Sentencing Complete in Yellowstone Assault Case

Sentencing has been handed down in an assault case that occurred in Yellowstone last July.

30-year-old Jackson Coombs was sentenced yesterday to seventy-eight months in federal prison for assaulting two tourists in Yellowstone National Park in July of 2018. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal imposed the sentence after Coombs pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault.

Coombs was arrested by U.S. Park Rangers after a report of an assault in progress at the Xanterra Cabin Community Bathrooms in Yellowstone National Park. According to court records, Coombs was hiding in a stall in the women’s bathroom and after a woman entered her stall, he banged on her door until it opened after having wrapped his face in toilet paper. He then began to punch the female victim in the face and head. She was able to yell for help, and her traveling companion entered the bathroom to help her, at which time he was also assaulted by Coombs, who used bear spray on both victims.

A passerby entered the bathroom, and was able to help subdue the suspect until Park Rangers arrived.

Upon completion of his prison sentence Coombs will be on supervised release for thirty-six months. He was also ordered to pay almost $2200 in restitution.