Judge Sentences Salt Lake City Man to Prison
Garrett Thomas Stewart receives a prison term for aggravated assault and a separate high-speed police chase.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Third District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills has sentenced 36-year-old Garrett Thomas Stewart to zero to five years in prison. The sentence follows a July 19 aggravated assault in Salt Lake City and a separate guilty plea regarding a police pursuit.
Why it matters
The judge emphasized concerns for community safety when imposing the prison term. The defense argued the incident stemmed from a mental health crisis, while the plea deal successfully dismissed charges for aggravated robbery.
Garrett Thomas Stewart received a sentence of zero to five years in prison following his guilty plea to aggravated assault. The court also addressed a separate third-degree felony conviction for failing to stop for police.
The players
Garrett Thomas Stewart
He is a 36-year-old defendant who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and failing to stop for law enforcement.
Elizabeth Hruby-Mills
She serves as a Third District Court judge in Utah presiding over the criminal proceedings.
The details
During the July 19 incident, Stewart broke a car window and punched a woman, who required stitches for her injury. Stewart admitted to consuming psilocybin mushrooms prior to the attack, which occurred shortly after his July 4 arrest for a high-speed chase through Summit and Wasatch counties.
Timeline
July 4, 2026: Garrett Thomas Stewart led a high-speed police chase.
July 19, 2026: Garrett Thomas Stewart attacked a victim in Salt Lake City.
September 25, 2026: Stewart pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony for the police pursuit.
October 28, 2026: The judge sentenced Stewart to prison.
Legal Context
The sentence adheres to the Utah Code of Criminal Procedure sentencing guidelines, which dictate the range for felony convictions. This ruling follows recent patterns in Salt Lake City where courts balance mental health considerations against public safety requirements.
The sentencing concludes the immediate criminal proceedings for the incidents occurring in July. Residents may find additional information on safety and police updates through the local district court records.
The takeaway
The court focused on community safety when determining the final sentence for the defendant. This case highlights how criminal acts involving substance use and mental health crises are processed through the district court system.
Further reading
Learn more about local legal proceedings in the Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
