INDIO -- Prosecutors dropped criminal charges today against a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy who allegedly brought his service weapon to court in his other criminal case.
The felony charge against 44-year-old Richard Charles Heverly -- possessing a firearm in a state building -- was dismissed by a judge upon a motion by prosecutors at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
"We're just very happy with the outcome," said Heverly's attorney, Michael Schwartz.
Heverly, of La Verne, was charged with assault with a firearm and other charges after a tow truck driver claimed Heverly, while off duty, held a gun to his head in August 2008 during an apparent road-rage incident.
Heverly was acquitted by a jury in November of all charges in the case.
During a January 2010 court appearance in that case, Heverly came to court in full uniform with his service weapon. Prosecutors said that was a violation of the law, and subsequently charged him.
Schwartz said he learned late Wednesday from the prosecutor handling the case that it would be dropped.
He declined to discuss whether prosecutors explained why they no longer wished to pursue the case.
A spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office could not be reached for comment this afternoon.