Trial Scheduling Hearing Continued Yet Again for Murder Defendant, Counsels Unable to Agree on Date

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn  continued a defendant’s hearing on Feb. 23 after holding it a day, to give the counsel more time to agree on a trial date. 

During Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution stated that their primary detective will be out of the country from June through August. The prosecution suggested that the trial for Jerome Jermey Johnson not take place before August. 

Judge Phinn continued to urge the assistant state’s attorney to either reassign the case or find a date closer to the defendants Hick’s date of May 31. 

The defendant’s Hick’s date is his right to be tried within 180 days of his or his attorney’s first appearance in court.

On Wednesday, Johnson, 32, represented by Andre Mahasa, rejected a plea of life for first-degree murder, a consecutive life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and a consecutive 20 years for the use of a firearm during a felony violent crime.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Johnson is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of attempted armed robbery, five counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, five counts of using a firearm in a felony violent crime, possessing a firearm in a felony crime and attempted first-degree murder in connection to an incident that occurred on May 31, 2021.

Johnson and his co-defendant Steven Arthur are accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old Jameo McClean on the 1900 block of W. Fayette Street during an attempted robbery.

Arthur, 33, is scheduled to appear in court April 19, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

Judge Phinn rescheduled Johnson’s hearing for March 13.