Havas Pleads Not Guilty in Amy Acton Campaign Incident — SkimNews
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- Patrick Havas, 38, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of inducing panic, with bond set at $5,000 during his arraignment Tuesday.
- Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro told the judge Havas "appeared in that tent wanting to ask questions," and that law enforcement found no threats after gaining complete access to his cellphone.
- Havas knocked down two people while forcing his way toward Acton at a Sunday campaign stop in Canfield, though authorities said he never brandished or unholstered the two handguns, taser, and brass knuckles he had on him.
- Amy Acton, a physician and the state's former public health director, is the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor facing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in one of the year's most high-profile races, now in its final six weeks.
- The judge ordered Havas to have no contact with Acton or the two people knocked down, forfeit any guns, and refrain from speaking with the media as the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office asks the public for any video capturing the incident.
Why it matters: With a video showing Havas walking forward calling Acton's name and no threats found on his phone, the case now hinges on intent — whether a man carrying multiple weapons was attempting to harm a candidate or simply force a public confrontation to ask questions, a distinction that could shape the four charges and how security around Ohio campaign events is handled through the November election.
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