Hearing delayed for man accused of plotting to shoot up Utah mall

A preliminary hearing was delayed Thursday for a Salt Lake City man accused of making terrorist threats after he told a hospital crisis worker he was planning to commit mass shootings at City Creek Center and other locations.

Jack Harry Stiles, 42, is charged in 3rd District Court with one count of second-degree felony threat of terrorism, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

On Thursday, his attorney asked to delay a preliminary hearing, where a judge would hear evidence in the case and decide if there is probable cause for Stiles to stand trial on the charge. A new hearing was set for Feb. 6.

Stiles is being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. He was arrested more than a month after meeting with a crisis worker at Pioneer Valley Hospital in West Valley City on Aug. 12.

He told the crisis worker that he had planned to "kill as many people as possible" on Sept. 25 — the anniversary of his mother's death — according to court documents.

Stiles was arrested two days before the alleged attack was to occur.

According to police, Stiles said he had "scoped and mapped out" sites at City Creek Center and at Cinemark Movies 10 in Sugar House. At City Creek, he planned to "just randomly shoot and kill people" at lunch time, police reported.

He then said he planned to go to the Sugar House movie theater at 1 p.m., when it is likely to be less crowded, allowing him to select his targets more carefully, according to police.

In September, City Creek Center sued Stiles, claiming his threats brought bad publicity and led workers and shoppers to fear for their safety. Last week, that lawsuit was dismissed after a settlement was reached that bans Stiles from coming within 1,500 feet of City Creek property.

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller