Judge Declares Mistrial in Attempted Murder Case Following Evidentiary Issues

By Brian Cohen [former] - August 1, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge declared a mistrial in the attempted murder trial of Dionte Johnson on Aug. 1 after defense counsel cited a discovery violation.

Defense attorney Natalie Finegar filed a motion to dismiss the defendant’s case before Judge Melissa M. Phinn, which the judge scheduled for Sep. 1 before Judge Christopher L. Panos.

A new trial was also scheduled to begin on Nov. 13, and is expected to last three days. 

“Actions have consequences,” said an assistant state’s attorney on July 31 during his opening statement for a jury trial before Judge Gregory Sampson.

The prosecutor urged the jury to pay close attention to all video evidence and witness testimony and “there will be no confusion” that the 26-year-old defendant is guilty of a shooting that left a 40-year-old victim quadriplegic.

“One fact is not in dispute, that [the victim] was shot. But that’s not why you’re here,” Finegar told the jury. The defense argued the case was “devoid” of the kind of proof required to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Johnson was charged in connection to an incident on March 27, 2022, on the 2300 block of Biddle Street. Surveillance footage showed three men getting into an argument with another individual. The argument ended abruptly when one of the three men shot the victim in the neck and upper back.

Johnson’s ID was found less than a block away from the scene.

The defense argued the found ID card was unrelated to the shooting as Johnson lived within walking distance from the scene.

Baltimore Police Department officers arrested Johnson after a brief foot pursuit 15 weeks following the incident.

Johnson is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime,  reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a felony conviction, possession of a firearm after having a conviction for controlled dangerous substance (CDS) possession, carrying a handgun on his person and discharging of a firearm.