Thanksgiving

Man Uses ‘Stand Your Ground' After Confrontation With Neighbor

Jason Verga is just getting back to work at his job as a federal corrections officer.

He's been suspended from it for the past two years without pay while fighting a charge for pulling a gun during a confrontation with a neighbor.

But a judge recently dismissed the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge he faced.

"The situation has been resolved," Verga said. "I feel like my reputation has been restored."

It started on Thanksgiving 2016. Court records show a confrontation started between neighbors Verga and Randy Sarabia. Sarabia, a bodybuilder and martial arts expert, told police Verga threatened to shoot him when he and his son were driving by Verga's home in the family's roadster. Sarabia testified he, his wife and his son later went back to Verga's home to "clear up any misunderstanding."

Verga says Sarabia jumped out of his car, ran up his driveway and he heard Sarabia's wife threaten him.

"His wife was saying how he was going to kick my butt," Verga said. "I drew my weapon. I took two steps back. I jumped back in my driveway. I told him to get back in your car."

But Sarabia said he couldn't believe what happened.

"When I saw he pulled the gun, I was shocked – wow," Sarabia told us.

The judge dismissed the felony charge agreeing with Verga that he was standing his ground, which is a defense in these situations in Florida.

"Very, very grave consequences if the truth didn't come out," Verga said.

But Sarabia is upset at the ruling.

"I am disagreeing but I am accepting it. I am not happy with it. I don't think it was fair," Sarabia said.

Both men now say that even though the court case is over, the neighborhood tension is not.

Both have installed security cameras at their homes and showed NBC 6 videos showing the other driving past their home.

"The guy is 240 pounds. He's a martial artist. He trains Jiu-Jitsu," Verga said.

"He's 6'4", 225 pounds and he has the skills too," Sarabia said about Verga. "My family is afraid. My son is afraid. We're neighbors. We can't continue to live like that. It's not the wild, wild west."

Sarabia told us he only goes in front of Verga's home because it's the easiest way out of the neighborhood.

But Verga and his attorney say he's done nothing wrong.

"They live in the same community. Jason wants no more contact with them than they want with him. They just won't leave him alone." attorney Joshua Fisher said.

Sarabia says he's considering selling his home and moving to finally end this neighborhood dispute.

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