Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon, Jury Trial – NOT GUILTY

JW was charged with Aggravated UUW. The police were monitoring a call of shots fired and were given a description of a red SUV with 4 male blacks.  JW was driving nearby with three of his friends in a red SUV (everyone in the car was African-American). The police claimed they saw a gun under JW’s leg as they approached.  JW is a security guard and knows better. The gun was unloaded and in the trunk. We filed a motion to quash.  Despite showing that it was impossible for the officer to see the gun as he claimed, the judge refused to grant our motion.  We refused to give up.  We went to trial and put it in the hands of a jury. After intense cross examination were were able to point out plenty of inconsistencies in the officer’s testimony.  Apparently, the jury didn’t buy it either.  They came back with a verdict of not guilty on all counts.