Salt Lake man admits role in burning police car at downtown riot

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SALT LAKE CITY – A Salt Lake man who pleaded guilty to helping set an overturned police car aflame during a downtown protest last year is asking a federal judge to release him from jail ahead of sentencing.

Attorneys for Jackson Stuart Tamowski Patton, 27, are proposing to have him stay at his parents' home ahead of his August sentencing hearing.

In a motion seeking his release, they contend he will abide by a curfew except to go to work or court. He's agreeing to attend any treatment deemed appropriate and not to leave Utah. His father has separately signed on to report any violations of his son's supervised release, according to the motion filed Tuesday. Prosecutors have not yet responded in court documents.

As part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Patton pleaded guilty May 21 to a felony count of civil disorder, admitting that he "moved a burning cloth into the interior of the overturned patrol car."

He's one of several charged in the destruction of the car at the May 30, 2020, protest against George Floyd's murder.

Patton faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 11 and has agreed to pay $2,500 to help cover the costs of the damaged car, court records show.

Prosecutors say LaTroi Newbins, also of Salt Lake City, threw rolled-up paper into the burning car to intensify the fire that day. Newbins has said he had wetted down the paper in an attempt to douse the flames. He has pleaded not guilty to arson in a case that remains pending.