Rule 229 - Motion for Acquittal(a) Motion for Judgment of Acquittal. Motions for directed verdict are abolished and motions for judgment of acquittal shall be used in their place. The court, on motion of a defendant or on its own motion, shall order the entry of judgment of acquittal of one or more offenses charged in the complaint or summons and complaint after the evidence on either side is closed, if the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses. If a defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of the prosecution's evidence is not granted, the defendant may offer evidence without having reserved the right. The court may not reserve ruling on a motion for judgment of acquittal made at the close of the prosecution's case. (b) Reservation of Decision on Motion. If a motion for judgment of acquittal is made at the close of all the evidence, the court may reserve decision on the motion, submit the case to the jury, and decide the motion either before the jury returns a verdict or after it returns a verdict of guilty or is discharged without having returned a verdict. (c) Motion after Verdict or Discharge of Jury. If the jury returns a verdict of guilty or is discharged without having returned a verdict, a motion for judgment or acquittal may be made or renewed within 14 days after the jury is discharged or within such further time as the court may fix during the 14-day period. If a verdict of guilty is returned, the court may on such motion set aside the verdict and enter judgment of acquittal. If no verdict is returned, the court may enter judgment of acquittal. It shall not be necessary to the making of such a motion that such a similar motion has been made prior to the submission of the case to the jury. Entire chapter amended June 30, 1988, effective 1/1/1989; (c) amended and adopted December 14, 2011, effective 7/1/2012.