Jordan Hale, a Star Valley Ranch man found guilty of aggravated assault, has been sentenced to 9-10 years in prison. Judge Joseph Bluemel issued the sentencing on Monday, June 3.
Hale had been facing up to life in prison after his arrest in September of last year. He was charged with Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault. A jury found him guilty of the assault charge but not guilty of the attempted murder charge.
The charges stem from a domestic incident when Hale, while intoxicated, allegedly pointed a handgun multiple times at his wife and allegedly pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire, even though it was loaded. Hale fled the scene before police arrived and hid in the mountains east of Star Valley Ranch. He turned himself in three days later on September 12, 2022. He was taken into custody without incident.
During the trial, which took place at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Kemmerer, prosecutors argued that the gun used in the incident should have been operational but had malfunctioned. However Hale’s defense argued that while he knew there were bullets in the gun, he did not have a bullet in the chamber and had no intention of shooting his wife. There was also discussion regarding the level of intoxication Hale was under at the time and the level of impact it had on his decision making. Because he fled the scene and was not arrested until three days later, no toxicology reports were available for the jury to consider.
During the sentencing on Monday, the prosecution called for the maximum sentence for felony aggravated assault, based on the “level of violence” that occurred in the incident and also that it occurred in front of two minors. Hale’s defense acknowledged that there were mental and emotional injuries from the incident, but there were no physical injuries related to assault. Four different character witnesses, including friends and family, also spoke on Hale’s behalf, calling for the judge to lessen the sentence. Hale also spoke, saying that due to alcohol he was not in the right state of mind during the incident, and that he wasn’t trying to hurt anyone but just made “a horrible, horrible decision.”
Following the statements, Judge Bluemel noted the support of Hale’s family and friends, but also stated that there were three instances of alleged assault but he was only charged and convicted of one. Bluemel also noted the use of alcohol in previous instances, stating that Hale has already had the opportunity to rehabilitate. Judge Bluemel then issued the maximum sentence of 9-10 years with time served of 231 days.
