Cedar City man sentenced to 30 days in jail, 2 years probation in case involving fight over speaker

Stock photo by Alex Star/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

CEDAR CITY — A Cedar City man arrested earlier this month following a fight over an audio speaker has been sentenced to 30 days in jail plus two years of probation.

Bryan James Burkes, 41, was sentenced in 5th District Court on Tuesday by Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, just eight days after the May 9 altercation that led to his arrest.

Fifth District Courthouse, Cedar City, Utah, April 15, 2021 | File photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

As previously reported in Cedar City News, Burkes was arrested at a residence after fighting with two other men over the rightful ownership of a speaker. During the altercation, Burkes allegedly stabbed one of the men multiple times with a pocketknife. 

The man who was stabbed received stitches and is recovering from his injuries, police said later.

Although Burkes was initially booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated assault, the associated charges were subsequently dropped after investigators determined Burkes, who was punched in the mouth during the fight, may have acted in self-defense.

“There were valid self-defense claims that were present, in light of all of the facts and the history between the parties,” Iron County Attorney Chad Dotson told Cedar City News.

“We could not pursue the felony charges because there was insufficient evidence for some charges,” Dotson added. “We only had legal grounds to file the misdemeanor charges.” 

During his hearing on Tuesday, Burkes pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a class A misdemeanor. A second count of interfering with an arrest, a class B misdemeanor, was dismissed.

Allen ordered that Burkes spend 30 days in Iron County Jail, with credit given for time already served. After he finishes the jail term, Burkes is to be placed on probation for 24 months, the judge said during the sentencing.

Burkes already was in the middle of an 18-month probationary period after having pleaded guilty to misdemeanor weapon and drug possession charges last October.

The court also ordered Burkes to pay $553 in fines and fees, complete 15 hours of community service and have no contact nor communication with either of the two men with whom he had fought during the May 9 incident.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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