Judge Schedules Trial in Absence of Plea Decision

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On Nov. 28, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn scheduled a 37-year-old vehicular manslaughter defendant’s trial despite her attorney’s belief that she would take a plea.

Tynisha Johnson is charged with vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter in connection to an April 13, 2022, incident.

The prosecutor offered Johnson six years, suspending all but six months of incarceration, for vehicular manslaughter. In addition to serving that six months, she would be required to serve three years of probation, perform 100 hours of community service to the elderly and complete driver’s education and safety courses.

Though Johnson and her attorney, Terry Lavenstein, needed more time to consider the offer, Lavenstein told the court he believed they would resolve this matter without having to go to trial.

Without a concrete decision on the plea offer, Judge Phinn nevertheless scheduled Johnson’s two-day trial to begin on March 19, 2024, before Judge Yvette M. Bryant.