Former Utah Farm Bureau Federation president, Ron Gibson, is facing a misdemeanor assault charge for allegedly backhanding a farm worker at his farm in Ogden, Utah. Court documents filed in Weber County show that Gibson was arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty to the charge. This development comes after the charge was initially dismissed by a judge due to being filed in the wrong jurisdiction.
According to the court documents, the alleged assault took place on August 8 at Green Acres Farm, which is owned by Gibson. A worker reported to 911 that he had been assaulted, and witnesses provided a video to a responding Weber County deputy. In the video, Gibson can be seen telling the man to shut up in Spanish before backhanding him across the face. The strike allegedly caused a bloodied mouth and a knocked-out tooth, requiring medical treatment for the worker.
When questioned by the deputy, Gibson stated that he slapped the worker because he “wouldn’t be cooperative” and mentioned that other workers had been harassing him. Following the incident, Gibson took a leave of absence from his position with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation and later resigned from the organization, as well as from his role as a board member of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Gibson is scheduled to appear in court again on November 15.
