Attempted Murder Defendant Dissatisfied With Attorney, Unable to Schedule Trial

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On Nov. 29, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn continued the hearing of a 32-year-old attempted murder defendant when it became clear neither he nor his lawyer were ready to schedule his trial.

Antionne Johnson is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, discharging firearms, armed carjacking, carjacking, theft between $1,500 and $25,000, firearm possession with a felony conviction, having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle in connection to a May 4, 2022, shooting.

Though the court found him incompetent to stand trial in December 2022, Johnson has since been restored to competency. Now his attorney, Roland Harris, is seeking an evaluation to present as part of a not criminally responsible (NCR) plea. The evaluation was supposed to happen as soon as Johnson’s competency was restored, but did not. Harris told Judge Phinn that mental health court would need at least 60 days to conduct the evaluation.

Johnson interjected to say that he “[didn’t] feel comfortable” with Harris representing him. Speaking of his 18 months of pretrial incarceration, he said, “It’s not making sense.”

Judge Phinn explained that since Harris was contracted by the Office of the Public Defender, it likely wouldn’t give Johnson a replacement. She said he could either retain private counsel or represent himself at trial.

When Johnson responded that he would call “his people” today to start arrangements for his private legal defense, Judge Phinn advised that retaining private counsel would only serve to push his trial date back further into 2024.

Judge Phinn continued the hearing to Jan. 3, 2024, in order to give Johnson an opportunity to find a new lawyer and more time to be evaluated for his NCR plea.

A Baltimore Police Department press release states that Johnson was arrested allegedly for shooting a 26-year-old man on the 2400 block of Greenmount Avenue.