Former Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad’s conviction on a charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice has been overturned.
Massad was accused in February 2019 of firing his weapon at Pasco County deputies, who were raiding his home in an investigation into Massad practicing medicine without a license.
He pleaded guilty in March 2021 to a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. It was a reduced charge from what he was facing originally, which was attempted murder.
The obstruction charge stemmed from a 2019 conversation Massad had with Terrence Rowe, the man who became mayor after Massad was arrested.
The call was made from the Pasco County Jail. Massad and Rowe discussed officer Donald Howard, who had helped investigate Massad.
Massad’s attorneys argued that the call couldn’t have constituted obstruction of justice, and the court agreed. (Read their conversation in the court ruling below.)
Massad had been sentenced to probation on the obstruction charge.
He also pleaded guilty in 2021 to a few other charges, including practicing medicine without a license, weapons charges and resisting arrest.
He was sentenced to three years in prison – two of which he had already served – and is now out of prison.
