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[Dalek]

Man in Joker Makeup Charged with Felony for 'Wearing Mask'

A 31-year-old Virginia man was arrested on Friday and charged with wearing a mask in public, a felony that’s punishable by up to five years in jail. His crime? Dressing up as the Joker. With makeup.

Winchester police arrested Jeremy Putnam after locals reported sightings of a man dressed as Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight, wearing a black cape and carrying a sword. It’s not illegal in Virginia to open carry a sword (although local ordinances vary), but it is against the law to “wear any mask, hood, or other device” that covers part or all of a face. The law dates back at least 70 years as an attempt to curtail the Ku Klux Klan. Nowadays, laws like this have been used to profile motorcyclists, charge protesters, and, in this case, stop a guy who’s not even wearing a mask from walking around.

However, makeup is not a mask— Putnam’s face is fully visible beneath his white facepaint. Furthermore, he wasn’t breaking into places or stalking people, he was just walking around. Granted, he was carrying a sword, but again... that looks to be permissible in the state. This might be the first time someone’s been charged in the state for the crime of wearing makeup, and if that’s all they’ve got him on, it’s not okay. Given the rise in comic cons in Virginia, this is a red flag for thousands of cosplayers throughout the state. The Winchester Police Department is holding Putnam on a $2,000 secured bond.

Still a better Joker than Suicide Squad.

 

[thekonamicode]

Time to lawyer up.

 

[Lulubop]

Better than Leto

 

[theCalamity]

That's a pretty creepy mugshot

 

[loaf of bread]

wearing a mask in public, a felony that’s punishable by up to five years in jail

... what?

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

So its okay to relax gun background check but its not okay to wear Joker make up?

 

[Grizzlyjin]

I doubt the charges stick. Who would waste time prosecuting this? Dude is just an oddball, it doesn't send a larger message.

 

[Nickle]

Can't say I feel sorry for him, even if it is an extreme punishment. It looks like he's intentionally trying to scare people.

 

[Razmos]

Why was he carrying around a damn sword and why is that legal?

What a weirdo regardless

 

[godhandiscen]

If it stops people from wearing KKK masks, then fuck it.

 

[SilentRacoon]

Up to 5 years for wearing a mask or covering your face?

This is insane.

 

[Reversed]

The fuck? That's awful because VA takes the L. Do they even have superhero masks on sale?

 

[dc3k]

... what?

FREEDOM

 

[brawly]

Can you laugh when taking a mugshot? Weak cosplay game if you can.

Carrying a sword though? Wtf.

 

[shawnbuddy]

I've lived in Virginia and that is indeed illegal. The law specifies any device meant to conceal your identity, so makeup like this would count.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Dude's late to Halloween 2008

 

[OldGangWarily]

I love the combination of "felony to wear a mask" and "legal to open carry a sword"

 

[Hale-XF11]

So, does that mean trick or treat on Halloween is banned there?

 

[shawnbuddy]

So, does that mean trick or treat on Halloween is banned there?

It's 16 and older.

 

[chadderbox77]

According to VirginiaCode 18.2-422: “It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood, or other device, whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered, so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth, without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment, or other activities, and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood, or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath, and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device, and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary, and providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency, where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.”

 

[Afrikan]

Wasn't this an issue in another state after people dressed as clowns/Joker were doing horrible shit to other people. I forget.

So I'm wondering if authorities are less tolerant with this mask, added to the fact of walking around with a Sword.

 

[BigDug13]

Never mind Halloween is exempt.

 

[shawnbuddy]

Wasn't this an issue in another state after people dressed as clowns/Joker were doing horrible shit to other people. I forget.

So I'm wondering if authorities are less tolerant to this mask, added to the fact of walking around with a Sword.

Based on my experience as a reporter covering crime, cops will get you on what they can get you on. They can't literally charge this guy for being creepy, so they charge him with something they can.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

So its okay to relax gun background check but its not okay to wear Joker make up?

🗽

 

[Aselith]

Guy seems like a weirdo

 

[bachikarn]

So to me, it sounds like more they wanted to charge him for open carrying a sword and being creepy in public, but they couldn't. So they found a loophole with the mask thing.

 

[D4Danger]

However, makeup is not a mask— Putnam’s face is fully visible beneath his white facepaint.

you just described a mask

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Nolan should bail him out and hire him.

 

[TheBaldEmperor]

you just described a mask

Bahaha!


I'm not too upset about this. Walking around looking like that with a sword on any day that isn't Halloween seems like a bad idea.

 

[hydruxo]

you just described a mask

Except...they didn't? A mask would mean you can't see his face whatsoever. He has facepaint on, and you can still see his face.

 

[fallengorn]

You fools. He wanted to get locked up in the MCU.

 

[FTF]

Dude's late to Halloween 2008

Or 6 months early to Halloween 2017.

 

[Seesaw15]

I'm OK with this. This dude seemed like he was gonna get up to some shit. The author of this article is bending backwards to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Zen Aku]

Which gaffer is this?

 

[WarMacheen]

His lawyer will have an easy case to win if the only charge is wearing a mask. It's obviously not a mask but makeup and if Virginia is going to arrest people for wearing makeup, then we are going to need more jails. Every man/woman in the state that wears too much makeup could be arrested for it.

Also, now that I know swords are legal to open carry, I need to purchase one....and a fedora

 

[sooperkool]

Cops don't care about your "lulz". He'll get probation and a big fine.

 

[Hex]

I think the mask charge was to send a message since they couldn't do anything about the sword part

 

[blahness]

Those people who wear facepaint to college football games in VA better think twice!

 

[itwasTuesday]

Just give him his phone call.

 

[Marvel]

Look at him go!

To the police station.

 

[Kettch]

I'm OK with this. This dude seemed like he was gonna get up to some shit. The author of this article is bending backwards to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

As they should. If the authorities have any credible evidence that he "was gonna get up to some shit" then they can charge him with that, not charge him for wearing make-up.

 

[TheSinkingKnight]

Is this supposed to be common knowledge to know that wearing a "mask" like this is a felony? I had no idea.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

I doubt the charges stick. Who would waste time prosecuting this? Dude is just an oddball, it doesn't send a larger message.

I've seen worse stick. Small towns are petty as fuck. Especially if he can't afford a lawyer.

 

[shawnbuddy]

Except...they didn't? A mask would mean you can't see his face whatsoever. He has facepaint on, and you can still see his face.

The question is whether it conceals his identity. Doesn't matter what device it is. Pantyhose would count too even thought they're partially see through.

 

[Lucky Seven]

Why draw the line here? Let's ban all Suicide Squad t-shirts and Joker hats.

 

[CalamityPixel]

Man that make up is better than Leto, give that man a academy award!

 

[Mumei]

Can't say I feel sorry for him, even if it is an extreme punishment. It looks like he's intentionally trying to scare people.

Five years.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Why draw the line here? Let's ban all Suicide Squad t-shirts and Joker hats.

Marvelite..

 

[ginger ninja]

Mad props, that is one scary joker.

 

[DukeSilverHaze]

I'm OK with this. This dude seemed like he was gonna get up to some shit. The author of this article is bending backwards to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

He "seemed" like he was up to some shit, better lock him up to be safe...