Hansen acquitted of all charges

After about six hours of deliberation, an all-male jury on Friday night found Fallon resident Kris Hansen not guilty of battery and assault charges.

Hansen showed little emotion except for a small smile after the verdicts were read in Judge David Huff's courtroom.

Hansen, a former president of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, hugged his parents in a tearful embrace after the verdict. His parents sat behind him during the entire trial.

The trial focused on whether Hansen, 27, rammed his truck into another vehicle that knocked a man to the ground before or after gunshots were fired during a shoot-out on Regan Place on June 14, 2006.

After the verdict was announced, a relieved Hansen said he had been looking forward to this day for almost two years.

"This had devastated my whole life," he said, adding he was shocked the charges were brought against him.

The jury found him not guilty of battery, assault, battery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon.

"We were extremely confident the truth would come to light, and that justice would be served," Hansen said.

Hansen was and is still upset with the district attorney regarding his prosecution.

"This was poor detective work and a vindictive stance from District Attorney Art Mallory," he said, adding he has nothing bad to say about the prosecutor in his case.

"Lane Mills was just doing his job," he said.

He said he is looking forward to rebuilding his future and added his career in the banking industry is likely finished.

Shortly after being arrested in June 2006, Hansen resigned as a manager from Colonial Bank after being told the only other option was to be fired.

Hansen said he would like to get back into the financial industry in some aspect.

"I would like to thank the jury and my attorney, Donald Cavin Hill, for bringing justice to light," he said. "I really appreciate my family and friends and the support of the community in this time of my life."

Hill said this was the only verdict the jury could have come back with.

"This is exactly what should have happened," he said. "He should have never been charged. He was completely innocent and had nine bullet holes in his truck."

Hill added he thought the jury would come back earlier with the not-guilty verdicts.

About an hour before the verdict was read, the jury instructed Huff it was deadlocked, 11-1.

Huff told the jury much time and money had been spent on the case and ordered them back to the jury room for more deliberation.

The jury asked Huff to read testimony from Churchill County Undersheriff Joe Wood, who testified he had knowledge of another gun at 355 Regan Place but had never collected or done tests on the firearm.

The jury also asked about the consensual search of Hansen's truck in which nothing criminal was found.

Hansen and his former girlfriend both testified 11 shots were fired from Joe Christensen's gun in rapid succession, though the gun that was used could only carry nine rounds.

"I may be a lawyer, but I can still count to nine," Mills said during closing arguments. "It is not possible."

He also said the Christensens were at their home and had every right to defend themselves.

Hill, during his closing statements, said the key was the shots that were fired at his client's truck.

"I don't know how many shots were fired. I know my client's truck was shot nine times," he said.

Hill also ridiculed the investigation of the case, mentioning other weapons were not confiscated, the area was searched in the daylight and questioned why a bullet found on the manifold in Hansen's truck was never tested.