Judge Acquits Whitewater Twp. Man Who Fatally Shot Home Intruder

Friday, August 9, 2019 at 7:09 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Johnathan Heard is a free man after winning a jury trial this week.

Johnathan Heard was acquitted of murder and other charges during a Hamilton County bench trial on August 5, 2019. Photo by Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

(Hamilton County, Oh.) - A Whitewater Township man accused of murder after an intruder entered his home has been acquitted after a trial in Hamilton County.

Johnathan Heard, 38, called 911 last December 12 to report he shot an intruder at his home on State Route 128 near Cilley Road. The man who died at the scene was Andrew Naegele, 26, of Butler County.

Prosecutors charged Heard with murder after investigators learned Naegele was Heard’s drug dealer. Naegele, who police identified as a member of the Iron Horsemen motorcycle gang, had allegedly come to the home to collect money owed for methamphetamine.

Heard took his case to a bench trial in July. On Monday, July 5, he was acquitted of all six counts he faces, including murder, attempted murder, and felonious assault.

Resident Shoots, Kills Drug Dealer In His Home

Events

Genealogy Roundtable: Searching the Web and Beyond!
Searching the Web and Beyond! Master the art of targeted searching to pinpoint records, navigate name variations, and eliminate clutter.
Apr 4, 2026
Al-Anon Meeting
Help for Friends and Family of a problem drinker. You know what it is doing to them, do you know what it is doing to you?
Apr 5, 2026 at Hamline Chapel United Methodist Church
Yo-Chi
Join a video-led class that will focus 30 minutes of Yoga, followed by 25 minutes of beginner's Tai-Chi.
Apr 6, 2026