Before even heading to court, Florida’s State Attorney’s office filed papers admitting that Dillon Webb has a valid defense thanks to the United States First Amendment.
Thanks to the foresight of our founding fathers 228 years after they ratified the First Amendment, Dillon Webb, a Lake City, FL man arrested earlier this weekend for his “I eat ass” decal gets to keep that sticker on the rear window of his Chevrolet for as long as he likes.
According to The Bonderud Law Firm, retained by Dillon Webb to defend him in the event they actually did go to court, the State Attorney’s office called them up letting them know their services won’t be necessary.
Having evaluated the evidence through the prism of Supreme Court precedent it is determined the Defendant has a valid defense to be raised under the First Amendment of our United States Constitution. Given such, a jury would not convict under these facts.
In a statement to the Ocala Star-Banner, Attorney Andrew Bonderud reiterated the how asinine this case was to begin with.
“It’s a joke. We don’t criminalize jokes in this country. It’s not obscenity. It’s protected by the First Amendment,” he said. “If they don’t like it, they can respond with their own bumper sticker or look the other way.”
Although Webb no longer has to go through the slow churning wheels of the Florida Justice system, Webb definitely didn’t get away scot-free.
According to his case details found on Columbia County court’s website (which is viewable by anyone), Webb had to shell out $2,500 of his own money for bail. In addition, Webb’s been suspended from his job which, now, he’ll have to get back.
Presumably, Webb’s also had to go through the trouble of getting his truck out of impound so who knows what fees were attached to that. According to an arrest report obtained by Reason.com, they really sent a tow truck out and towed his Chevy away all because of a decal.
To add insult to injury and thanks to the admittedly humorous nature of the case, Webb’s misdemeanor pretty much went viral with Webb’s mug attached to such a petty case.
Thankfully, Webb seems to be taking his newfound fame with stride. Here’s a shot of his truck as of yesterday, decal still on obviously.
Here’s a meme he shared earlier today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQGv-5gv9v/
And according to his most recent Facebook update, he even got to meet YouTube celeb Danny Duncan, a proponent of the “eat ass” movement.
I’m glad this case did not go any further than it had to. What a waste of Floridian tax dollars and time it would’ve been if a jury was actually selected and court proceedings initiated.
If anything, millions of Americans got a refresher on what the First Amendment is and how important it is to everyday life.
What’s your .02 on all these shenanigans. Let me know in the comments below.
I’m in China (yeah) and I’m sad even in 2019 USA, freedom of speech is still a bit issue.