Pocatello man found not guilty of battery on a police officer

UDPATE 6:32 P.M. 2/1/2019: The jury has come back for Rocco Chacon.

The jury has found Chacon guilty on charges for the possession of meth, eluding the police, and and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was found not guilty on a charge of battery of a police officer and not guilty of battery with the intent to commit murder.

Chacon will be sentenced on March 5th for the three guilty verdicts.

He was remanded to the custody of the sheriff.

ORIGINAL STORY: The fate of a Pocatello man accused of trying to kill an Idaho State trooper by trying to run over him with his car is now in the hands of a jury.

KIFI/KIDK reporter Linda Larsen reports the jury is still in deliberation because there was so much evidence presented at the trial, it could take them a while to go through it all and make a decision.

26-year-old Rocco Chacon is facing several charges in relation to the March 27, 2017 incident including battery on a law enforcement officer with the intent to commit murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, grand theft by possession of stolen property, possession of meth and eluding police.

If he is convicted of the charges, he could face 62 years in prison and over $50,000 in fines.

Chacon and his former girlfriend Shaylee Williamson testified saying they didn’t know they were being stopped by police officers when a plainclothes police officer pulled his truck in front of Chacon’s car blocking them and then jumped out in front of their car with a gun pointed at him yelling at him to get out of his car.

It happened on the corner of Olympus and Golden Gate. Chacon and Williamson both testified they thought they were being robbed since the man had no police identification visible.

The prosecutors say there were enough other officers around in vests with police written on them that they should have known, but those officers were behind and to the side of his car.

Chacon turned his car attempting to flee the situation hitting officer Lee Egley who suffered minor injuries.

When that happened, several police officers opened fire on the car the two were in.

Chacon was not hit but Williamson suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Chacon then fled up Pocatello Creek Road where he was eventually stopped by police.

Police found a gun and meth in his car.