GAINESVILLE – A 64-year-old man who shot at police officers while being escorted off the High Springs Community School property in May 2011 has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.Robert Allan Nodine, of High Springs, was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on June 20, and on Sept. 4, following an investigation into his criminal and life history, Nodine was handed the prison sentence by Senior judge Maurice Guinta.
This sentence includes 15 years in prison for attempted voluntary manslaughter, 15 years in prison for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer while armed, and two five-year sentences for possession of weapons on school property. The two possession charges will be served concurrently.
Despite his guilty verdict, jurors did not find Nodine guilty of two more severe charges being sought by the State Attorney’s Office: those of attempted first degree murder and attempted second degree murder.
Nodine was additionally convicted on two counts of possession of a weapon on school property, one for a firearm and the other for a knife. He was also found guilty of trespassing on school grounds after being escorted from the premises by a law enforcement officer.
The shootout may have been triggered as a result of a reported investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which asked the school not to release Nodine’s two grandchildren. A 9-1-1 caller who was reporting the incident as it unfolded said DCF had not yet arrived at the school to deal with matters related to that investigation.
Responding to the school on May 18 were both Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies and High Springs Police Department (HSPD) officers.
Police say Nodine became irate while at the school, and while being escorted off the campus the grandfather was reportedly able to arm himself.
Nodine challenged a deputy and a police officer, according to reports. The incident escalated and police opened fire on Nodine who was the only person injured in the exchange of fire.
The shooting occurred in a breezeway leading into the school office. Meanwhile, the school was in lockdown for much of that afternoon as deputies restricted access to and from school grounds.
Most of the school’s children had already been released because of an abbreviated Wednesday schedule. But some 170 students remained on campus for after-school activities when the shooting occurred.
HSPD officer Harper was placed on administrative leave, but returned to work in the week following the incident.
Nodine was initially taken to an area hospital for treatment, but was later booked into the Alachua County Jail.
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Robert Allan Nodine, of High Springs, was found guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on June 20, and on Sept. 4, following an investigation into his criminal and life history, Nodine was handed the prison sentence by Senior judge Maurice Guinta.
This sentence includes 15 years in prison for attempted voluntary manslaughter, 15 years in prison for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer while armed, and two five-year sentences for possession of weapons on school property. The two possession charges will be served concurrently.
Despite his guilty verdict, jurors did not find Nodine guilty of two more severe charges being sought by the State Attorney’s Office: those of attempted first degree murder and attempted second degree murder.
Nodine was additionally convicted on two counts of possession of a weapon on school property, one for a firearm and the other for a knife. He was also found guilty of trespassing on school grounds after being escorted from the premises by a law enforcement officer.
The shootout may have been triggered as a result of a reported investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which asked the school not to release Nodine’s two grandchildren. A 9-1-1 caller who was reporting the incident as it unfolded said DCF had not yet arrived at the school to deal with matters related to that investigation.
Responding to the school on May 18 were both Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies and High Springs Police Department (HSPD) officers.
Police say Nodine became irate while at the school, and while being escorted off the campus the grandfather was reportedly able to arm himself.
Nodine challenged a deputy and a police officer, according to reports. The incident escalated and police opened fire on Nodine who was the only person injured in the exchange of fire.
The shooting occurred in a breezeway leading into the school office. Meanwhile, the school was in lockdown for much of that afternoon as deputies restricted access to and from school grounds.
Most of the school’s children had already been released because of an abbreviated Wednesday schedule. But some 170 students remained on campus for after-school activities when the shooting occurred.
HSPD officer Harper was placed on administrative leave, but returned to work in the week following the incident.
Nodine was initially taken to an area hospital for treatment, but was later booked into the Alachua County Jail.
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