BREMERTON – In an unusual trial case that used not one but two 12-member juries, Gold E. Locks was found not guilty of malicious mischief.

The two juries, however, were split on the charge of trespassing. Jury No. 1 found her not guilty of trespass, while jury No. 2 found her guilty.

The trial of Gold E. Locks was part of a Hawk Elementary Montessori mock trial held Nov. 6 at Bremerton Municipal Court. (Or, as the fourth, fifth and sixth-grade students called it, “Hawk Municipal Court.”) The mock trial was part of the classes’ studies on learning about how government worked.

Around 100 students and adults filled the courtroom for the mock trial.

“Frankly, this is probably the most people I’ve had in this courtroom,” said Bremerton Municipal Court Judge James Docter, who presided over the case.

Not only were a whopping 24 jury members involved, but 18 or so student lawyers for the defense and prosecution were on-hand.

“Wow this must be a very important case. Lots of lawyers,” Docter said.

“You’re Gold E. Locks?” Docter asked, looking at the accused, a girl with blonde pigtails wearing a flowery yellow dress.

“Yeah,” said Locks, flatly. (Locks, 10 years old, was also known by another name, alias Maggie Bailey.)

“Don’t worry, you are presumed innocent,” Docter said.

Locks had been accused of trespassing into the home of great big Pop A. Bear (Connor Brohman, 10) and his family, eating the Bear’s porridge, breaking one of the Bear’s chairs and then falling asleep inside the home.

Locks’ lawyers argued that she did not commit either crime, and said Lock had, in fact, been invited by the Bear family’s little baby bear, B. B. Bear (Aidan Saunders, 9). The defense said Locks knocked on the Bear’s door and got no response. Locks assumed B. B. Bear must have been asleep, so she let herself in and began eating porridge, as the two had planned. The chair broke accidentally.

Hawk Police Department Officer Hunter (Kenny Rohr, 9) said he was on patrol at the time of the incident. He was notified that a silent alarm had gone off at the Bear’s home and went to investigate where he found the broken chair and Locks asleep inside the home.

Evidence was presented – a chair with a broken leg. Closing arguments were made. Then the two juries deliberated raucously for about 20 minutes.

Around 100 people attended the mock trial.

Mom A. Bear (Tianna Marlin, 11) raises her hand to be sworn in.

Pop A. Bear (Connor Brohman, 10) is shown a chair held up by “attorney” Ruth Ross. Gold E Locks broke the chair when she sat on it. At right is Bremerton Municipal Court Judge James Docter.

B. B. Bear (Aidan Saunders, 9) raises his right hand to be sworn in.