A judge is questioning the competency of a Worland man who’s alleged to have gone on a spree of bizarre behavior that culminated in a crash in Cody.

Steven H. Shobert is facing seven charges in Park and Washakie counties alleging that, between July 27 and 31, he drove drunk, showed off a firearm while intoxicated and fled from a hospital in Worland, then drunkenly hit a power pole and knocked out power to many businesses and residents in Cody. Shobert also recently led Washakie County authorities on a wild goose chase in their ongoing search for a missing Worland woman.

At a Wednesday hearing in Park County Circuit Court, Judge Joey Darrah set Shobert’s bail at $50,000.

Deputy Park County Attorney Jack Hatfield described Shobert as a flight risk and a serious public safety hazard, citing his alleged “bizarre conduct” in Worland and dangerous driving in Cody.

“The court does view this as a public safety risk,” Darrah agreed.

Alluding to concerns about Shobert’s mental health, the judge referenced Title 25, a section of state law that allows authorities to detain a person when they’re believed to pose a danger to themselves or others as a result of mental illness.

“I am concerned about public safety, or the safety of Mr. [Shobert],” Darrah said.

Shobert remained in the Park County Detention Center on Monday.

The sequence of events started on July 26, when he reportedly told a neighbor that Breanna Mitchell — who’s been missing since July 22 — was at his home. Multiple officers searched the residence but found nothing; Shobert explained that he had just been “messing” with his neighbor, charging documents say.

The following day, July 27, Shobert reportedly drove drunk to a Worland police officer’s home to talk about Mitchell’s missing persons case. During the conversation, he unsteadily showed off a handgun that he’d been carrying under his clothing.

Washakie County authorities arrested Shobert and charged him with misdemeanor counts of DUI and unlawfully wearing or carrying a concealed weapon. A sheriff’s deputy in Washakie County wrote in court documents that Shobert had “a significant history of contact with law enforcement involving alcohol and firearms,” along with mental health crises.

Darrah set the suspect’s bond at $1,000 on July 28, but released him later in the day so he could receive medical treatment for “delirium tremors” related to alcohol withdrawal. Shobert was ordered to return to the Worland jail after being discharged from the Washakie Medical Center, but he did not. On July 31, a family member told Washakie County authorities that Shobert was “on the run.”

“I don’t think I was thinking clearly,” Shobert offered at last week’s hearing.

Washakie County prosecutors have charged him with a misdemeanor count of indirect criminal contempt of court for failing to check back into jail.

Shobert was caught in Cody on the night of July 31, after he crashed into a power pole in front of the Boot Barn. The collision shut off power to a significant portion of the city and it took hours to restore, Cody police have said. 

Shobert also allegedly knocked a fire hydrant into the street, leaving behind parts of his Ford F-150 and a trail of vehicle fluid.

Park County Undersheriff Andy Varian eventually spotted the truck on Skyline Drive, near 8th Street. It was sporting “extensive front-end damage,” Cody police said.

An apologetic Shobert smelled like alcohol, was heavily slurring his speech, nearly fell over multiple times and failed sobriety tests, police said. Shobert reportedly told police he’d drunk three Bud Lights and a shot of vodka. Testing at the jail placed Shobert’s blood alcohol content at 0.12%, above the 0.08% legal limit for driving.

During his interaction with officers, Shobert reportedly provided a concealed carry permit. The Navy veteran also mentioned serving “on the front lines in Mogadishu” with the Delta Force.

A large cat in the vehicle was taken to the Park County Animal Shelter while Shobert was arrested.

“Based on his extreme impairment, he was clearly on controlled substances as well,” Hatfield argued at last week’s hearing, noting Shobert reportedly receiving intravenous painkillers at the Worland hospital.

The prosecutor added that Shobert “caused significant damage to city property and seriously inconvenienced many people in town here.”

Repairing the power pole, electrical lines and fire hydrant reportedly cost the City of Cody over $18,000.

Shobert faces a felony charge of property destruction totaling $1,000 or more plus misdemeanor counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance for a second time in 10 years, failure to stop following a crash involving an injury (in this case, to himself) and driving without valid auto insurance.

“These are serious charges,” Darrah said last week, and Shobert said he understood.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for Wednesday.