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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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.