The ongoing feud between Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship and resident Bryant Fontenot escalated Wednesday when Fontenot was found not guilty of harassing Blankenship.

The charges stem from a confrontation between Fontenot and Blankenship after a recent City Council meeting.

Daleville Judge Barbara Wade ruled Wednesday that Blankenship failed to establish a prima facie case that harassment occurred.

“At the hearing of the court, plaintiff does not appear to have presented evidence of defendant's intent to harass, embarrass, or alarm others,” Wade wrote in his ruling.

Mr. Wade said witness testimony demonstrated that Mr. Fontenot followed Mr. Blankenship's car at a “fast/determined pace” just to speak with Mr. Blankenship. Additional witness testimony, including Blankenship himself, confirmed that Fontenot did not make any obscene words or gestures.

The overall feud began when Fontenot sued resident Adam Kammerer for publishing the mayor's text messages with library officials and staff, which are considered public records under the Alabama Open Records Act. It started with criticism of Blankenship.

After several back-and-forths between the two parties, Blankenship finally uncovered another group of documents between Fontenot and a local business owner in an attempt to shine a negative light on Fontenot. The document was displayed on city letterhead. The action resulted in the council voting to censure Blankenship.

The feud ultimately led to Blankenship filing harassment charges in January after the two exchanged words outside City Hall.

The ruling also suggests that Blankenship may have made “significant factual errors” on the witness stand.

Fontenot told APR that the court will have body camera footage from an officer at the scene showing Blankenship actually chasing after Fontenot after Fontenot started walking away from Blankenship's car. He said he provided it.

But Fontenot said Blankenship testified that he was not following Fontenot and quickly drove him away.

Fontenot said the situation falls within Blankenship's “modus operandi” of threatening to sue if opposed.

”In my opinion, he does not have the decency or sense of fair play to operate within our court system,” Fontenot said.

The trial also established that the police chief and deputy felt the case was being given “more weight” despite it being a misdemeanor, something that is now moot. It has been proven that.