Jury Reaches Verdict in Robert Nodine Trial
Published June 20th, 2012
A year later, and a traumatic incident at a North Central Florida school finally gets some resolution and it was a legal resolution.
This evening a jury convicted Robert Nodine for shooting at a police officer outside the school.
Nodine was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement in the first degree, Thee jury found him guilty of a lesser charge, attempted voluntary manslaughter.
Nodines attorney Aubroncee Martin stated that Nodine had the right to defend himself against High Springs Police Officer Charles Harper because he felt threatened.
"I was not aware that he was there until I turned around and saw him with his safety off his finger on the trigger and start to pull it," said Nodine.
"When that happened what was going through your mind," asked Martin.
"That he was going to shoot me," said Nodine.
Prosecutors argued this was not a situation in which Nodine could shoot at a law enforcement officer.
Nodine testified he had no intent in killing Harper. His goal was simply to make him nervous.
The shooting happened back on May 18, 2011 at High Springs Community School.
Nodine was at the school responding to a call that said the Department of Children and Families had asked school staff to hold his grandchildren.
It took the jury two hours and 15 minutes to deliberate.
Nodine was also found guilty on four other counts related to possessing weapons on school property, trespassing and aggravated assault.
Nodine will be sentenced at a later date.
