Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — In less than a month, a 32-year-old Oak Creek man has allegedly threatened a bus driver with a ski pole and stolen a truck from a ranch.

For the two separate incidents that occurred about 22 days apart, Troy M. O'Neil faces three felony charges for the incidents that took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 and Dec. 9.

"Mr. O'Neil seems to be spinning out of control," said Assistant District Attorney Kerry St. James, who is handling the cases against O'Neil.

The latest incident occurred at about 2 a.m. Monday, when O'Neil allegedly got on a Steamboat Springs Transit bus and threatened its driver with a ski pole.

For that incident, O'Neil faces charges of felony menacing and misdemeanor endangering public transportation.

He appeared in Routt County Judge James Garrecht's courtroom Tuesday where bond was set at $50,000, which O'Neil posted later in the day.

According to a court file, O'Neil pointed the tip of the pole toward the 35-year-old Steamboat Springs man's face and yelled obscenities at him.

The driver told police he was "definitely concerned with his life," the file states.

O'Neil allegedly got on the bus near a stop at Downhill Drive and U.S. 40, the file shows.

Before the alleged incident, O'Neil had got on the bus at a stop near Fifth Street and Lincoln Avenue, according to court documents.

O'Neil, who was at the back of the bus, was told by the bus driver to "get on or off" the bus, at which time O'Neil exited the vehicle, the file shows.

O'Neil then reportedly got into a vehicle with three other men and followed the bus, the file shows.

When the bus stopped, O'Neil allegedly grabbed a ski pole from the vehicle and entered the bus.

After O'Neil was arrested, he was taken to the Yampa Valley Medical Center for injuries to his ribs and right shoulder. The man told police he had suffered the injuries prior to his arrest, the file shows.

On Wednesday, O'Neil was back in Garrecht's courtroom for charges stemming from an alleged theft of a red 1989 Ford truck from Jim Stetson's ranch on Routt County Road 14 in December.

He appeared in court with his right arm immobilized.

O'Neil was arrested for this incident Dec. 11 at his Stagecoach residence. He was able to post a $5,000 bond later in the day.

O'Neil has been charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, a class four felony. He also faces a felony charge of criminal mischief.

According to a court file, O'Neil and Geoffrey A. Sage, 24, who also lives in Stagecoach, allegedly stole the truck after a vehicle they had been passengers in got stuck on the side of the road.

Sage also faces a charge of aggravated motor vehicle theft. His next court date is set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 7.

O'Neil and Sage had been in a truck being driven by Keith Bennett, 33, also of Stagecoach. Bennett was driving the three men back from a bar in Oak Creek on County Road 14 when he lost control of a 1983 Chevrolet truck on a snow-packed road, according to court documents.

As Bennett attempted to get the truck unstuck from the side of the road, O'Neil and Sage elected to walk home, the file shows.

Bennett started to walk home when he was allegedly picked up in the red truck, the file shows. O'Neil was allegedly driving the truck with Sage sitting in the passenger seat, the file shows.

Once the men were home, O'Neil allegedly disposed of the truck by putting the truck in gear and letting it travel into a field.

The truck's engine seized up, the radiator was damaged and a tire was blown out, causing $2,600 in damage, the file shows.

Authorities were able to trace the theft to O'Neil and Sage when they investigated the truck the three men allegedly abandoned on the side the road.

On Wednesday, O'Neil's attorney, Sandy Horner, advised the court he would like all of the charges to be handled together.