The former Port Richey mayor accused of shooting at Pasco County deputies during a SWAT raid on his home was found guilty Tuesday on charges for trying to interfere with the investigation against him.
Dale Massad was first arrested on Feb. 21 after investigators say he opened fire on deputies who were trying to arrest him for practicing medicine without a license. While he was in jail, prosecutors argued Massad tried to get then acting mayor Terrence Rowe to make someone pay for his arrest.
Rowe and Massad were both arrested.
On Tuesday, a jury convicted Massad of attempting to solicit conspiracy and using a two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime.
The jury included six people and one alternate. It was comprised of five women and two men.
Rowe was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and use of two-way communication device to facilitate the commission of a crime.
Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Rowe in March.
On Monday, Scott Tremblay was sworn in as Port Richey’s new mayor. Tremblay edged out runner-up Bill Columbo in last week’s special election.
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