◆ Found Guilty of Felony Assault. Sentencing will take place on Monday, July 3

A jury trial for a Star Valley Ranch man who hid out in the mountains east of Star Valley Ranch following a domestic dispute last September concluded last week. Jordan Hale was found not guilty of Attempted First Degree Murder, but guilty on Felony Aggravated Assault.

The events unfolded on September 10, 2022 when police responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute in Star Valley Ranch. Upon arrival Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office found that Hale had left the area after allegedly attempting to use a firearm against a family member. His vehicle was eventually located in the Green Canyon area east of Star Valley Ranch. A search ensued that lasted for three days, ending when Hale turned himself in on September 12. He was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault.

During the trial, which took place at the Lincoln County Courthouse in Kemmerer, it was stated that while intoxicated Hale pointed a loaded weapon at his wife’s head and pulled the trigger. During the trial it was shown that the gun should have been operational but had malfunctioned. Hale’s defense also argued that while he knew there were bullets in the gun, Hale did not have a bullet in the chamber and had no intention of shooting his wife, just scaring her.

Following closing arguments, the jury returned on Wednesday evening, June 21 and delivered the verdicts.

“Anytime you have an attempted first degree murder case, it’s going to be a hard fought case,” stated Lincoln County Attorney Spencer Allred. “There were difficult legal instructions and defenses including voluntary intoxication that were at issue here and we respect the process and respect the work and decision that the jury came to.”

Hale will be sentenced on Monday, July 3, where he faces a maximum of ten years in prison for the guilty verdict related to the felony aggravated assault charge.