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ADM F. 500 (Rev. 03/22) Order and Judgment
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF RIDGEWAY
STATE OF RIDGEWAY
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DOCKET NO. RSC-CM-395
Plaintiff
v.
SCRIPTX2
Defendant
BACKGROUND
On the 28th of May 2022, the Ridgeway Justice Department filed an information against the defendant,
alleging a violation of 5 R.C.C § 07. The defendant appeared, however their presence was not sustained because
of their extremely improper conduct before the court, therefore the matter continued in absentia.
The government’s case relies entirely on their Exhibit A, an 8 second clip depicting the defendant
allegedly in possession of a police-grade assault rifle, which appears on their back for the first portion of the
clip and disappears towards the second half of the clip. The government alleges that the defendant can clearly
be seen carrying a police-grade assault rifle while being a civilian and therefore the defendant is guilty of the
alleged crime.
The defense presents two defenses. The first, that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant was not a peace officer, and the second that the government failed to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the weapon carried by the defendant was a police-grade weapon.
JUDGMENT
For the first argument, this court holds that the state need not necessarily prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that the defendant was not a peace officer; this court will not hold that the government must prove beyond
a reasonable doubt the absence of a fact. The argument of the defense, in this aspect, is an affirmative defense
and therefore must be substantiated by the defense.
For the defense’s second argument, this court holds that the state need not necessarily enter specific
evidence to demonstrate that the weapon that the defendant held was police-grade. This court concurs with the
government’s contention that the government-issued nature of certain weapons or equipment, such as the rifle
that the defendant was in possession of, is common knowledge and that an absence of such evidence to
demonstrate that fact does not constitute reasonable doubt.
CONCLUSION
For the aforementioned stated reasons, this court finds the defendant;
- GUILTY ON COUNT ONE - 5 R.C.C § 07 - UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF
POLICE-GRADE EQUIPMENT
IT IS SO ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED.
At Palmer, Ridgeway, this 24th day of June, 2022.
/s/ Hecxtro
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
Document record
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Uploaded
May 28, 2022 12:00 PM
Filed
May 28, 2022 12:00 PM
Filing code
CRIMINAL_COMPLAINT
Uploaded by
state of ridgeway
Notes
Ruling_RSC-CM-395_1821-072422.pdf — archived from the Trello docket (https://trello.com/c/sTj1mOUI)
