Mickey Jordan of Enterprise was found not guilty Friday on felony charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle because the jury found that he was standing his ground in self defense.

Jordan was alleged to have shot a .270-caliber rifle into a vehicle occupied by his then-19-year-old nephew who was attempting to remove a piece of equipment from Jordan’s property.

According to Jordan’s attorney, Jason Brogden, the nephew was confronted but refused to leave the property, opting instead to drive “doughnuts” in Jordan’s yard at roughly 20 mph only a few feet away from Jordan and his 14-year-old son.

Jordan retrieved a rifle and shot in the direction of the vehicle and called the authorities. However, Jordan was ultimately the one who was arrested and charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, a felony.

Brogden told the Dothan Eagle that Alabama’s “Stand Your Ground Law” was key in the case.

“As long as you have a legal right to be there, you are allowed to stand your ground and you are not required to retreat,” Brogden said.

21 states total have passed what is commonly known as the “Castle Doctrine,” which was derived from the historic English common law principle that “an Englishman’s home is his castle.” Alabama and eight other states have taken the Castle Doctrine a step further with “Stand Your Ground” laws, which state that a person is not obligated to attempt to retreat first before using force in self defense.

“We believe this verdict sends a message… that citizens of this state will not put up with trespassers and would-be thieves coming onto your property and trying to run you over,” Brogden told the Eagle. “This case assures us we are justified to respond with deadly force, and won’t be branded a felon for standing your ground.”

Alabama’s Stand Your Ground law has been in the the spotlight several times recently.

An Autaga man was found not guilty of murder in May because he was found to have been acting in self defense. Also in May, the Stand Your Ground law was a factor in deliberations about a Mobile murder case.

Alabama’s statute is identical to the Florida law that has gotten so much attention as a result of the George Zimmerman case, which is currently being tried in Florida court. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder after shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman’s defense leans heavily on Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

Back in Enterprise, the area’s State Representative, Barry Moore, said he likes the fact that Alabama has strong Second Amendment protections.

“I’m glad we have the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws,” Moore told Yellowhammer. “Alabamians should always be able to defend themselves legally. Since taking control of the legislature in 2010, the Republican majority has made sure Alabama has the strongest Second Amendment protections in the country.”

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