COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Paul Trouette, a man convicted of battering two individuals during a tumultuous legislative town hall meeting, was acquitted of charges related to an incident involving a woman, Teresa Borrenpohl, who was seen being dragged out of the event in a viral video.
On Thursday, a Kootenai County jury delivered a mixed verdict after almost eight hours of deliberation, finding Trouette guilty of violating security guard uniform regulations and of two counts of misdemeanor battery toward the individuals who protested Borrenpohl's removal. However, he was acquitted of four additional charges, including battery and false imprisonment, as reported by the Coeur d’Alene Press.
The confrontation occurred during a town hall meeting in February, where Borrenpohl, a Democratic legislative candidate, faced ejections due to her heckling. Video footage depicted Sheriff Bob Norris recording the confrontation while security agents forcibly removed Borrenpohl from her seat, allegedly without proper identification, raising questions about the actions of the security team.
Following the chaotic scene, the Idaho Attorney General’s office opted not to charge Sheriff Norris, though misdemeanor charges were filed against Trouette, who owns the security firm involved. Additional charges against the security officers were subsequently dropped.
“Justice was done,” declared Ryan Hunter, the city’s chief deputy prosecutor, after the jury's decision. Trouette chose not to make a statement after the verdict.
According to testimony, the security personnel pulled Borrenpohl to the ground, causing her pain as she struggled to breathe while they restrained her.
Borrenpohl is also pursuing a tort claim against Kootenai County over the incident, citing violations of her constitutional rights.
