Jury finds Lake Mary Ronan man not guilty of assault with weapon

A Lake Mary Ronan resident accused of felony assault with a weapon was found not guilty by a jury in Lake County District Court last week.

Authorities received reports in July 2020 that Brendan Edward Adams was threatening people with a gun near his property along the lake.

A woman later told Lake County sheriff’s deputies that she had been visiting a friend’s house and was out taking photos of wildlife and flowers when Adams approached her and pointed a gun at her. According to court documents, Adams said that if the woman touched his fencepost again he would shoot her.

When the woman’s husband heard what was going on, he retrieved a gun and joined his wife and Adams, where a loud argument about the finer points of trespass law ensued. Family members of Adams recorded much of the argument on video.

The trial began Monday morning with jury selection, and a verdict was announced Tuesday afternoon. District Court Judge James A. Manley presided over the case.

Adams entered a nolo contendere plea to the felony charge in May. Under such a plea the defendant does not accept or deny responsibility for the charge but agrees to accept punishment.

He withdrew the plea in September, preferring instead to go to trial.