A man who was charged after violence broke out during President Trump's visit to Western North Carolina last year, will avoid prison time.
The Buncombe County District Attorney's Office says 55 year old, Leif Johnson was convicted of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, disorderly conduct and simple assault.
Johnson's arrest came after President Trump visited Western North Carolina last October in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Court records say Johnson started screaming and confronting people around him during Trump's visit.
Bystanders intervened when Johnson got in the face of an elderly military veteran who was in a wheelchair. One of the bystanders was a 12 year old boy and Johnson spat on the child.
Mississippi State troopers who had been sent to North Carolina for support in the wake of the Hurricane, then stepped in. Johnson then pulled a knife on the troopers. They were able to take Johnson to the ground and get the knife away from them.
Johnson was given a suspended prison sentence and will serve three years of probation.