A defense attorney’s ongoing illness ultimately postponed the trials of Zion James Clayton and Antonio Louis Mackey on Jan. 6, despite objections from the defendants.
Both defendants were scheduled for separate trials, but were met by public defender Deborah Levi, who stood in for each defendant on behalf of their counsel, John Deros.
Clayton, a 25-year-old homicide defendant, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby on Tuesday when Levi explained that Deros was out sick due to “a number of vaccinations he received last week.” Defense counsel requested a postponement over Clayton’s objection, sending the case to postponement court before Judge Melissa M. Phinn.
The case was rescheduled for March 30 for five days before Judge Althea M. Handy.
The defendant is charged with first-degree murder and additional weapons charges in connection to a fatal shooting on Jan. 24, 2025, on the 3000 block of Oakley Avenue. Anthony McMichael, the 36-year-old victim, was taken to Sinai Hospital for treatment and later pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.
Just down the hall in Judge Barry G. Williams‘ courtroom, Mackey faced the same roadblock. The prosecutor offered the 22-year-old attempted homicide defendant to plead guilty to attempted first-degree murder for 20 years and using a firearm in a crime of violence for a concurrent five years without parole. Mackey would also be required to register as a gun offender; however, he rejected the offer.
Charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, Mackey was arrested after video footage allegedly placed him, wearing a distinctive necklace, at the scene of the crime on the 200 block of Clay Street on Jan. 29, 2025.
His case was previously postponed in October 2025 when Deros fell ill.
During Tuesday’s proceeding, Judge Williams asked Mackey whether he wanted to accept the plea offer, proceed to trial and represent himself or agree to a postponement. Levi and Mackey agreed that the defendant hasn’t seen enough discovery to decide on the plea having to review “tons of video evidence,” possibly incriminating jail calls and a detective’s case file.
Although initially pushing to go to trial, Mackey agreed to the postponement, which was scheduled for three days, beginning March 10, before Judge Williams. Levi assured the defendant and Judge Williams that she will work to get additional evidence in Mackey’s hands as soon as possible.
