Ex-Chamber of Commerce leader acquitted in shootout

FALLON -- Kris Hansen, 27, the former president of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, has been acquitted of battery and assault charges stemming from a June 2006 shootout.

A jury deliberated about six hours before returning the verdict Friday night in District Judge David Huff's courtroom.

Hansen was chamber president in 2005 and a chamber board member at the time of his arrest. He later resigned as Colonial Bank manager.

After the verdict, Hansen criticized Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory and said he was shocked charges were brought against him.

"This has devastated my whole life," Hansen told the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard newspaper. "We were extremely confident the truth would come to light, and that justice would be served.

"This was poor detective work and a vindictive stance from (Mallory)," he added.

At issue was whether Hansen rammed his pickup into another vehicle, knocking a man to the ground, before or after gunshots were fired in the shootout.

Hansen testified at his trial that he rammed the other vehicle in self-defense after he saw someone fire nine shots at his truck on Regan Place.

"He started shooting at me, and I rammed the truck," Hansen testified. "It was the only thing I could think of to stop him from shooting so I could get out of there."