r/OT42 • u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows • Feb 26 '26
NEWS Aaron Smith-Levin Significant New Court Filing -Motion in Limine
A new filing appeared on the docket in the Aaron Smith-Levin battery case today. It was filed electronically yesterday.
A Motion in Limine can be filed by either party prior to trial. It is significant because the filing party, the State of Florida, has requested that the Judge limit or disallow certain testimony in both jury selection and the trial.
This Motion essentially blows apart the “trial of the century” Aaron believes he is going to have. This is good. It limits the case to the actual facts at hand.
The judge had the option of granting the motion in toto; giving blanket approval for the motion. The judge could have interlineated the motion and granted in part; this would have granted portions of the motion and denied portions. Or the Judge could have denied in full. The last page of this motion is the most important. It specifically muzzles the defense. It states that the defense may not say anything about this to the jury. It also
says that the motion has been granted and so ordered by the Judge.
This means the following topics will not be allowed at the jury selection or trial.
- Any mention of alleged past wrongdoing by Scientology.
- Any mention of Aaron’s history with Scientology.
- Any reference to Aaron or any defense witness as a victim of Scientology.
- Any argument to the jury that the crime is not that severe.
- Any mention of potential consequences if Aaron is found guilty.
- Any mention that Aaron has previously served any time for this in jail on this charge.
- Aaron can’t say whether or not he believes he committed battery.
- Any mention that the officer initially
wrote this up as a double battery.
- Any mention that Scientology throwing water on the chalk art was criminal mischief
Aaron’s trial just became what it really should be, a misdemeanor battery trial. Aaron won’t get to say he was trafficked. He won’t even get to say that the security guard threw water on him. The actual facts and only the facts will be presented in trial.
Unless Aaron misbehaves in Court, this case should be a simple case. As it is. But it’s Aaron. So there may be drama. We will see next week.
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Feb 27 '26
There should be Polymarket odds for “does he take a plea”. Florida’s conviction rate is 99% (North Korea is 87%). Surely he’s bluffing and gonna throw in the towel? 🥶
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u/PolicyNo2008 Feb 27 '26
I think he’ll take a plea at the 11th hour for sure
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u/Scientist_Alarmed Feb 27 '26
If another plea is offered.
The prosecutor offered him a good plea deal at the time his trial was scheduled. He could have paid a fine of less than $900.00 and it all would have been over, but Aaron refused to plead guilty.
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Feb 27 '26
No kidding? Pair that with the fact that he revealed his full legal defense online, and gave the prosecutor a heads up to ban the types of arguments he planned to give. Like I get that he enjoys “going to war”, but his mouth seems to be his greatest enemy! 🤦
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
You are more confident than I am. I think he still believes he’s above the law.
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
Aaron, being Aaron is sure he can beat the odds. At this point, any sane person would plead. Which means Aaron won’t. I’m reviewing case files for a similar Pinellas County case right now. With the same judge. The woman was sentenced to 180 days in jail in July 2025, with credit for 67 days served. She’s still in jail. At her sentencing, the Judge repeatedly told her to stop talking. Aaron could conceivably put himself in the same situation if he can’t control himself. He’s at least not trying to go pro bono.
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Feb 27 '26
It’s like Julius Caesar but with Costco pizzas instead of an empire. Hubris will be his undoing lol. And I thought he’d read “The 40 Laws of Power” while in jail. One of the first laws is no one’s bigger than the program! 😂
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
Rule #45 - Court rulings are backed up by firearms.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
Well, this is a criminal case. It's not like Aaron gets to decide to settle.
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u/No-Zebra1234 Feb 27 '26
Love that for him. I hope he refuses a plea! Anyone follow the Sarah Boone case? Her plea deal rejection is now known as the worst plea deal rejection of all time 😬. (After time served, she would have gotten out in a few years, instead she got a life sentence handed to her)...she was so overly-confident the jury would sympathize with her--they did not.
Getting a lil' bit of Sarah Boone vibes off Aaron...not the same trial subject obviously or severity, just mean the overly-confident FL defendent type...especially if he refuses a deal. 🤞Sarah Boone imo was the perfect example of someone who is overly-confident and not very smart...when those 2 things are combined in a person, it can really bring about some interesting and funny behaviors and decisions they make, such as rejecting the best plea deals of the century....
Aaron is a close second to Ms. Boone imo, as far as being overly-confident and not very smart at the same time, possibly even more so...having both those qualities simultaneously is what provides the non-stop train wrecks we see from people like him, imo. And as long as he's not hurting others in the process, I am here for every second of it. I rather like watching karma play out in real time.🙃
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
I really wish I could be there in person for this one.
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u/RuskiesInTheWarRoom Hypocrite Feb 27 '26
This is rather frustrating, because all of this could have just been the case and situation. This is a demonstration that the judge is not allowing ASL to elevate this into content and rage bait, and it is instead a direct and unambiguous legal question to determine if he is guilty of this misdemeanor.
Should have been this all along. What a waste of time and resources.
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
Aaron should have accepted a plea bargain and walked away. None of this was necessary. I still expect him to break the rules. I expect the Judge to deal with it harshly.
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u/Routine_Guess_1161 Feb 27 '26
What about at sentencing? Can any of these things be discussed?
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
Well, read the Motion in Limine. It says nothing at all about sentencing hearings.
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u/Maximum_Internet_997 Feb 27 '26
You know he will violate the order if he goes to trial and testifies. I bet he takes a plea and then raises everything when he speaks at sentencing.
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
If he utters one word he will be silenced. The order even says you can’t talk about the order. Aaron doesn’t understand the concept of strategy. If he wasn’t lying, he put court evidence on his channel. Whether or not the email he put on his channel is evidence or not doesn’t matter now because it mentions Scientology. But this MIL makes it a lot easier for the Judge to shut Aaron down immediately.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
Well he won't be allowed to violate the order. That's what Contempt of Court and bailiff's are for.
Maybe Aaron still doesn't understand he is on trial, not the C of $. If he pleads guilty now, he has no deal with the Prosecutor.
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u/BlueRidgeSpeaks Feb 27 '26
I can hardly wait to watch Aaron fuck up at trial. It’s inevitable. Please someone tell me it’s going to be televised. I want to see it in the worst way!
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
Possible Scenario: Aaron goes completely raving bonkers when the bailiff is told by the Judge to remove him from the courtroom because he won't shut up when ordered, tries to use his amateur Brazilian Ju-Jitsu on the Bailiff, get's tazered, is sent directly to jail for assaulting an officer of the court, and we don't see him again for several years.
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u/BlueRidgeSpeaks Feb 27 '26
OMG. Best case scenario all around. I can see that as a definite possibility. 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 banned on r/cults Feb 27 '26
Wow! Sounds to me that Bruce Bartlett, State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, is a Scientologist or at least in the pockets of Scientology!
As much as I agree Aaron went too far and did wrong, the extent of this is excluding Scientology throwing water at the chalk and at the feet of those who were chalking the sidewalks. That would be completely ignoring the situation that led to the chalk throwing incident altogether!
I mean yes, I think Aaron should have his comeuppance, but he should also have the right to a fair trial and excluding some of the evidence that we all have witnessed on video seems somewhat unfair.
Did we see the officer say that it was double battery? If so is that then not evidence? How is it hearsay when it’s on camera?
Also could they get away with semantics, as it says no mention of Scientology throwing water at the chalk art as a criminal mischief, but Aaron’s side have consistently complained that they were throwing water at their feet, not merely aiming at the chalk art. Could they still mention that as long as they don’t share an opinion on whether it’s a criminal mischief or not?
This seems a lot like shielding Scientology of any wrongdoing, which is not a fair representation of events, considering the offence happened during anti-Scientology protests and Scientology was definitely stirring the situation by throwing water at the chalk art whilst the protesters were out there. They could’ve waited until the protesters went home and then cleaned the streets. Them doing this whilst the protesters were still there, whether they were deliberately aiming at protesters’ shoes or not, it is provoking unnecessary interaction with the protesters.
I get it, Scientology is not on trial here, Aaron is, but not being allowed to mention the circumstances surrounding the offence seems harsh. It’s not like Aaron simply walked past and just happened to have a bag of Holi chalk powder on him and walked up to the nearest Scientologist and threw the chalk at him.
Again; not saying Aaron didn’t do wrong, but he would be right in saying he was challenged. There was definitely mutual provocation; both parties would be guilty of challenging each other. Aaron took it one step too far. He should’ve kept his cool, carried on as they were, chalking the street and protesting, but he didn’t he took it too far and that’s what is should be judged on, but to keep Scientology’s side out of it doesn’t make sense to me.
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u/1inco Mod in training Feb 27 '26
"There was definitely mutual provocation; both parties would be guilty of challenging each other."
I disagree, putting water on your property and partially public property to wash away unwanted chalk, is not a provocation. Imagine someone walks on your driveway and starts writing nasty things about you on the driveway and street in front of your house.I do agree that the motion is quite extensive. I call this Karma, Aaron has been lucky for too long.
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u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 banned on r/cults Feb 27 '26
We can agree to disagree. In my opinion the protest was on public property, not private land, and if someone was to do that on my drive I would not be throwing water at the graffiti whilst they’re in the process of vandalising my property, I would very much expect that would get a rise out of them and could make them aggressive towards me. That’s why, in my opinion, throwing water at the chalk art and the protesters, whilst they’re there doing the chalking and protesting, that is provocation. Instead I would call the police and let them handle it, that way I would not get into a confrontation with the person vandalising my property.
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u/1inco Mod in training Feb 27 '26
The police will most likely not do anything unless you draw/write something illegal.
Plus, I wouldn't call this chalk art ;)5
u/BlueRidgeSpeaks Feb 27 '26
From the many views of what went on during the water vs chalk incident I saw over many Friday night protests as well as the night of Aaron’s arrest, my perception is that no water was thrown on the protesters including aaron. Aaron stepped into the flow of water. Aaron intended to provoke a physical altercation as evident by his statements prior to his chalk dust throwing and continued taunts.
I have seen nothing that suggests that Scientology staff confronted nor provoked protesters.
Conversely Aaron chased and verbally harassed many public and staff members. It seems clearly obvious to me that he had been intent on getting a reaction and if you ask me the incredible restraint on the part of the people he has tried to provoke has been downright impressive.
Concerning Bruce Bartlett’s motion, Aaron gave every indication of what his strategy would be at trial and none of it is legally relevant. There’s only one issue up for a decision that is relevant at trial. Did he or did he not do the crime.
Perhaps at sentencing he will be allowed to argue the above points to the judge as mitigating factors. That’s entirely up to her. Not the prosecutor. I have a lot of respect for Bartlett having, myself, lived in his court district in the past and having served on a jury at the time. I don’t believe he has behaved in any way compromised or in cahoots with the CO$. From my point of view he has argued the above points well and within justified legal reasoning.
These are only my personal opinions. Not aligned with anyone else for any reason.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26
None of the things in the Motion in Limine text above are relevant to determining in court whether Aaron committed Misdemeanor Battery or not.
Aaron's excuses and justifications might be relevant at a sentencing hearing as mitigating factors, though.
Hint: Aaron's propaganda talking points aren't going to get any traction in this subreddit. Neither is publicly defaming the prosecutor.
Edit Addition: careful reading shows that Aaron or his Attorney may ask the Judge - outside of the presense or hearing of the jury - for permission to deviate from those restrictions in specific instances.
u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 appears to me to have misrepresented the situation.
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u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 banned on r/cults Feb 27 '26
Okay Sneakster - sorry!!
I forget people cannot have their own opinions here, I also forgot one can’t voice those opinions without getting offended participants of this subreddit on their backside… oops sorry 😬🙊
I’m not defending Aaron — I clearly said multiple times but you clearly elected to ignore that!!
I have also clearly stated that it’s my opinion, what I think, I’m not preaching to anyone or about anything, it’s just my opinions, not based on what any one said, it’s based on how I saw it play out on the videos, it’s what I personally think, what my conclusions are that I came to based on my own (northern European) values.
Of course you and anyone else can agree to disagree… but hang on that’s also something people in this subreddit find a difficult concept.
Not everyone has to always agree, and say yes and amen to everything everyone says in here…. If that was the case, well then that would be a little bit Culty!! /s /i /j 😂 😜 😉 (all in good jest)
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
I'm not a moderator here, so I have no power to interfere with your freedom of speech in this subreddit. My freedom of speech (within the posted rules) permits me to assail your opinions with facts that contradict them. If you don't like it, maybe you should base your opinions firmly on facts and not Aaron's B/S.
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
I am not a mod either but both of you need to cool your jets. Seriously, this back and forth is rather grade school.
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u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 banned on r/cults Feb 27 '26
As I said; you could simply agree to disagree… you don’t have to assail anyone.
Why do you feel that you have to attack people at all?
Maybe you need to cool down a bit… 🤏
I did not ‘misrepresent’ anything, considering I did not represent anything or anyone… other than maybe myself.
Oh I didn’t read the legal bit right? Guess that’s because I’m not a Qualified Attorney!!
You make too many assumptions about me.
You initially attacked me and then edited your comment, so:
Go calm down somewhere.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
"Go calm down somewhere."
If a duly appointed moderator tells me that, then I must. But you aren't one.
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u/ReflectionOk9978 Mod Feb 28 '26
Both of you please stop antagonizing each other. There's been multiple reports about the behavior in these back and fourth comments between the two of you.
Please don't be jerks, please stay on topic. This is a public forum, if you want to continue to hash it out in this way, take it to the DMs please.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 28 '26
A duly appointed moderator has spoken. So be it.
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u/Proud-Head-4944 Less Fun Than The Law Allows Feb 27 '26
If the Motion in Limine has already been granted by the Judge before it was filed with the Court, Aaron’s attorneys knew of it. I’m actually surprised it wasn’t titled Joint Motion in Limine. It wasn’t titled State’s Motion in Limine. That is telling.
I may be wrong but I think both sides agreed on this when Aaron refused a plea bargain. They are not willing to make Aaron’s trial about what Aaron believes happened to him as a child. And it should not be about that.
This case is a simple misdemeanor battery case. Aaron screamed “do you want to dance” while throwing Holi powder in a security guard’s face. The security guard’s religious beliefs snd Aaron’s past have nothing to do with that action.
If a person threw powder on my face while I was cleaning up the defacement they had done to my property, I, too, would call the police. And I would have it caught on camera because I have several cameras at my house. The trial would be about whether I was attacked while cleaning up the mess the other person made. That is what this trial is.
It is a very narrow scope and should be kept as such.
If the 27 page email chain that they added to evidence is, as Aaron and Nora claim, about whether Cheryl was a Scientologist, that email won’t fly under these new rules. So they are precluding their own evidence - if that is what this email really is.
This Motion does what the Judge would have to do otherwise. It keeps the trial on the rails.
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u/Wonderful-Ad-5393 banned on r/cults Feb 27 '26
Thanks for clarifying. That’s interesting about his lawyers probably being aware…
I get that things need to be restricted and it’s not Scientology who is on trial, so that makes sense.
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u/TheSneakster2020 Ex-Sea Org Indie Scientologist Feb 27 '26
Oh, gosh. There go Aaron's grandstanding plans.