Strangling, mugging, shootings: Ogden man pleads guilty | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo supplied, Weber County Sheriff’s Office

Colton Shepard

OGDEN — An Ogden man pleaded guilty on Thursday to reduced charges arising from an assault spree that included the shooting of a Plain City man.

The Weber County Sheriff’s Office arrested Colton Shepard on Feb. 10, 2021. Probable cause statements said Shepard allegedly strangled a woman, mugged his mother, shot a man and tried to kill another man who intervened.

Charges filed a few days later included two counts of first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder and charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, theft, use of a firearm by a restricted person, criminal mischief and violation of jail release agreements.

But in 2nd District Court on Thursday, Shepard, 22, pleaded guilty to second- and third-degree felony aggravated assault for the two shooting incidents; third-degree felony assault for the strangling incident; and second-degree felony use of a firearm by a restricted person. In return, Weber County prosecutors dropped charges of theft, witness tampering and criminal mischief.

According to a prosecutors’ summary of events filed in court on Wednesday, the trouble began when the woman met Shepard at an Ogden park to break off their relationship. While sitting in her vehicle, Shepard became angry and punched and strangled the woman. She escaped but he chased her, strangling her a second time with a lanyard she was wearing. Bystanders restrained Shepard and the woman left in her vehicle.

Shepard next stole his mother’s car, assaulting her in the process, according to the charging documents.

The woman drove home to Plain City and saw Shepard’s mother’s car parked outside. She went inside and Shepard was in the kitchen with a gun in his waistband, having entered the home through a dog door.

The woman pleaded with Shepard to give her the gun because he was threatening to kill himself. At that point, a man came in through the garage and jumped Shepard from behind, trying to get the gun. Shepard then allegedly shot the man in the abdomen and arm.

A friend of the shooting victim came in and also tried to get the gun away from Shepard, who threatened to kill him and fired. But the friend was able to bat Shepard’s arm aside to divert the gun blast.

Shepard has been in the Weber County Jail since his arrest. Judge Cristina Ortega scheduled sentencing for Aug. 5.

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