By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A Cedar City motorcyclist who successfully argued self-defense in a 2024 road rage shooting that initially led to multiple charges is asking the court to dismiss the one felony still remaining.
Prosecutors oppose the motion, contending a person can be convicted of obstruction even when the conduct being investigated does not ultimately result in a criminal conviction.
Jason Bryan Stolworthy, 48, was originally charged with six offenses following a June 12, 2024, confrontation that began near Main Street and Center Street in Cedar City and ended several miles away at the KB Express near Fiddlers Canyon Road.
According to court documents filed in 5th District Court, the confrontation involved Stolworthy, who was riding a motorcycle, and Robert Mabbitt, who was driving a car.
A witness recorded part of the confrontation, including Stolworthy drawing a handgun before several shots were heard. Mabbitt was struck in the upper chest and flown to St. George for treatment of injuries to his lung and ribs.
Stolworthy was charged with first-degree felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, second-degree felony aggravated assault, second-degree felony obstruction of justice, two counts of reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
Following an April 2025 justification hearing, Judge Meb Anderson ruled in September that Stolworthy acted in lawful self-defense.
Anderson found Mabbitt was the aggressor, had punched Stolworthy through his helmet visor, breaking his nose and temporarily impairing his vision, threatened to kill him and then charged at him as Stolworthy retreated.
The ruling led to the dismissal of the firearm and aggravated assault charges with prejudice and the two reckless endangerment charges without prejudice. The obstruction charge and a class B misdemeanor count of reckless driving remain pending.
Defense attorney Scott Garrett filed a motion June 22 asking Anderson to dismiss the obstruction charge with prejudice. The charge is based on allegations that Stolworthy bent the motorcycle’s license plate and attempted to conceal the motorcycle following the shooting.
Garrett argues the charge was tied directly to the investigation of the shooting as a first-degree felony. Because Anderson found the shooting justified, the defense contends there is no longer an underlying criminal offense to support the obstruction charge or its classification as a second-degree felony.
“The charge as bound over — obstruction regarding the investigation of a First Degree Felony — no longer exists as a matter of law,” Garrett wrote.
Prosecutors disagree, arguing Utah law does not require a conviction on the underlying offense to sustain an obstruction charge.
In its response, the state cited a Utah appellate ruling that upheld an obstruction conviction against a man acquitted of murder after claiming self-defense.
Prosecutors contend the issue is whether Stolworthy tried to hinder the investigation, regardless of whether the shooting was later found to be justified.
The state argues a jury could infer Stolworthy’s intent from allegations that he bent the license plate, left the scene, did not call 911 or render aid and attempted to place the motorcycle in his truck.
Garrett replied that Stolworthy believed he acted in self-defense, therefore he did not take those actions with the intent to conceal a crime.
Oral arguments on the dismissal motion were scheduled for Tuesday but did not move forward.
Deputy Iron County Attorney Trajan Evans said the state asked Anderson to voluntarily recuse himself from the case because of a conflict of interest, but the judge declined. The state now has 14 days to file a formal motion seeking his disqualification.
No additional information about the nature of the potential conflict was available. Evans declined further comment because the case remains pending.