Man who streamed struggle with Springboro police avoids conviction

The former political candidate who streamed his arrest by Springboro police live on Facebook has been granted treatment in lieu of conviction.

On Thursday, Judge Robert Peeler ordered Samuel Ronan, 28, to comply with recommendations by Veterans Administration doctors and undergo therapy for moral recognition and anger management.

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“You need some therapy. You need that more than a felony conviction,” Peeler said during a hearing in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

On June 9, Ronan was arrested by two Springboro patrolmen after one observed a “road rage incident between two vehicles ” and was advised Ronan had a “concealed weapon license,” according to a police report.

RELATED: Man who streamed struggle with Springboro police seeking treatment in lieu of conviction

Ronan began recording with his cellphone as he exited his car also carrying “a medium-size blue bag in his left hand,” according to the report.

He was arrested while streaming the incident live on his Facebook page. The live stream showed Ronan yelling at police officers, demanding to know why he is under arrest. Ronan claimed the officers were arresting him without cause and “assault with excessive force.”

He was indicted on July 16 on charges of obstructing official business and failure to comply, and applied for the diversion program in September.

Ronan has run for several offices, including Democratic National Committee chairman in 2017, when he gained attention in appearances on CNN.

Locally, he ran against Congressman Steve Chabot in the May Republican primary in the 1st District, which includes Warren and Hamilton counties, and two years ago as a Democrat, he contested the election of state Rep. Scott Lipps.

Ronan, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, said he has lost two jobs as a result of the case. Peeler noted Ronan’s service to his country.

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To maintain his security clearance, Ronan passed drug screens and complied with “extensive background checks,” lawyer James Calhoun said in a motion on the conditions of his bond.

Ronan, who has moved from Springboro to his family’s home in Lancaster, thanked Peeler for granting him treatment in lieu of conviction and pledged to become “a productive member of society as soon as possible.”

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