PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A jury in Oregon has found a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys guilty of assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon for pulling out a loaded revolver, firing paintballs and spraying bear mace at people during Portland protests last year.
Prosecutors called 51-year-old Alan Swinney a “vigilante cowboy,” while Swinney and his lawyer argued he was acting in self-defense against “agitators” who wouldn’t stop harassing him.
Swinney, of Texas, was found guilty on Tuesday.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office told KOIN 6 News the jury convicted him on 11 charges: one count of second-degree assault, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of unlawful use of mace, and one count each of pointing a firearm at another, attempted second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, attempted fourth-degree assault and menacing.
The 6-day trial focused on events from August 15 and August 22, 2020.
Swinney shot a man in the face with a paintball gun because that man was filming him on August 15. A week later, Swinney pointed a loaded .357 at people, used bear mace and shot a woman in the chest with a paintball gun.
The woman testified she was severely bruised and had sleepless nights after that. Swinney, who testified on his own behalf, said he believed she deserved it.
During closing argument, Multnomah County Senior Deputy DA Nathan Vasquez said Swinney came to Portland to fight terrorists when in fact, “there was only one terrorist in Portland on those days, and it was Alan Swinney.”
His sentencing date has not yet been set, the DA’s office said.
KOIN 6 News contributed to this report.