TTAG regulars may remember the sad tale of Otis Lockett. We awarded Otis our IGOTD on the first of August after he managed to almost separate himself from Mr. Johnson and noted that his problems didn’t end with his anatomical re-arrangement. Having obviously shot himself and given his criminal record, he’d also be facing felon in possession charges. And he has. But what we didn’t count on was the apparent incompetence of prosecutors in the land of cheese curds and inferior beer…
Lockett’s attending physician told police that his wounds were consistent with someone who prefers Mexican carry. They even got a court order to remove Lockett’s bandages to memorialize the damage he’d done to his penile region photographically. But that evidently wasn’t enough for the court.
…Circuit Judge Charles Kahn dismissed the charge, saying the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof. He said prosecutors failed to interview other potential witnesses and failed to demonstrate the suspect is right-handed.
The judge warned Lockett, who had said he was shot from behind by an unknown party, to stay away from guns.
So the judge knew damned well that locket almost blew his own naughty bits off, but the mental marvel playing prosecutor didn’t make the case. Legally speaking. It seems that correspondence law course degrees are enough to secure a job with the City of Milwaukee district attorney’s office. So Lockett walked. Maybe with a limp, but he walked.
But never fear, Milwaukeeans, Lockett’s been warned by the judge. There’s no way he’ll touch a gun again after that stern talking-to. Right? If Mr. Lockett does decide to tempt fate and pick up another gun to do something less than legal, though, you’ll know where to direct your complaints.