Ohio Man Faces Charges After Attempt to Confront Democratic Candidate at Fair; Pleads Not Guilty Amidst Overblown Security Response
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
A man seeking to approach Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and inducing panic after pushing through a crowd. Despite carrying legal firearms and not brandishing them, he faces strict restrictions and a $5,000 bond, raising questions about overzealous prosecution and political bias.
Patrick Havas, 38, appeared via video in Mahoning County Court on Tuesday and entered a not-guilty plea to two assault counts, one disorderly-conduct count, and one charge of inducing panic. The charges stem from an incident at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, where Havas, in an attempt to exercise his right to approach Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, moved through a crowd, resulting in two elderly attendees falling.
State troopers assigned to Acton’s security detained Havas, and a search revealed two handguns, brass knuckles, and a Taser. Importantly, the report confirms he did not brandish any weapon during the event, and all items were legally possessed under Ohio’s open-carry law. Nevertheless, a judge imposed a $5,000 cash surety bond, ordered Havas to surrender his lawfully owned weapons, and barred him from contacting the victims, Acton, or the media, raising concerns about the erosion of constitutional rights.
Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro explained that felony charges were not pursued because Havas never made physical contact with Acton nor displayed a weapon. She emphasized that Ohio law permits adults to openly carry firearms and that mere possession is not a crime. "We’re not going to let emotions take over. We’re going to follow the evidence. We’re going to follow the facts, and that’s how we’re going to prosecute," Maro said, highlighting the importance of upholding the law in the face of political pressure.
Video from Havas’s phone, reviewed by prosecutors, shows him entering the tent, calling out Acton’s name, and being intercepted by security, after which his phone was dropped. The footage did not support felony charges, further demonstrating that the case is being exaggerated for political reasons.
Acton called the episode a "rough day" during a Labor Day parade in Cleveland and thanked troopers and bystanders who assisted the seniors, who were treated on site and released. Former state representative John Boccieri, who was near Acton, said Havas approached within a few feet and shouted the candidate’s name before being restrained.
Havas’s attorney has not commented on the case. Records indicate Havas was previously arrested in 2008 for petty theft, pleading no contest to a reduced disorderly-conduct charge. This incident highlights the ongoing targeting of ordinary citizens exercising their rights, as authorities and media sensationalize minor incidents for political gain.