Park City Council member found guilty of disorderly conduct

Jeremy Rubell. Photo: Jeremy Rubell for City Council 2021

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Council member Jeremy Rubell was found guilty of disorderly conduct in Summit County Justice Court on Wednesday.

The verdict, given by by Judge Shauna L. Kerr, stems from an altercation that took place on December 28, 2022 at the White Pine Nordic Center.

According to charging documents, the incident took place as Marcel Vifian, a Nordic ski instructor employed by White Pine Touring, was instructing three Park City residents in cross country skiing.

Vifian and his students, a husband, wife, and their teenaged daughter, were standing on the number one tee of the Park City Golf Club, which serves as a cross-country ski track for White Pine touring, and sits adjacent to Rubell’s home on Thaynes Canyon Drive.

Vifian alleged that Rubell, who was was blowing snow off of his back deck at the time, raised his middle finger at the ski instructor, who then returned the gesture.

“He observed that Mr. Rubell ‘immediately lost his cool and launched into a profanity-laden tirade,’” said charging documents. “He heard Mr. Rubell say, ‘You f-ers are always doing this … don’t worry, we’re going to shut you f-ers down.’”

Rubell recounted a different version of events, claiming that Vifian has a long history of aggression toward Rubell’s family.

According to Rubell, he was shoveling snow from his deck when Vifian began to make remarks toward him. He alleges that Vifian then raised his middle fingers in the air and called Rubell a profane name.

“I responded ‘very nice, I’m just shoveling my deck, my 7-year-old kid is right here,’” Rubell said in a January 2023 statement. “I’m not really sure what his issue was outside of my presence outside my home, and shoveling a private deck on private property should not be much of a concern to an instructor from White Pine Touring or his students in performing the duties of his job.”

For his sentence Rubell has been fined $160 to be paid to the court within 30 days.

Rubell’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.