Citing the "Stand Your Ground" law, the 5th District Court of Appeal dismissed the longstanding charges against a Port St. John man accused of shooting Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy John "Casey" Smith during a botched arrest in front of his home in 2015.

The decision — issued Wednesday — ends the prosecution of John DeRossett, 60, on the attempted premeditated first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer while discharging a firearm. DeRossett spent nearly five years at the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes as he awaited a trial. He was allowed to leave on bond in March.

"The appellate decision is better than a jury acquittal. An acquittal only means ‘not guilty.’ This order means that John is innocent, that his actions were justified, and that he never should have been arrested in the first place. It’s a total vindication," said DeRossett’s Orlando-based attorney, Michael Panella.

DeRossett expressed gratitude over the decision.

"…Great, great. Thank God. Thank Jesus. Thank everybody. Thank you. You just don’t know, how it feels, you know? I’m trying to hold the tears back,” DeRossett said in a statement issued to FLORIDA TODAY.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said he is "in no way, shape or form pleased with this ruling. I do respect the judges' ruling in this case. I don't agree with it in any capacity. I want to be very clear."

Under Florida law, shooters who assert a "Stand Your Ground" defense are immune from prosecution unless the state can demonstrate certain conditions, such as the person knew he was firing on a law-enforcement officer or was involved in criminal activity at the time.

The appellate court found that the state didn't clear that bar in two separate stand-your-ground hearings.

Prosecutors and Brevard County sheriff’s investigators said DeRossett opened fire on Aug. 20, 2015, as deputies attempted to carry out the arrest of his niece on a prostitution charge at DeRossett's home.

Smith would later testify that the deputies identified themselves when they met DeRossett's niece at the door.

"(Agent Peter Stead) pulled out his badge and said 'Sheriff's Office!' and grabbed her," Smith testified during the "Stand Your Ground" hearing in 2018. "Then all hell broke loose. He grabbed her out of the door and pulled her toward the yard, and she started screaming very loudly."

More:Judge denies DeRossett's motion for immunity in deputy shooting case

More:Stand your ground immunity denial overturned in 2015 Brevard deputy shooting case

DeRossett’s attorney’s argued that his client did not know who the men were confronting his niece that night, and that he was responding to her screams for help at the front door.

Gunfire ensued and Smith was shot in the lower abdomen. He recovered from his injuries.

Both DeRossett's niece, Mary Ellis DeRossett — a convicted prostitute known as "The Cougar" — and DeRossett, then a security guard at Port Canaveral, suffered minor gunshot injuries, reports show.

Court records show that Mary DeRossett, who has a history of substance abuse, was seeing prostitution clients in her bedroom at the home. The appeal court found that while John DeRossett was aware of his niece's illegal activities, the state didn't show that he promoted or assisted her in her illegal activities.

The shooting investigation uncovered the fact the two other Brevard deputies were among Mary DeRossett's clients. The deputies later resigned.

Mary DeRossett pleaded no contest in 2015 prostitution and resisting arrest charges. She was ordered to serve 180 days in jail and 18 months of probation.

Ivey said at Thursday's press conference that he didn't believe the Stand Your Ground defense should have been applied in this case.

Ivey said DeRossett "knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew exactly what was going on inside that house."

Ivey said Smith, who is medically retired from the sheriff's office, was "a true, true victim, not only in this case, but in this ruling. Because Casey's life was completely changed by this individual's actions. His career was changed. His life was changed. His family's life was changed."

Ivey said he talked with Smith on Thursday, and Smith also "was very disappointed in the ruling. Casey is disappointed. But Casey is glad to be alive, glad to be able to spend time with his family. And, from our perspective, we feel the same exact way."

Ivey said he remains "a huge supporter of Stand Your Ground. I don't think this a fault with the statute. I think this is a fault with the judges not applying all of the evidence in this case."

The state attorney’s office issued a statement saying that it respected the court’s decision but disagreed with the outcome.

“Our law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to protect our community," the statement read. "This ruling adds to that risk by extending protection to those who turn a blind eye to criminal activity, even within their own home.”

Ivey said he believed the ruling "has, quite frankly, put lives at risk, because there will be others that will use this ruling to their advantage."

J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jdgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop. To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/