the night.

The fear I felt for my daughters and their safety is the thing I remember most. … Children are not supposed to see that, and it is something they can never unsee, the victim said in her statement.

Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Jarod Wilson pushed for the prison term, emphasizing the profound danger Stewart posed to the public. Wilson noted that Stewart admitted to riding a motorcycle while using psilocybin mushrooms, shattering a car window, and threatening to kill strangers who were simply walking home.

Defense attorney Stephanie Pitcher argued that the assault was “undoubtedly the result of a mental health crisis” and insisted that Stewart would never commit such an act in his right mind. Pitcher asked the court for probation, noting that Stewart had successfully completed it in the past and required structured support rather than incarceration.

Prior Legal Troubles and Plea Agreement

The sentencing also accounted for Stewart’s recent criminal record. Just two weeks prior to the July 19 assault, on July 4, law enforcement arrested Stewart following a high-speed chase spanning Summit County and Wasatch County. On September 25, he pleaded guilty to failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop, which is also a third-degree felony.

Under the terms of a plea agreement resolving the July attack, prosecutors dismissed several associated charges. Those dropped counts included aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; violent offenses committed in the presence of a child, assault, and property damage, all class B misdemeanors; public intoxication, a class C misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, an infraction.

Addressing the court before his sentencing, Stewart expressed remorse and accepted accountability for his actions. He noted that he has battled substance abuse and mental health challenges for 15 years.

“I can’t imagine the fear and terror that I inflicted on that family,” Stewart told the court. “I can guarantee that I will seek the help that I need and do everything I can to prevent something like this from ever happening again.”

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