Stand with Dr. Rex Crites Against Injustice

We are the family of Dr. Rex Crites and he needs our help!

In April of 2023, Rex was unconstitutionally arrested for lifting his shirt and exposing his legally concealed firearm after he was verbally attacked by 3 men who then advanced on his position. He NEVER touched his gun, nor did he make any threats to use it. According to the rules of disparity of force (3 on 1, he is much older than the aggressors, and he is a disabled USAF veteran), he was well within his rights to defend himself.

In August of 2024, Rex was convicted of Menacing (misdemeanor) and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (felony). The judge and jury, who are supposed to be impartial and are supposed to consider Rex innocent until proven guilty, convicted Rex of both charges and he faced a possible 6 years in prison and a possible $125,000 fine, all based on the word of the 3 best friends that were allowed to corroborate their story when they spoke with police. Additionally, the arresting officer testified at the trial that he willfully neglected to collect video surveillance requested by Rex and the cashier of the store that would prove Rex's innocence.

We are appealing this injustice to help exonerate Rex! Unfortunately, this is an expensive and grueling process, which is where you come in. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated and will go towards his appeal processes.

*Note: Thank you Dennis Perry for suggesting us to seek help and for recommending this platform. Thank you for all of your help with getting this process rolling. Your care, advice, and help have been invaluable.

UPDATE:

Praise the Lord! Rex had his sentencing hearing on October 25, 2024 and all thanks to God and the people that came to offer their presence and support, Rex received 3 years probation and 80 hours of community service. If all goes well, Rex will be done with probation in a year and a half. Rex is now home in Tennessee, where he will be able to complete all his terms of sentencing. Of course we are still pursuing the appeal and I will keep everyone updated on that as we move forward.

The whole sentencing experience was horrific, as the judge was, what some of the witnesses characterized as (and I completely agreed with them) unhinged. He was rude, aggressive, and made snide and cutting remarks that contradicted sworn statements from the trial; not at all the demeanor of a man that has been entrusted with being impartial, ethical, or unbiased.

He repeatedly called Rex a liar, and even went as far as to say that he didn’t think Rex should be a doctor and said that his patients shouldn’t trust him. He became aggressive with Rex and said that no one believes his story and asked Rex what he was REALLY out doing the night in question. When Rex reiterated that he had been out witnessing his faith in Jesus Christ to the cashier, the judge told him again that he was a liar and that there is no way he was out doing that, especially when he forgot his phone at home (which he ALWAYS does), and because he remembered his gun; he further insinuated that Rex had gone out that night, specifically to use his gun on minorities.

He told Rex that, “You are what American’s fear most”, he said that the idea of Rex being allowed to carry a gun “scared the heck out of him” (which means he isn’t unbiased and he should have recused himself at the start - should someone with arachnophobia try the case of a spider?), and he even went on and tried to attack Rex’s reputation as a veteran.

The judge tried VERY hard to find justification to send Rex away to jail or even prison, but every time, his false accusations and insinuations were defended and he was left with probation as the only logical option. Again, I truly believe that it was the presence of approximately 30 witnesses and God’s divine intervention that allowed Rex to come home. John 1:5 “And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it”.

Thank you again for all of your outpouring of love and support. I will continue to keep everyone updated on how things progress.