A man accused of lunging toward Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at a fair will not face felony charges, the county prosecutor announced Tuesday. Patrick Havas, 34, was intercepted by Ohio Highway Patrol officers after allegedly knocking over multiple fairgoers while armed with a Taser and two firearms, according to police reports.
Havas was charged with four misdemeanors, including two counts of assault, disorderly conduct, and inducing panic. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The decision not to pursue felony charges stems from limited evidence, as the only available video of the incident was recorded by Havas himself, Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro stated.
Key Details of the Incident
On the day of the incident at the Canfield Fair, Havas allegedly ran toward Acton’s tent, knocking over attendees before being stopped by executive protection officers. Maro described the footage as showing Havas entering the tent, calling out Acton’s name, and then dropping or tossing his phone before officers intervened. No close contact with Acton was recorded, Maro emphasized.
Prosecutor Cites Lack of Evidence
Maro cited the absence of corroborating video as the primary reason for declining felony charges. She also noted that the Acton campaign had reportedly requested attendees stop recording shortly before the incident. The prosecutor added that the available footage did not support allegations of felonious behavior, though she confirmed the misdemeanor charges remained.
Defendant’s Legal Status
Havas was initially booked on three misdemeanors before an inducing panic charge was added at arraignment. His legal team has not publicly commented on the case. The Ohio Highway Patrol confirmed Havas was armed with a Taser and two firearms during the altercation, though no weapons were discharged.
Background on the Candidate
Amy Acton, a former Ohio Department of Health director, is the Democratic nominee in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Her campaign has not issued a public statement regarding the incident or the prosecutor’s decision.
Ongoing Investigation
The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office continues to review the case, though no further updates have been provided. Fox News Digital sought additional details from Maro’s office but received no immediate response.