A man accused of knocking an elderly couple to the ground in an attempt to confront Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton on Sunday has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the incident.Patrick Havas, 38, appeared via video in Mahoning County on Tuesday to face two charges of assault, one charge of disorderly conduct, and one charge of inducing panic.
He entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.Acton, a Democrat, was visiting the annual Canfield Fair in Canfield on Sunday afternoon when the incident occurred.
Havas allegedly pushed his way through a crowd in an attempt to approach Acton, knocking two elderly individuals over in the process, according to an incident report obtained by NBC News on Tuesday.Ohio state troopers working as Acton’s security detail grabbed Havas as he attempted to approach her, the report said.
Law enforcement officials reported finding two handguns, a set of brass knuckles and a Taser on Havas after arresting him.Havas never brandished a weapon during the incident, the incident report said.
A judge agreed to a $5,000 cash surety bond for Havas and ordered him to surrender any weapons he owns as a condition of the bond.Havas was also instructed to not speak to media and to have no contact with the elderly couple and Acton following his release.
Havas’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Tuesday’s hearing.Records show that Havas was previously arrested in 2008 on a charge of petty theft.He pleaded no contest and the charge was reduced to disorderly conduct.
Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro defended her office’s decision not to pursue felony charges against Havas after Tuesday’s hearing.She noted that Havas never made physical contact with Acton or brandished a weapon.Dr.
Amy Acton poses for a portrait on Nov.24, 2020 at the Columbus Foundation in Columbus, Ohio.Joshua A.
Bickel / Columbus Dispatch via USA Today Network via Reuters fileAdults are allowed to possess a firear...