If you are like me, you are eagerly awaiting the return of America’s Favorite Hitman – John Wick. The reformed Hit-man turned loving husband, turned grieving widower, turned loving pet owner, turned revenge driven vigilante returns to the silver screen on May 16, 2019 for “John Wick 3”.
In preparation for John Wick’s return I have re-watched “John Wick” what may be an unhealthy number of times. While obsessively re-watching a film that somehow pulls off the preposterous proposition that a crime spree involving at least 70 murders was started with the theft of a man’s car and death of his dog (change car to truck, and this would make a heck of a country song) I started to wonder what would happen to our Anti-hero if he was charged for the crimes he committed during the movie.
Of course, I didn’t let that idea go. I did what any full time Criminal Defense Attorney and part time nerd would do, I pulled out the criminal code, a legal pad, my iPad, and entertained myself on a flight to Las Vegas by recording every crime committed by John Wick during the first installment of the “Wick” trilogy.
*** To complete this task, I used the Georgia Criminal Code (even though the movie is set and filmed in New York, I practice in Georgia and used the code I am more familiar with). Also, as the death penalty has been dropped by 24 States and with a death count well over 50, I ignored the death penalty as it would certainly be requested by the Government in any State where it is available.***
According to my obsessive rewatching, John Wick could potentially be charged with:
Aggravated assault (x 3)
Aggressive driving
Arson (x 2)
Attempted murder (x 2)
Burglary
Concealing the death of another (x 12)
Conspiracy to commit murder
Erratic driving (donuts)
False imprisonment
Felony Murder / homicide by Arson (x 2)
Hit and run
Laying drag
Leaving the scene of an accident (x 2)
Murder (x 70)
Possession firearm during felony
Possession of a Concealed firearm
Possession of a schedule 2 drug
Reckless driving
Striking a fixed object
Striking a pedestrian (x 3)
Tampering with evidence
Terroristic threats (x 2)
Theft
Theft by receiving
Vehicular Homicide | Serious injury by vehicle (x 3)
John Wick wouldn’t necessarily be convicted of all these charges. Certain defenses such as self-defense, necessity, or other technical legal arguments could be made on our anti-hero’s behalf by a good defense attorney – but he would most likely be indicted on every possible charge.
John Wick’s impressive revenge fueled crime spree would leave our favorite hitman facing a possible 453 years in prison and 72 life sentences without the chance of parole – why couldn’t they just leave his dog alone?
**All images are owned by Summit Entertainment**