The HOA President went to trial rather than accepting the first plea offer.
Her defense argued she intended property damage and intimidation, not physical harm.
That distinction mattered enormously.
Prosecutors had to prove what the law required.
The homeowner testified.
He described the sound.
The camera footage.
The collapse.
The statement.
You weren’t supposed to be home.
The defense attorney challenged him.
“You disliked my client before this event?”
“I disagreed with her.”
“You were helping investigate her.”
“I provided records to county investigators.”
“You wanted her removed from office.”
“I wanted records explained.”
“Isn't it true you believed she was corrupt?”
“I believed invoices required investigation.”
The attorney leaned closer.
“You're very careful with words.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because this is court.”
A few jurors looked toward him.
The attorney asked:
“Did you personally see my client strike a particular structural bolt?”
“No.”
“Did you personally see her loosen a fastener?”
“No.”
“So you cannot testify to exactly what she did on that roof.”
“I can testify to what my cameras recorded.”
“And what they recorded is incomplete.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
The homeowner did not feel defeated.
That was the truth.
The prosecutor later introduced the engineer.
Then the tool evidence.
Then the messages.
Then the photographs.
Cases were built piece by piece.
No witness needed to become the entire story.
The county investigator testified too.
He described his routine.
Coffee.
Guest-room door.
Six fifteen.
The defense asked:
“You could have stayed inside that morning.”
“Yes.”
“You could have exited another door.”
“Yes.”
“So nobody could know where you would be.”
“Correct.”
“Then the allegation that the tank was intended to strike you depends on prediction.”
The investigator nodded.
“Yes.”
The attorney smiled slightly.
“Not certainty.”
“No.”
Then the prosecutor asked one question on redirect.
“Did the defendant have photographs labeling the rear guest-room patio with your usual outdoor time?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
The investigator stepped down.
Benton eventually cooperated.
His testimony was devastating.
He admitted tracking the investigator’s vehicle.
Admitted providing routine information.
Admitted receiving money through his wife’s consulting company.
Admitted discussing ways to frighten the homeowner.
Then prosecutors asked:
“Did the HOA President tell you she intended to drop the tank onto the investigator?”
Benton hesitated.