So you're implying that they're all corrupt? From cop all the way up to the appeals court? That's a lot of people to be involved in a "conspiracy".
Corruption at every level isn't required, and is actually quite unlikely.
That being said, there are many other failures of character and process that contributed to Josh being found guilty, to include, but not limited to, hubris, apathy, lack of understanding of the law, and fear.
You may assign factors as you see fit to each party involved, but the point is that it was a perfect mix of these that created the travesty of justice that Josh was forced to go through.
Even without seeing the transcripts, I know two facts that tell me just about everything I need to know about Josh's "guilt".
1. The LEOs that cited Josh thought he was SUCH a danger to the public that they didn't arrest or even disarm him. This tells me they cited him not because he was a danger to anyone, but because they wanted him to just go away. Should he have? If so, maybe we all should.
2. The original judge that heard the case thought Josh was SUCH a danger to others that he threw it out.
Did the jury of mostly "gun owners" know and understand the purpose of the law under which Josh was convicted? Based upon my own conversations with your "average gun owner", probably not. Not when well over half believe that 9.41.270 makes it "technically" illegal to OC, and most of the rest have never even heard of it.