ASHEVILLE - A Swannanoa man is appealing a jury’s verdict after he was convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s October 2024 visit to the unincorporated community in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, records show.

Leif Brynolf Johnson, 55, of Swannanoa, filed a notice of appeal Oct. 15 through his then-public defender, Michael Casterline. Meanwhile, his probationary sentence will be on pause until the appeal is resolved, according to state law .

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