COEUR d'ALENE — A Kootenai County jury found that security company owner Paul Trouette battered two people who spoke out when a woman was dragged from a chaotic legislative town hall at Coeur d'Alene High School, but committed no crimes against the woman herself.

The six-person jury voted unanimously Thursday to convict Trouette of two counts of battery against Gregg Johnson and Sarah Forsgren, as well as security agent uniform and duties violations, all misdemeanors.

Jurors found Trouette not guilty of two additional counts of battery against Teresa Borrenpohl and Ben Stallings. They also acquitted him of two counts of false imprisonment related to his detainment of Borrenpohl and Johnson during the town hall. The mixed verdict came after almost eight hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial.

"Justice was done," said Ryan Hunter, chief deputy prosecutor for the city of Coeur d'Alene.

Trouette and his attorney hurried out of the courtroom after hearing the verdict. They declined to comment.

The charges stem from Feb. 22, when hundreds of people gathered in the CHS auditorium for a legislative town hall organized by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Defense counsel for Trouette argued that he could not have committed any crimes by touching or detaining town hall attendees because he was acting at the sheriff's behest. In Idaho, sheriffs have the authority to command citizens to aid them in the execution of their duties.

Prosecutors contended that this immunity did not apply to Trouette because Norris gave him no specific commands to remove or detain anyone.

Witnesses said the atmosphere was tense as the event got underway, with people in the audience cheering, jeering and speaking out of turn in response to legislators.

Ben Stallings testified that Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris directed him to leave the auditorium after he spoke out of turn. He complied, but when he paused to wait for his visually-impaired wife, he said Trouette and another security guard put their hands on him.

Trouette and three employees of his business, Lear Asset Management, provided security services for the event. No contract existed between the company and the KCRCC; instead, Trouette said, he provided the services on a volunteer basis.

Prosecutors said Trouette violated city ordinances requiring him to have a contract authorizing him to perform security work on behalf of a third party and to wear a uniform clearly identifying him as a security guard. Trouette and the other security personnel wore plainclothes during the event and never identified themselves as security when attendees asked who they were.

Video recordings showed Norris approached Borrenpohl after she spoke out of turn and told her to leave the event. When she refused, he took hold of her arm and tried to pull her from her seat, then threatened to pepper-spray her. He then directed security personnel to remove her.

The men hauled Borrenpohl from her seat and wrestled her to the ground. One sat on top of her, while another knelt on her back. She said they twisted her limbs and pulled her hair.

"It was incredibly painful," she testified this week. "I was just trying to keep my airway open." 

With Trouette's help, the men dragged Borrenpohl out of the auditorium by her arms as many people cheered. She lost her shoes, and her shirt came up, fully exposing her bra.

Johnson, who rose from his seat near Borrenpohl and stepped aside at Norris' direction, told the court he was alarmed to see the men force Borrenpohl to the ground.

"Hey, leave her alone," he said.

Norris said those words "encouraged" Borrenpohl to "keep resisting," so he grabbed Johnson and threatened to arrest him. He marched Johnson out of the auditorium, soon joined by Trouette. The pair pushed Johnson against a wall, kicked his legs to force them open and restrained his hands behind his back.

Forsgren testified that she was leaving the town hall when she saw Trouette and two other men drag Borrenpohl into the hallway. She said she told the men to get their hands off Borrenpohl.

That was when Trouette approached her. Video footage showed him pushing her into a wall. The two struggled briefly as Trouette appeared to try to turn Forsgren around to restrain her hands.

Hunter said he believes the jury put considerable thought and effort into reaching their decision.

"I'd be hard-pressed to say I'm not a little disappointed," he said. "I'm mostly disappointed for the victims named in the not guilty verdict. At the same time, I respect the jury's verdict."

The jury's decision, while mixed, was a victory for prosecutors.

"This is a good outcome," Hunter said.

Sentencing in the case will take place at a later date. The combined charges carry a maximum possible sentence of two years in jail and fines of up to $4,000.