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By
Jade Tabbs [former]
, Cooper Griffiths [former] - July 22, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On July 20, before Baltimore City Circuit Judge Charle H. Dorsey III, the state’s attorney, filed a motion for a protective order due to safety concerns for the state’s witnesses.
The defendant, Ernest Hudson, is alleged to be one of two leaders of the Hoover Criminal Gang.
According to the assistant state’s attorney, Hudson, 37, had been caught on a wire-tap organizing and conducting violence which further proves their argument that Hudson and the other members of Hudson Criminal Gang are very dangerous.
The defense attorney, Gregory Fischer, objected and argued that by filing this motion, the assistant state’s attorney was trying to interfere with the defense’s ability to cross-examine witnesses. Fischer referred to it as an “abuse of discretion” and stated that it would harm Fischer’s right to a fair trial.
Fischer also argued how the assistant state’s attorney had no substantial evidence that Hudson had been sending or even organizing for threatening messages to be sent during his time incarcerated.
The assistant state’s attorney countered this by arguing that many of the codefendants who are witnesses for the state were initially hesitant to come forward due to fear of their safety. The prosecutor also cited how Hudson had been caught bragging about being in several shootouts.
Judge Dorsey III granted the motion for the protective orders for the witnesses and cited how the defendant does have a history of violence.
The witnesses will be available to be questioned by the defense 30 days before the trial begins.
No trial date has been set.
According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Hudson is charged with participating in a first-conspiracy to distribute narcotics, common law conspiracy, criminal organization, attempted first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.