PA Bill Number: HB335
Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.
Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...
Last Action: Removed from table
Last Action Date: May 1, 2024
Florida Self-Defense: Brevard County newspaper deliveryman claims self defense in shooting :: 06/25/2015
COCOA BEACH, Fla. - The State Attorney's Office in Brevard County on Wednesday said the newspaper delivery man accused of shooting at a resident was standing his ground.
Steven Naughgle, 27, was originally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the June 4 incident on Java Road in Cocoa Beach, but late Wednesday those charges were dropped.
Dash camera video from inside Naughgle's car was also released Wednesday and prosecutors say it shows the moments after Cocoa Beach resident Joe Roth threw something at the four-door Ford, including the shot that was fired.
Roth, who lives along Java Road, says he was upset Naughgle was honking his horn early in the morning when delivering newspapers for Florida Today.
The honking was apparently an ongoing problem, so Roth went outside to confront Naughgle and get the tag number on the vehicle, according to authorities.
That confrontation then turned violent when police say Naughgle fired his gun.
Naughgle told Local 6 Roth was lying in the street after throwing the object, then started running at him, at which point he felt like his life was in danger.
The details surrounding the case and why the charges were dropped were not released by the State Attorney's Office Wednesday, but they did issue a statement.
"The State would not be successful at this trial. The defendant's actions would likely be deemed a lawful use of self-defense based on the totality of the circumstances in this case."
Prosecutors say the shot fired by Naughgle was directed at the ground and not at Roth.
Naughgle told Local 6 that he has a concealed weapons permit and carries a gun because he works overnights.
He was fired from Florida Today because of what happened. Local 6 called and emailed the president of the newspaper Wednesday, but have not heard back.
