Aaron Smith-Levin Arrested for Felony Assault at Flag Land Base

[I M Dex]

Yeah exactly.



My opinion about all of this:
- The battery charge was bogus to begin with. I've not seen anything other than incidental contact there and the state should be the one to prove that physical contact was deliberate. To me, it is obvious the contact was accidental and caused by him having the door slammed on him.

I have no idea how the jury came up with the notion it was deliberate, unless maybe they got swayed by the testimony of the guards.

I think the real issue here was if Aaron was trespassing or not, although my bet is that he was not, otehrwise the prosecution would ahev banged on this point a lot stronger.

All in all, it is an OSA op that actually worked for a change. They had a long string of failures, they must be surprised and possibly confused about actually having won anything.

My perspective is that Aaron let his egotism, his need to grandstand for an audience play right into Scientology's hands, and he will take satisfaction in his martyrdom, and/or learn from this experience not to do what makes him vulnerable to such punishment, justified or otherwise. As I understand it, and someone please correct me if I'm mistaken, he tried to push and force his way in to their building while they tried to hold the door to keep him out. If you're not trying to be arrested, charged and penalized, that's not very well thought out.
It also gives the cult something to use to portray Scientology protesters in general as unbalanced dangerous criminals; Aaron's actions may be intended to make him look heroic, but in the bigger picture, it could be unhelpful publicly.

 

[Type4_PTS]

I've not watched any of this but posting it as it showed up on my YouTube feed.

It live, in-progress as I post it.

 

[Karakorum]

he tried to push and force his way in to their building

I think he was standing in the doorway, while they shut the doors on him, which caused the whole hulabaloo. The way I seen it, he was just standing ther,e not trying to move inside, let alone force his way in. But apparently he did have his foot in the door.

Which is why I think the real thing might have been him potentially trespassing by having that foot in the doorway. But trespassing like that afaik would not have gotten a jail sentence, so instead OSA pushed the bogus battery charge.

I'm not a Florida lawyer. But whatever that "foot in the doorway" thing was, a battery it surely was not.

 

[I M Dex]

I think he was standing in the doorway, while they shut the doors on him, which caused the whole hulabaloo. The way I seen it, he was just standing ther,e not trying to move inside, let alone force his way in. But apparently he did have his foot in the door.

Which is why I think the real thing might have been him potentially trespassing by having that foot in the doorway. But trespassing like that afaik would not have gotten a jail sentence, so instead OSA pushed the bogus battery charge.

I'm not a Florida lawyer. But whatever that "foot in the doorway" thing was, a battery it surely was not.

Maybe he was wielding an Eveready Energizer?

 

[Karakorum]

Which is why I think the real thing might have been him potentially trespassing by having that foot in the doorway. But trespassing like that afaik would not have gotten a jail sentence, so instead OSA pushed the bogus battery charge.

I'm not a Florida lawyer. But whatever that "foot in the doorway" thing was, a battery it surely was not.

Addendum: just had another ex-scientologist message me (said person has actual legal experience and even did legal stuff back in CoS). And said person corrected me that he was not charged with trespassing, because the prosecution actually established he was not trespassing. The Judge even gave a ruling that they can't accuse him of trespassing.

 

[Type4_PTS]

My perspective is that Aaron let his egotism, his need to grandstand for an audience play right into Scientology's hands, and he will take satisfaction in his martyrdom, and/or learn from this experience not to do what makes him vulnerable to such punishment, justified or otherwise. As I understand it, and someone please correct me if I'm mistaken, he tried to push and force his way in to their building while they tried to hold the door to keep him out. If you're not trying to be arrested, charged and penalized, that's not very well thought out.
It also gives the cult something to use to portray Scientology protesters in general as unbalanced dangerous criminals; Aaron's actions may be intended to make him look heroic, but in the bigger picture, it could be unhelpful publicly.

He didn't attempt to force his way in, but he did stick his foot in the door so it couldn't be closed on him. You can see all that in this 35-second video.

It did look to me like he committed battery (per the legal definition), but it was so minor that it's ridiculous IMO that he was given jail time for it, plus sentenced to 12 months' probation. While he committed battery IMO (per the legal definition), there was no intent whatsoever to hurt the person.

I do not like Aaron's style of protesting, but from all I've heard, the judge was biased against him.

 

[Type4_PTS]

I think he was standing in the doorway, while they shut the doors on him, which caused the whole hulabaloo. The way I seen it, he was just standing ther,e not trying to move inside, let alone force his way in. But apparently he did have his foot in the door.

Which is why I think the real thing might have been him potentially trespassing by having that foot in the doorway. But trespassing like that afaik would not have gotten a jail sentence, so instead OSA pushed the bogus battery charge.

I'm not a Florida lawyer. But whatever that "foot in the doorway" thing was, a battery it surely was not.

He wasn't charged with trespassing, and it's not clear whether he was trespassing or not. He didn't believe he was because he looked at the property appraiser's website beforehand, which shows the property lines, and it showed the spot he was standing on was public property. The judge did not allow that to be entered into evidence because there is a disclaimer on the property appraiser's website, indicating something to the effect that there could be errors. If a survey were done, it would confirm where the property lines were exactly, but this hasn't been done yet, as far as I know.

Interestingly, Aaron claimed several times during the trial that he was standing on public property, and the CoS attorney never objected. But the judge then got furious at him for making that claim. Jenna spoke about it in one of the videos, and it sounded to me as if the judge was biased against Aaron.

 

[Karakorum]

He wasn't charged with trespassing, and it's not clear whether he was or not. He didn't believe he was because he looked at the property appraiser's website beforehand, which shows the property lines, and it showed the spot he was standing on was public property. The judge did not allow that to be entered into evidence because there is a disclaimer on the property appraiser's website, indicating something to the effect that there could be errors. If a survey were done, it would confirm where the property lines were exactly, but this hasn't been done yet as far as I know.

I'll just say that there was more info available to scientology than the property appraiser's website data.

Thanks for sharing the video, I've seen the one from his phone before, but not the one from the CoS camera. Still not a battery to me. But it helped me to see how, if the jury might have thought that Aaron was shouting expletives and stuff in the early part of the vid, they would assume this was him escalating this to agression.

 

[I M Dex]

He didn't attempt to force his way in, but he did stick his foot in the door so it couldn't be closed on him. You can see all that in this 35-second video.

It did look to me like he committed battery (per the legal definition), but it was so minor that it's ridiculous IMO that he was given jail time for it, plus sentenced to 12 months' probation. While he committed battery IMO (per the legal definition), there was no intent whatsoever to hurt the person.

I do not like Aaron's style of protesting, but from all I've heard, the judge was biased against him.

Yes, two things can be true. But also, imagine if someone did that at your front door, wouldn't it feel invasive and threatening. You'd probably want the person locked up. The offender definitely has to be discouraged from ever doing that again. But being locked up is pretty extreme. My call would probably be 3 days served, 20 days suspended, with 6 months probation-oh, and the cult closed down.

 

[Type4_PTS]

I'll just say that there was more info available to scientology than the property appraiser's website data.

Thanks for sharing the video, I've seen the one from his phone before, but not the one from the CoS camera. Still not a battery to me. But it helped me to see how, if the jury might have thought that Aaron was shouting expletives and stuff in the early part of the vid, they would assume this was him escalating this to agression.

Yeah, I'm confident the CoS did have more info. And the fact that their attorney didn't object during the trial to Aaron claiming multiple times that he was on public property makes me wonder whether he really was on public property.


As far as whether or not he committed battery, here in Florida, if you simply touch someone without their consent, that can constitute battery.
The State does not have to show there was intent to harm. And if that person you simply touch without consent is over 65, it is automatically
upgraded to a Class 3 felony.

This attorney's website goes over the definition:

Simple Battery in Florida | Misdemeanor Battery

In Florida, Simple Battery is a first degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to one year in jail or 12 months probation, and a $1,000 fine.

www.husseinandwebber.com

 

[Type4_PTS]

Yes, two things can be true. But also, imagine if someone did that at your front door, wouldn't it feel invasive and threatening. You'd probably want the person locked up. The offender definitely has to be discouraged from ever doing that again. But being locked up is pretty extreme. My call would probably be 3 days served, 20 days suspended, with 6 months probation-oh, and the cult closed down.

It wasn't a private residence; it was the "Scientology Information Center", and Aaron was there on behalf of parents who had been disconnected from their son for the past ten years. He was asking for help to reconnect them.

Of course, any Sea Org member is going to find that invasive and threatening, but I don't have any problem with Aaron doing that. On the contrary, I see that as a positive thing he did. I only live a 30-minute or so drive from Clearwater, and have offered to deliver messages to Sea Org members from their family who live out of the country when they're in those types of situations. But for Aaron to stick his foot in the door, attempting to hold it open, that crossed a line he shouldn't have crossed, because OSA is absolutely looking for any opportunity they have to call the police on him, and he gave them one.

If I were the one attempting to do a reconnection, I would find the path that the S.O. member takes when exiting the buildings he works at, and I would be standing on public property with a huge sign that could not be missed. And I'd attempt to hand him a letter if I could, or say something to him.

 

[Type4_PTS]

If the judge disliked Aaron up until now, I suspect she'll like him even less after watching this video.

Psycho Judge REFUSES to Recuse Herself | KATHLEEN HESSINGER​

 

[I M Dex]

If the judge disliked Aaron up until now, I suspect she'll like him even less after watching this video.

Psycho Judge REFUSES to Recuse Herself | KATHLEEN HESSINGER​

Nice legal strategy. He might want to go ahead and send in that change of address form to the post office with his cell number filled in..

 

[Type4_PTS]

Nice legal strategy. He might want to go ahead and send in that change of address form to the post office with his cell number filled in..

I watch very few of his videos, and I am not a fan. But I watched 20 minutes or so of this video, and it is IMO worth watching, for anyone remotely interested in the case.

IANAL, but he has a legitimate case to get a new trial IMO, and the judge clearly has animosity and is biased against Aaron. It's not just Aaron's opinion I'm basing that on. He posted some of the statements she's made, and he goes deep into the motion his attorney filed requesting a new trial.

 

[I M Dex]

I watch very few of his videos, and I am not a fan. But I watched 20 minutes or so of this video, and it is IMO worth watching, for anyone remotely interested in the case.

IANAL, but he has a legitimate case to get a new trial IMO, and the judge clearly has animosity and is biased against Aaron. It's not just Aaron's opinion I'm basing that on. He posted some of the statements she's made, and he goes deep into the motion his attorney filed requesting a new trial.

Maybe, but bear in mind, this is all Aaron's descriptions, and, especially given his tendencies, may not entirely accurately reflect what's been said and done; the "Growing up" part of his "Growing up in Scientology" might be a bit of a misnomer.

 

[Type4_PTS]

Maybe, but bear in mind, this is all Aaron's descriptions, and, especially given his tendencies, may not entirely accurately reflect what's been said and done; the "Growing up" part of his "Growing up in Scientology" might be a bit of a misnomer.

If it were only Aaron's descriptions, I would agree with you, but that isn't the case. Much of the video showed the text of both the motion to disqualify the judge and the motion to request a new trial. Aaron's attorney, not Aaron, wrote those. I don't believe any reasonable person reading these motions would think that the judge was impartial or that Aaron received a fair trial.

 

[lotus]

My perspective is that Aaron let his egotism, his need to grandstand for an audience play right into Scientology's hands, and he will take satisfaction in his martyrdom, and/or learn from this experience not to do what makes him vulnerable to such punishment, justified or otherwise. As I understand it, and someone please correct me if I'm mistaken, he tried to push and force his way in to their building while they tried to hold the door to keep him out. If you're not trying to be arrested, charged and penalized, that's not very well thought out.
It also gives the cult something to use to portray Scientology protesters in general as unbalanced dangerous criminals; Aaron's actions may be intended to make him look heroic, but in the bigger picture, it could be unhelpful publicly.
I hold similar views.

I hold similar views.
However, as a social medias and youtuber , when dine professionally to earn your life, I assume it comes a time one focus on getting more viewsamd more followers and content is created to fulfill this goal ... That is business..

 

[Type4_PTS]

I've not watched any of this yet, but the title of the video got my attention!

EDIT: After the first 90 seconds of the video, the title name is starting to sound like clickbait, but I'm not sure yet.

The judge does have a connection to Pam Bondi.

I did watch the whole 20+ minute video.
My belief, based upon how the judge acted during the trial and the pre-trial proceedings, is that someone with Scientology ties DID influence the judge. However, Aaron didn't actually provide evidence of that happening.






CORRUPT JUDGE HAS TIES TO SCIENTOLOGY

 

[Lee #28]

Yeah, I'm confident the CoS did have more info. And the fact that their attorney didn't object during the trial to Aaron claiming multiple times that he was on public property makes me wonder whether he really was on public property.


As far as whether or not he committed battery, here in Florida, if you simply touch someone without their consent, that can constitute battery.
The State does not have to show there was intent to harm. And if that person you simply touch without consent is over 65, it is automatically
upgraded to a Class 3 felony.

This attorney's website goes over the definition:

Simple Battery in Florida | Misdemeanor Battery

In Florida, Simple Battery is a first degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to one year in jail or 12 months probation, and a $1,000 fine.

www.husseinandwebber.com

I already mentioned this.....but will again. Years ago when I was protesting at Flag.... The Scien called the Cops of me....and told me I was trespassing on Org Property......

The Cops said I was on Org Property....

Now I realize that I wasn't......and these new protests are way beyond where I was....

So certainly there could be confusion or out right lies about where Org Property lines are...
And the Cops would have no reason to know where they were......

 

[Type4_PTS]

I already mentioned this.....but will again. Years ago when I was protesting at Flag.... The Scien called the Cops of me....and told me I was trespassing on Org Property......

The Cops said I was on Org Property....

Now I realize that I wasn't......and these new protests are way beyond where I was....

So certainly there could be confusion or out right lies about where Org Property lines are...
And the Cops would have no reason to know where they were......

It seems crazy to consider that Aaron was standing at the door in a spot that could have been public property, but that building is 125 years old and originally was built as a bank. Apparently, no one objected back at that time to the building being partially on public property.

I believe that that IS the case. Otherwise, it would have been a simple matter for Scientology to get a survey done to show Aaron was trespassing, and it would have strengthened their case.