'Dark Knight' Weapons Suspect To Be Sentenced On March 21

The man who carried and various medical supplies into a Westlake movie theater to watch Dark Knight Rises will be sentenced on March 21 by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula.

Scott Smith, 38, of North Ridgeville, pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying concealed weapons last week. However, Sutula acquitted him of a third count of having weapons under a disability during a bench trial in her court.

The disability, in this case, was a drug dependency, according to prosecutors.

An off-duty officer inside the theater noticed Smith carrying the bag and followed him into an I-Max Theater that was showing the Batman movie.

Once inside the theater, the officer approached Smith and requested to see the bag he had in his possession. A search of the suspects bag revealed the weapons and supplies. Smith was then placed under arrest.

Smith's lawyer claimed the weapons were for self-defense.

The incident came on the heels of the July 20, 2012 shooting in Aurora, CO that left 12 dead and dozens injured.

Assistant County Prosecutor Aaron Brockler said that he would push to make sure that Smith, as part of his sentencing, does not get to keep the weapons that were seized from him.

"The Prosecutor’s Office does not believe the law should permit mentally ill drug abusers to assemble virtual arsenals and carry weapons into a Batman movie – clearly inspired by a mass murderer in a Colorado theater," Buckler said.

"The only hero here was the alert police officer who refused to accept the defendant’s lies, who searched his active shooter bag and located the hidden semi-automatic gun, two extra clips, knives, and survival gear. Thank goodness Officer Jeremiah Bullins acted before anyone was killed.

"We are going to vigorously oppose the return of this $100,000 plus arsenal and full body armor to this obviously disturbed and dangerous individual."