People v. Dillard
California Court of Appeal
201 Cal. Rptr. 136 (1984)
Relevant factsFree
Dillard (defendant), stopped by police while riding his bike with a rifle case, was found to be carrying a loaded rifle and charged with the misdemeanor offense of carrying a loaded firearm in public; the trial court excluded his evidence that he did not know the rifle was loaded and had reason to believe it was not, instructing the jury that knowledge of the loaded condition was not an element of the crime, and Dillard appealed.
IssueFree
Whether criminal intent is a necessary element of an offense that was criminalized to ensure public safety and whose unintentional violation can be prevented by exercising reasonable care.