Patrick Havas, 38, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to two counts of assault, one charge of disorderly conduct, and one count of inducing panic stemming from an incident at the Canfield Fair in Ohio on Sunday.
Havas was arrested after Ohio state troopers working as security for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton intervened as he allegedly forced his way through a crowd, knocking over multiple attendees. According to an incident report, law enforcement recovered two handguns, a Taser, and a set of brass knuckles from Havas. Officials confirmed that no weapons were brandished during the altercation, and Acton was unharmed.
A Mahoning County judge set a $5,000 cash surety bond for Havas and ordered him to surrender any weapons he owns as a condition of release. Additional restrictions included a prohibition on contacting the elderly victims or Acton, as well as a media gag order.
Legal and Political Context
Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro defended the decision not to pursue felony charges against Havas, stating that he did not make physical contact with Acton or brandish a weapon. Havas’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the hearing.
Havas, a registered voter in Mahoning County who last participated in the 2024 general election, has a prior arrest record. In 2008, he was charged with petty theft, pleaded no contest, and the charge was reduced to disorderly conduct.
Additional Details
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that Havas was intercepted by troopers as he attempted to approach Acton. The Sheriff’s office later requested any photos or videos of the incident from the public. Public records indicate that Havas is related to Andrew Havas, a former county campaign chair for Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, who resigned from his position after unrelated legal issues were reported.