Brevard County man granted immunity in connection with 2015 shootout with deputies

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of attempted murder of three sheriff’s deputies will not face prison time.

An appeals court granted 69-year-old John Derossett immunity from prosecution in connection with a 2015 shootout with deputies at his Port Saint John home.

Deputies were there to arrest Derossett’s niece as part of a prostitution sting. Derossett insisted he did not know the men who attempted to take away his niece were members of law enforcement.

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“This man was just trying to do what he thought was the right thing to protect his niece,” said Michael Panella, Derossett’s attorney. “Unfortunately, it turned out to be a tragic case (involving) law-enforcement officers, but he didn’t know that.”

The State Attorney’s office said Derossett will not face any further charges related to the shooting.

Derossett and Deputy Casey Smith were both seriously injured during the gunfire exchange.

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A trial court denied Derossett’s motion for immunity from prosecution. However, the Florida 5th District Court of Appeals said the trial court erred in determining that Derossett’s awareness of his niece’s random acts of prostitution committed in her room equated to him using his home to further criminal activity.

The court also concluded that Derossett used defensive force.

“Casey’s life was completely changed by this individual’s actions, his career was changed, his family’s life was changed,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey said. “I don’t agree with this ruling, but I will respect it.”

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The state attorney’s office said prosecutors were disappointed in the ruling, but respect the court’s decision.

Panella, Derossett’s attorney as far as he’s concerned, “this case is over.”

“The appellate court has spoken loud and clear. They took unusual steps of granting someone immunity ruling against the trial court, saying that the trial court’s findings were wrong.”

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