Brighton resident charged with aggravated assault for confronting snowboarder

Mar 28, 2024, 2:04 PM | Updated: 4:52 pm

(Loren Richardson via KSL.com)

Digital Content Producer

BRIGHTON, Utah — The Salt Lake County district attorney has charged a Brighton resident with aggravated assault and making a threat of violence involving a snowboarder.

According to court documents and based on witness accounts, Brighton resident Keith Robert Stebbings, 67, attempted with unlawful force or violence to injure a snowboarder who had traveled onto Stebbing’s property near Brighton Ski Resort.

Attorneys for Stebbings argue there were several private property signs posted. Steve Burton said he saw the signs himself.

“I’d actually bought a pair of snowshoes and went up there to see them myself,” Burton said.

“I took a bunch of photos with my phone, showing that there were about seven no trespassing and private property signs surrounding his (Stebbings’s) and his neighbor’s property.”

Burton also told KSL TV that his client did not point a shotgun at the snowboarder.

The assault charge is a third-degree felony and the threat of violence is a class B misdemeanor.

Getting lost in Utah’s backcountry

KSL Legal analyst Greg Skordas, a member of ski patrol for years, says it’s not uncommon for people to get lost in the backcountry like this.

“It’s not surprising, looking at the pictures, that the district attorney decided to file criminal charges,” Skordas said.

“And in this case, aggravated assault. Which is aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”

During his last run of the day on Feb. 26, Loren Richardson entered the backcountry area of Brighton Ski Resort and was traveling on 7921 South Old Prospect Ave. when he encountered Stebbings.

Stebbing allegedly attempted force or violence when he confronted Richardson while holding a shotgun and then pushing Richardson with the shotgun.

Charging documents further state that Richardson had mistakenly crossed over Stebbings’ property line and that he allegedly said there would “be holes in” Richardson if he crossed onto the property again.

Aimee Cobabe and Shelby Lofton contributed.