A Durango man who defended himself at his own jury trial this week was found guilty on one count of felony assault.

Jason Morrison, 53, showed little reaction Wednesday when District Judge Kim Shropshire read the verdict. He sat stooped over in his chair with his head hanging.

Morrison chose to wear shackles and a jail-issued uniform during the first day of his trial, but he appeared Tuesday and Wednesday wearing khaki pants and a sweater.

He faces 10 to 32 years in prison for the crime of violence.

Prosecutors said Morrison intentionally backed his van into Clark Kelman, owner of North Main Laundry, after a heated argument in March 2023.

Morrison, who had been defending himself, seemed to argue that he did not intend to harm Kelman, however, his convoluted speech and fragmented lines of questioning made it difficult to interpret his primary argument.

Closing arguments were made Tuesday evening around 4 p.m., after which the 12-person jury recessed for the night, returning Wednesday morning to deliberate. It took them less than hour to reach a unanimous verdict.

One of the jurors, Karlene Stange, said it was not a difficult decision.

Stange noted the extraordinary patience and leniency both Shropshire and the prosecutor, Miles Dudley, afforded Morrison during the trial.

“They helped him enormously,” Stange said.

Throughout the two-day trial, Judge Shropshire and Dudley went to great lengths to accommodate Morrison, who insisted on representing himself without legal counsel.

“If my ship sinks, it sinks on my own behalf,” Morrison told jurors during voir dire.

Before closing arguments, Shropshire reminded the room of the time reserved for each side to present their arguments, looking pointedly at Morrison. The reminder proved unnecessary, as Morrison declined to make a closing argument.

During the prosecution’s closing argument, Dudley asked jurors to focus on the evidence, apply it to the law and reach a reasonable conclusion.

“You can’t play bumper cars with pedestrians,” he told jurors.

Shropshire also addressed Morrison’s lack of preparation, noting that he had not read the jury instructions provided weeks before the trial. The instructions outline the elements of the offense, which are used in determining guilt or innocence. In an effort to assist the pro se litigant, she went over the instructions with Morrison to ensure he understood.

Kelman, who suffered multiple fractures as a result of Morrison’s actions, expressed relief at the outcome.

“I am very excited,” Kelman said. “I think he’s a very dangerous person. I think he got what he deserved.”

Almost a year after the assault, Morrison was arrested in February 2024 on suspicion of sprinkling white powder – which turned out to be baking soda – on several businesses and public buildings around Durango. The activity disrupted government services at the police station and the courthouse.

The outcome of those cases were not immediately available Wednesday.

Sentencing in the assault case is set for 11 a.m. March 21.

jbowman@durangoherald.com