Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A preliminary hearing has been set in January for a 33-year-old Yampa man accused of attempted murder.
On Wednesday, Routt County Judge James Garrecht scheduled the court proceeding for Warren Dean Hillbolt III at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8.
Hillbolt, 33, faces charges of first-degree attempted murder and violent crime with the use of a deadly weapon for allegedly shooting a 24-year-old man Saturday night. He is being held in the Routt County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
According to a court file, Hillbolt allegedly shot Jared Williams at about 8:30 p.m. inside his Yampa trailer, 116400 Highway 131.
Hillbolt allegedly shot Williams in the right shoulder with a 9 mm semi-automatic assault rifle. An ambulance transported Williams to the Yampa Valley Medical Center, where he was treated for the wound. He was released Sunday evening. Hillbolt surrendered to Routt County Sheriff deputies minutes after the shooting.
On Wednesday, attorney Ron Smith was appointed by Garrecht to represent Hillbolt. Lawyers from the public defender's office were unable to represent Hillbolt because of an incident that occurred two years ago.
Hillbolt had been assaulted by Kenneth Lorenzo Ferguson outside City Market Sept. 11, 1998. The attack occurred after the two men got into an argument.
Ferguson, who was originally charged with second-degree attempted murder, slashed Hillbolt's throat. The public defender's office represented Ferguson, who was convicted of first-degree assault. He was sentenced to five years in prison in May.
Prior to the shooting, Hillbolt and Williams had been drinking at a restaurant in Steamboat Springs. The two men worked together. On the way back to Hillbolt's residence, Hillbolt allegedly told Williams he was going to shoot him, the file shows.