Retired Officer Awarded $835,000 After 37 Days in Jail

A retired police officer missed significant family milestones, including his wedding anniversary and the birth of his granddaughter, while being jailed for 37 days. This imprisonment stemmed from his refusal to remove a Facebook meme related to Charlie Kirk’s death.

Larry Bushart, who is 61 years old, received a settlement of $835,000 after taking legal action against Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems.

“If we don’t respect the First Amendment today, we must be prepared to pay the price tomorrow,” he stated.

Following Kirk’s shooting in September 2025, Bushart shared several memes, one of which quoted a remark by then-President Donald Trump concerning another mass shooting. “We have to get through it,” Trump had said.

Although Weems recognized that some of Bushart’s posts were protected by free speech, he maintained that this particular meme incited fear about potential political violence in the community.

Bushart’s meme referenced Trump’s comments regarding a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, but the sheriff alleged it led the public to believe there was a real threat of a similar incident at Perry County High School in Tennessee. Weems remarked, “This has to do with a man posting this photo on a Perry County page and leading us to believe there was a hypothetical Perry County High School shooting that caused fear in the community. And we did something about it,” when speaking to WTVF-TV in October 2025.

When Bushart was apprehended, he was unaware of any threats against local schools. “At school?” he questioned. “I’m on Facebook. I didn’t threaten anyone.”

Weems admitted that law enforcement was aware the meme referenced a different school, but argued that the general public did not share that understanding.

Bushart was jailed, with a local judge assigning a $2 million bail. After spending 37 days behind bars, felony charges were dropped, leading to his release.

While incarcerated, he also lost his retirement position. After the settlement, Bushart expressed his satisfaction: “I am happy that my First Amendment rights have been vindicated. The freedom of citizens to participate in civil discourse is critical to a healthy democracy. I look forward to moving forward and spending time with my family.”

Kayleigh Davis, an attorney representing Bushart, stressed the ruling’s importance as a caution to government officials. “A nation’s commitment to free speech is most tested in times of turmoil and heightened tensions,” she explained. “If government employees fail that test, the Constitution exists to hold them accountable. Our hope is that Larry’s settlement sends a message to law enforcement agencies across the country that if they don’t respect the First Amendment today, they’re ready to pay the price tomorrow.”