Verdict: GUILTY
This court finds that MR. BURGUNDY, as the admitted owner of the lifeinvader account PBSO OFFICIAL, known to stand for PALETO BAY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, where he advertised hiring for a DEPUTY position, to hereby be found GUILTY of IMPERSONATING A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
Mr Burgundy created a social media page presenting himself as an elected official of a law enforcement agency. Mr Burgundy admitted to creating the account, but denied presenting himself as a member of law enforcement.
Due to the evidence and arguments presented in court, including the defense's own witness, it is this courts belief that Mr Burgundy portrayed himself in a manner that was reasonably convincing that he was in fact a government official, despite not being one.
While not outright claiming to be law enforcement, Mr Burgundy regularly referenced PBSO, Sheriff, and Deputy, titles known to be referencing law enforcement, as titles and ranks for the organization in which he portrayed himself as a member of.
Mr Burgundy came extraordinarily close to committing purjury in his closing, to the point that the state was forced to introduce contradictory evidence mid trial. In the event Mr Burgundy seeks an expungement in the future, he will be required to explain himself in this matter.
During the trial, a member of the peanut gallery was found in CONTEMPT 1x time, 1x fine, for unwelcome outbursts disrupting the court.
Signed electronically from my GALAXY S4
James Wagon - Judge Magistrate
