Jury finds Albuquerque lawyer not guilty in 2012 shooting of homeless man at office

A jury on Monday found an Albuquerque lawyer accused of shooting a homeless man in the leg in his office in 2012 not guilty of all charges he faced related to the shooting.

The Bernalillo County jury found David “Chip” Venie not guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence charges.

David “Chip” Venie was back on trial last week after a judge declared a mistrial in his first case last summer after Venie represented himself but failed to follow court rules.

Prosecutors maintained throughout the trial there was no reason for him to shoot Stephen Biddinger, a homeless man, as he approached Venie’s office, located on Lomas at 8th Street.

In the 911 call, Venie said a man was trying to break into his office. Venie told the dispatcher he shot the man after repeatedly asking him to leave.

Biddinger testified the whole incident began when Venie made a disparaging remark toward him. Then, Biddinger says he followed Venie to his office to confront him.

The defense painted Biddinger as a career criminal and having been high on meth that morning.

An office worker at Venie’s law office testified Biddinger was on drugs and wanted to hurt people at the office that day before Venie shot him.

The jury deliberated most of the day Monday after the defense rested its case Friday.