Michael Johnson was transported from the Baltimore City Detention Center to the Circuit Court of Baltimore City in downtown today with his hands shackled in the front. The highly anticipated arraignment only took a few moments as his attorney, Russell Neverdon entered a plea of “not guilty” for his client on charges that he murdered 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes, and requested that Michael Johnson be tried before a jury of his peers. When asked if he understood the charges against him, Johnson simply nodded his head with his face blank and expressionless. The judge ordered Michael to speak up so the court’s microphone could hear him, and Johnson uttered “yes sir” in a extremely low audible. The judge, state’s attorney Goldberg, and Russell Neverdon all agreed on an August 13 trial date. Just like that with very little fanfare, Johnson was whisked away from the court room by Correctional Officers. This short hearing had brought a nearly standing room only audience to the Charles Street courthouse on the first hot and muggy day of the summer. Supporters of the Barnes family garnered signature purple, which have practically embodied the honors teen’s favorite color. Others in attendance appear to be in support of Johnson himself. As the quest for justice for Phylicia Barnes begins to take center stage, many believe there are no guarantees that true justice will ever be served in this senseless and tragic case. Attorney Neverdon continues to convey that Michael unequivocally denies any involvement in the killing of young Phylicia. The attorney said that the state’s case fails to connect the dots on exactly how Michael allegedly asphyxiated the studious child. Neverdon says that Phylicia’s body was void of any trauma and believes that her death would have been best ruled as unknown. He went on to say that although he has read police reports alleging that his client killed Phylicia, he has not seen the charging documents against his client. It’s unclear whether Neverdon’s comments are mere posturing tactics carefully scripted not to disclose his defense strategy, but he has already filed a MOTION FOR DISCOVER in the case and at some point he will have the state’s entire case against Johnson. Although the discovery paperwork is on record with the court, it’s not unusual that the State’s Attorney hasn’t produced it for the defense’s review at this early stage of the process. Moreover, the state’s position is best served minimizing the disclosure of specific details related to a charging document until the absolute last minute. Murder cases can create fallout that could potentially reveal witnesses against a defendant charged in a capitol crime. The identity of potential witnesses are often concealed until trial. These measures are typically used to avoid retaliation by defendants seeking to silence witnesses that present damaging evidence against them. Johnson’s pretrial judge has already stated for the record that he believes Michael is a danger to society, especially those closest to him. That comment was very telling as it is believed that parties close to Michael’s own camp may in fact be state’s witnesses against him. The public will not learn whether any of the motions before the court in this case has in fact been granted, most are only procedural filings rudimentary for most criminal cases, but it will be very interesting to learn what information Nevrdon wants stricken from the record in this case. I have already discussed the possibility of any information obtained by Russell Barnes’ brother, Baltimore Police Officer Sgt, Jackson. If any of the details contained in the state’s case against Johnson actually derived from Jackson’s intervention, it poses a dilemma and the defense could summarize that the statements are hearsay or were illegally obtained. Jackson wasn’t acting in a formal capacity at the time, and it’s doubtful that a sitting judge will permit such testimony in this case  because of the obvious conflict of interest. Also, it isn’t clear how the Chemist will be used. There has been no mention of any forensic evidence, at least publicly, in the case this far. Obviously Phylicia’s toxicology findings has some bearing on the state’s case against Johnson. The child’s mother believes her daughter may have been recovering from alcohol or drug usage she encountered during a party the night before the morning of December 28, 2010 when Johnson allegedly pounced on the child. The state just may have also come to that conclusion as well. Perhaps the biggest mystery is the MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND CHARGES. No one other than Johnson has been mention in the death of Phylicia Barnes, and the only purpose of such a filing is to combine criminal charges against multiple defendants of a crime. I suspect that the state has turned someone involved in the child’s murder and plan to use them in court, after some plea agreement of sort, and connect the dots which supports charging documents that alleges Johnson’s involvement in this murder case. Justice continues for Phylica Barnes in this tragic Case. A Barnes teen support’s T-shirt summoned it best: “Gone but not forgotten,” it said. “The good die young.”

Credits: The Baltimore Sun

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

In just two days Michael Johnson will appeal before a Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge facing a murder charge, that he killed Monroe, N.C. honors student Phylicia Simone Barnes, and motions filed by the State and Johnson’s Lawyer indicate that others may also appear for unknown charges. A review of Baltimore City Circuit Court Case #112116013 shows that MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND OFFENSES was filed on May 23, 2012 in the Barnes murder case. The procedure is used when attorneys plan to try cases that include multiple defendants facing the exact same charges in which the parties are usually co-defendants in a crime. The only logical  purpose for such maneuvering is to consolidate the State’s Case when a defendant has turned State’s witness against other parties to a criminal act. Although no one else has been publicly mentioned in the Barnes teen killing, the motion is not a standard procedure, and the court filing shows the State’s hand which may potentially lead to others standing trial along side Michael Johnson. Attorneys usually do not file such documents unless they plan on introducing witness testimony from defendants who either corroborate their case or present damaging culpable evidence against at least one defendant link to a crime. At the very least, it’s a reasonable expectation that the eventual trial will contain charges against someone other than Johnson. Also the court file shows that a NOTICE OF PLEA BARGAIN POLICY was also filed with the court on May 23, 2012. That motion is a standard practice as many criminal cases result in a Plea Deal of some sort. The motion serves to advise defendants of their rights under the law, and for the most part advising defendants that the Plea isn’t binding because the presiding judge has the authority to reject such tentative agreements. The Plea Agreement Policy filing doesn’t necessarily mean Johnson is in negotiations with the state. In fact the document’s existence along with the “Joint Trial” motion tends to point to a co-defendant or a culpable witness taking the stand against Michael. The case file also appears to be framing the direction in which the state’s case is heading against Johnson. The presence of motions for an “expert witness” and a DEMAND FOR CHEMIST filing points to a rather scientific aspect of the case against Johnson. My significant other, who is a Forensic Science Teacher, tells me that there must be some DNA or other Forensic evidence in the case’ discovery that links Johnson and possibly others to the crime. The need for a chemist in the Barnes teen murder illustrates that something was found during the toxicology testing when young Phylicia Barnes’ body was examined by the state’s coroner. Why else would there be a need for such a scientific professional other than to explain in court what authorities learned was in the child’s blood system? If my assumptions are accurate, I’m sure that part of the state’s case will almost certainly disclose whether the child had drugs, alcohol, and other substances in her system upon her death. There has been wide speculation that something may have happened to young Phylicia during a party the night before her disappearance. With that being said, the state may have witnesses who have already spelled out exactly what went down, and might support the reason a potential Plea Deal could be in the works. I can see one of the involved parties flipping to safe their own neck and “rating out” Michael Johnson. Another interesting motion that was filed in the case is a MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253. This portion of the Maryland Annotated Code was a good read, clearly demonstrating that Johnson’s attorney wants some of the evidence against his client thrown out, and I would suspect that it’s information obtained when Russell Barnes’ brother (a Baltimore Police Sgt.) showed up at Deena’s apartment and began questioning people before a formal complaint was even filed with the Baltimore Police when Phylicia first went missing. None the less, the motion depicts damaging evidence against Johnson  so sever that it merits his attorney seeking to have it concealed. So, barring physical evidence against Johnson, and there appears to be some, the state’s case obviously has some other solid evidence that proves Michael Johnson was at least involved in the murder of Phylicia Barnes. The courts filing history proves at the very least, some of the people close to Johnson have made statements against him, which is something a judge alluded to during Michael’s Bail Hearing when he stated, “the defendant maybe a danger to society especially those closest to him” while remanding Johnson to custody without Bail. So, the cookies just may have started crumbling in the silence that once plagued this murder case. On the surface the case appears to be weak, but a review of the case’ court filing history appears to unveil that the state hasn’t exactly played it’s trump card just yet. Read the court filing history of the Barnes murder case here: The State’s Case Against Michael Johnson. 

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

My late father was a man of few words.  Most of the time when he communicated to me and my brothers it was with a stern look. There was never an open discussion because my father’s house was a total dictatorship. He worked hard long hours and retired home with his family daily without fail. Dad hated noise and you could always tell when he was around, because all of his kids became very quiet. Any child in his home that wasn’t compliant was dealt with swiftly and harshly. He didn’t care whose child it was, if they didn’t listen he would literally knock them out. Needless to stay, dad was firm, a disciplinarian, and was present in the home my entire childhood. I don’t even recall a single instance where dad stayed out overnight. His kids were his life and mostly as a result of the childhood he endured personally. My father’s mom died before he was even a year old, and with an irresponsible father of his own, he would find himself passed around, left at homes with woman his dad simply dated, resulting in him hanging in the streets, and eventually he ended up living with old Ms. Hattie Johnson who knew his family. Hattie Mae is what they called her. By the time Ms. Hattie took my father in he was practically caring for her because she was very old. They say my grand father worked the railroads in those days and would be gone for months at a time. As dad matured, he became too much for old Ms. Hattie to handle, and he began to run the streets again. Most of what dad learned in his youth was taught to him by a man name Joe. Dad said Joe was a Hobo (homeless man) who lived beneath the Jones Falls Expressway in East Baltimore. The way my father tells the story, is that he befriended Joe out of compassion for him. He would often bring food that Ms. Hattie prepared for him and give it to Joe. Mr. Joe took dad under his wing and taught him survival skills, and how to cope with the mean streets. Dad said the truant officers would chase him on a regular basis. In those days children weren’t allowed to roam the streets of Baltimore during school hours. They would never catch him though. My father said he would climb the metal siding of the Howard Street Bridge and throw rocks at the truant police, and after a while they would simply leave him be. My brothers and me used to find those stories comical, but to dad it wasn’t a laughing matter. He was intelligent enough to understand that Ms. Hattie wasn’t his legal guardian, with his mom deceased, father absent from his life, he knew he would end up in some foster home, and besides he was worried about who would look after hobo Joe. In all reality, Joe was the only real father that dad ever knew. As time went on the local police that patrolled the neighborhood became familiar with dad and would either make him go home to Ms. Hattie if they caught him in the streets after dark or they would take him there themselves. When the street lights came on Ms. Hattie could be heard yelling Sonnie (her nickname for dad). Dad said that old woman would stay up a many of nights standing in the doorway of the house where he lived with her on Howard Street waiting until he arrived home safely. Dad’s father would have his friends bring money over to Ms. Hattie’s place to give her for his care. Dad said that always troubled him and he wondered why his father couldn’t come by himself. My father later learned that his father was living with another family in the Lafayette Projects in southeast Baltimore. He went by there one day and approached his dad about not being man enough to come bring money himself. That exchange culminated in my father throwing a brick at him and being chased through the projects by my grandfather. When my grandfather sent money my dad would through it in the streets out of retaliation and resentment for him. Ms. Hattie eventually passed on and my father would live with hobo Joe under the Falls for a while (a couple of years they say) until my grandfather finally convinced his wife to allow dad to come stay with them. Dad and his step mother never got along. She would have a fit if his father spent money on him and didn’t provide for her children who were not biologically my grandfather’s. The conflict between dad and his stepmother forced him back into the streets, and it wasn’t until he began dating the woman who would become my mother, that dad gained any stability in his life again. Her name was Adel White, they would eventually wed, and rear four boys. My late mother began to impact my father in many ways. She was able to convince a family friend to give my dad his first job, and mom said she began to manage his earnings for him, making sure he had under clothe,s and other essentials that he wasn’t getting from his stepmother. Mom told me she met hobo Joe too, and they both provided for him before he passed away. My parents became inseparable, as some of my relatives tell the story, mom would often break curfew, and stay out in the streets for days at a time just to be with my dad. I have heard stories about how my great-grandmother (who’s last name was also Johnson) would beat my mother viciously and tirelessly for her conduct and running the streets, but mom would still stay out pass curfew to be with my father. At some point grandma Johnson gave in and even allowed my father to live with them. So, my parents, in their mid-teens began living in the home of an old fashion christian woman who had 9 daughters and a son of her own. The rest was history. A few years later, my parents who were both uneducated, had their first child. When my father learned that mom was pregnant with my brother Gary, he proposed to my mother and they wed a few weeks later. They raised us with literally nothing, and for what they lacked financially we received in wisdom, their life experiences, and their love. Dad fostered a lot of pain, sadness, and depression all those years. Dad never overcame his childhood, it hurt him until his very last breath, it was obvious, and he was determined that we would never endure such strife in our lives. My father was a very honest man with strong convictions, his guidance was predicated on our eventual ability to survive on our own. In short, he provided his kids with intangibles like examples of work ethic, loyalty, courage, compassion, and manhood. “Be a man, be your own man” was the most consistent message he gave us all. It’s funny though, realizing that we are all alive today, we could never collectively be the man who my father was, and he left this earth having completed his work not having asked anyone for a damn thing. Dad’s story has always been a motivating factor in my life simply because I felt his pain, I lived through it with him, and he constantly reminded me that failure wasn’t an option. Thanks to my father’s guidance I have always been able to identify with good men and listen to them. There have been many such men that helped me along the way. However, it was having a practical example of a good man for me to be able to make the distinction. In my early adult years when I began to have children of my own, I ran into obstacles and sought my dad’s advice.  My father knew my passion and my mentality, and the advice he gave me seemed odd considering the full brunt of his life. He made me promise him before he passed on to be patient, remain distant, and wait on God. I believe my father was concerned that I would do something that resulted in my death or incarceration, and I continue to keep his promise at tremendous personal loss and pain of my own to this day. They say you should never judge a book by its cover, and unless you have walked a mile in a man’s shoes you should never pass judgement on him. I am grateful for having been taught to understand the plight of others, having compassion, and the desire to make a differences so that someone less fortunate may prosper. My dad’s stepmother’s kids all went on to become educated professionals while my father remained in poverty. Dad never allowed that to deter him. He simply did what he had to do, the best way he knew how,raising his kids himself, and for that I envy him for having the courage and desire to be a good man. On this Father’s Day I pay homage to my dad, thanking him for teaching me to be a champion for people, and to be a man. I love you dad and I miss you. Happy Father’s Day!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

It’s just a week away before Michael Johnson appears before a Baltimore Judge again, facing charges that he killed pretty little Phylicia Barnes over the Christmas Holiday of 2010, and people are beginning to talk about the Monroe, N.C. honors student’s murder case again. The main point of interest that many within the public have been discussing in Social media, is who was actually left alone with the child that fateful day she went missing from her older half-sister’s northwest Baltimore apartment, and people are also asking why haven’t the Johnson males been actively involved during any aspect of this entire senseless tragedy that resulted in the Barnes teen being found floating nude in a northern Maryland river. The answers to many of these questions are hidden in the comments that Deena & Kelly Barnes made during the “Peas In Their Pod” broadcast, and  statements made by Bryan Barnes along with others connected to the case. Deena Barnes never made it clear who was actually there that morning prior to her departure for work. In fact she never never even made it clear whether young Phylicia was asleep, awake, or alive for that matter. Her comments were confusing to say the least. She did confirm that the youngest Johnson male (Delaney who is Michael Johnson’s baby brother) was there with Phylicia that morning, but further discussion during the show revealed that their may have in fact been at least three Johnson males at the apartment during the early morning hours that day.  Deena became indecisive, initially stating that Michael Johnson came by the apartment that morning to do laundry, but later said he was there to pick up his little cousin, and changed that account to picking up his little brother. We have since learned that a Johnson (William “Krazy” Johnson) cousin was also living there with Deena. Thgough William has denied this claim here on TPC Blog, it’s been disputed by Bryan Barnes himself. During a TPC Interview with Phylicia’s older half-brother, Bryan told TPC that William lived at Deena’s place, had his own room, and even stated that William arrived at the apartment that day while the police were gathering information about Phylicia’s whereabouts. Bryan said William was accompanied by two other males who just went into his room without even inquiring about the police’ presence at the apartment. This is something Bryan and I have both expressed concern about. It simply is rather peculiar that these young men would conduct themselves in such a detached fashion considering the severity of the moment. I have continuously expressed concern about how unnatural it is for a man to be unmoved knowing that a child has gone missing in a home in which he lived. There is something drastically wrong with that picture.  In fact none of the Johnsons have displayed any interest or even the slightest concern related to what happened to Phylicia. There has never been any sightings or reports of any of them participating in searches for the child, and barring William “Krazy” Johnson appearing here on this Blog, none of them have given public interviews proclaiming the innocence of themselves. Why? Some may attempt to rationalized that the cops focus on them may be the result of their lack of involvement, but they have all claimed to love Phylicia like a little sister. A person with nothing to hide and who is in fact not guilty of her murder would seemingly be screaming at the top of their lungs exclaiming their innocence of any involvement in the child’s killing what so ever. We haven’t witnessed this sort of posture from the entire Johnson clan. Even if they were upset about how they are being handled by the cops, if they possessed genuine love and concern for Phylicia, they would dismiss any suspicion on themselves, and offer what ever assistance they could to help solve her murder.  Instead, they have all remained silent while displaying a complete lack of interest about the case. None of us within the public are fooled though, because when we look at some of the Twitter tweets from them, like Glen Johnson when he tweeted, “Watch what you tweet the man is watching”, it’s clear that they have something to hide, and they are all willing to cover for each other. People wonder how a pretty little girl like Phylicia could go missing and end up murdered with all of these supposed man hanging around Deena’s apartment. Usually when you have a close relationship with females, their personal safety is automatically paramount, but that’s of course if your dealing with real men. All of these guys possess a boy mentality. Firstly, to get your self off  by running around with a 16-year-old girl nude is childish and perverse, and to pick on her while the probability of her causing harm to you being none existent demonstrates per cowardice. We may never know who Deena Barnes left Phylicia alone with on that day, but hopefully the upcoming trial will get to the bottom of what happened to this child. If any of these males were real men, they would come forward and start talking to help close this case, even if it means disclosing the faults of loved ones. The fact that this hasn’t occurred already speaks volumes about the caliber of people Deena Barnes associated with, and allowed unabated access to her kid sister. even if the state fails to successfully obtain a conviction in the Barnes teen Murder Case, Deena Barnes and all of her friends will forever be guilty of failing to properly care for a minor child on their watch, and I hope their days upon this earth will forever be haunted by her memory.

The highly anticipated Summer Jam Concert hit a snag over the weekend when HOT 97 Disc Jockey Peter Rosenberg got on the microphone and made a reference to “real Hip-Hop”, while completely disrespecting Nicki Minaj with a remark about her “Star  Ship” recording. The comment which implied that Minaj wasn’t a true Hip-hop artist wasn’t received well by the Hottest Pop Artist in the business. Rap recording artist Lil’ Wayne made the decision to pull Minaj and the entire YMCMB crew from the event which sent shock waves around New York City where the venue premiered. Listeners have had mixed reactions to Minaj not performing. Minaj called DJ Funk Master Flexed and offered her personal perspective on why she didn’t perform. Flex also seemingly co-signed Rosenberg’s comments making an inference about Minaj not “touching down in Jersey”. However, personalities, industry figures, and fans alike felt that the Rosenberg comment was completely uncalled for. Let’s face it, if Rosenberg, Flex, and who ever else didn’t feel that Minaj was a true Hip-Hot Artist, they all should have had the professional astuteness and wisdom to realize that during the concert wasn’t exactly the ideal time to vent such a subject perspective. Also, the Rosenberg comment referencing Minaj disrespected Young Money, and just about every Hip-Hop artist who has done work with Minaj. Was Rosenberg saying that Lil’ Wayne and others aren’t real Hip-Hop Artist? In fact, who in the hell is this guy? Last time I checked Peter Rosenberg was a white Jew boy from Maryland trying to blend in and be down with black people. I mean, who really takes this guy serious? Before I even get into how awkward it looks for a wannabe black Jew  to even be on a stage at a Hip-Hop Concert, I’ll simply address how unprofessional he actually looked, and the effect it will most certainly impact the HOT 97 Radio Station. Some how Rosenberg forgot that he was a Radio Personality, a Professional, and whether he thought dissing Minaj would further embellish his “street cred” or not, Minaj was a featured artist for the concert that his employer was promoting. Does Rosenberg have that much juice at HOT 97? His comment was stupid, personal, counter productive, disrupted the business at hand, and he should have realized that  it was inappropriate during the venue. Now he has been reduced to whining like a fucking little bitch during his broadcast airtime, trying to justify his bonehead debacle, and continuously defending his weak ass rationalization for disappointing the 10’s of thousands of fans that paid money to hear Minaj and others perform. If we simply keep it real, we realize that HOT 97 and the entire Rosenberg hype forces us to arrive at an honest resolve that Rosenberg has no place in any serious discussion about Hip-Hop or Black Music in general. It bothers me to see individuals from other ethnicities try to make a name for themselves on the backs of highly talented artist within the African-American community, the very same artist whose craft facilitates a platform for  assholes like a Peter Rosenberg to even exist. As an original follower of Hip-Hop from the days of Kurtis Blow, I will admit that Minaj’s style deviates from traditional Hip-Hop, but so has every other rap artist’ music in the post rap pioneer era within the entire music genre. Nicki Minaj is talented and just happens to be the hottest artist in music right now. I didn’t say rap music, I said music, and such a personality deserves the respect that a music artist of her caliber is due. Moreover, not only did Peter Rosenberg disrespect a music icon, but he also disrespected a black woman, and I personally do not appreciate a white dude thinking that he has rose to such stature which would allow him to get away with it. Fuck Peter Rosenberg, and if HOT 97 had courage, they would fire his dumb ass. Your not funny Rosenberg and I will excuse myself from listening to HOT 97 until your ass is no longer employed there. For the record since we are talking about real shit, real Jews don’t listen to rap music or go to Rap Concerts.  Free Palestine mother fucker. Sit your fake ass down some where . Keep it real!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

There is just a little over three weeks before Michael Johnson faces a Baltimore District Court on charges that alleges he killed 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes. This highly anticipated murder case is just in the beginning stages of its process, and what remains to be seen is hard evidence supporting the state’s claim that the Monroe, N.C. honors teen was strangled or suffocated at the hands of the child’s older half-sister’s boyfriend. Prosecutors revealed during a previous court appearance that Michael Johnson was the last person who saw the child alive, that he was seen struggling to carry a large tub (big enough to carry a person the child’s size) out of Deena Barnes’ Northwest Baltimore apartment around the time he alleges he last saw her, and that the state believes Michael killed Phylicia at that location. Although the state has remained extremely tight-lipped about the case, many are praying that the case against Johnson bares more culpable evidence against him as the case progresses through the process. So far what the public has learned is no smoking gun. These limited details depicting how Johnson supposedly killed the child are mere circumstantial, and may not even pass the standard which is required to forward the case to the Circuit Court of Baltimore. The state has to convince the presiding judge that there is more than enough evidence to send the case to trial. Barring solid evidence implicating Michael Johnson’s direct involvement in this murder could result in a jury never even being seated for the pretty little girl’s murder case, and Johnson could walk on June 28, 2012 which is his next scheduled court date. Unless there is DNA evidence that exist pointing to Johnson, eye-witness accounts, or other forensics that would point to incriminating evidence against him, the state’s case just may fall flat. This is just simply a bitter pill to swallow considering Baltimore’s record regarding murder cases that have slipped through the cracks because of the lack of rudimentary evidence that must arrive beyond a reasonable doubt for a sworn jury to come back with a conviction. Sadly though, it’s not even iron clad that good evidence would even seal the deal for the state when we consider the history of Baltimore juries. One hurdle the state must climb is explaining the text messages between the Barnes teen and Johnson which exceeds 500. The defense will most certainly argue that the teen had a close relationship with Johnson, and the nude photos of the child streaking nude with Johnson and others, only serves to garner momentum for his defense, because some say it shows just how intimate or close of a relationship that existed between them, and just may imply that it’s doubtful that Johnson had motive to kill the child. However, despite these perspectives from some people, the child’s mother and others from within the  public believe that the child was exploited by her own half-sister, and that their relationship took a turn for the worst when Deena Barnes exposed the child to a culture that permitted Johnson and others to see the pretty little girl completely nude which just may have led to motive for Johnson and others to aggressively pursue Phylicia sexually. Unfortunately, that state must prove that Johnson desired Phylicia sexually, or some other motive existed for him to want to harm the child. Janice Sallis-Mustafa has already expressed that Johnson raped her daughter by stating, “why else would he kill her”? There must be something else out there that exist for a state convened Grand Jury to decide on an indictment of Johnson in the Barnes murder case. I just don’t see the state jumping from a seemingly cold case posture to deciding that Michael Johnson is the killer. What do they have, because what we know so far doesn’t prove anything other that circumstantial facts, and to convict Johnson of murder the state needs more than him struggling with a large tub, and 500 text messages to convict him. So it will be very interesting to see other details emerge  that will actually establish Johnson as the killer. In fact the state’s case appeared to suffer a blow before it was even made public that Johnson would be charged for the Barnes teen murder. The Lead investigator in the case had recently been suspended for misconduct related to a similar case involving his own daughter prior to the arrest of Johnson. Daniel Thomas Nicholson IV, had been the lead investigator on the case of Phylicia Barnes until allegations surfaced that he used his badge to enter homes while off duty to search for his daughter who had run away from home. His misconduct debacle just may have been a factor in Johnson being charged in a seemingly hurried fashion. Some say his departmental issues could potentially hurt the Barnes case as his character and credibility just might weigh heavy on the jury, which is an ingredient for failure when considering the case would be heard in front of a Baltimore Jury. Nicholson is also reportedly facing criminal domestic violence charges, that claim he assaulted his daughter at his Baltimore County home. The news of these details adds an even more awkward element to a case that city police officials have already said was a “very complexing case ” in which they have encountered in recent memory. It’s a tremendous blow to the state’s case because Nicholson will more than likely have to take the stand and testify at the Johnson trial. Moreover, just when it appeared that the Barnes case had hit its lowest, Baltimore’s State Attorney appointed one of the weakest prosecutors in the business to try the Barnes murder case. For some reason State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein has entrusted this case to one of his least effective trial attorneys, one who has long lacked a reputation for hard work.  It’s the same prosecutor who lost the case against Eric Stennett for murdering Police Officer Kevon Gavin in 2001.  After fleeing the scene of a shooting, Stennett sped through city streets at 80 m.p.h. and crashed into Gavin’s police cruiser, causing a fiery, fatal explosion. While there were multiple problems with how the police handled evidence in the shooting and crash, even the defense attorney conceded that Stennett was at least guilty of manslaughter in the officer’s death.  But the jury acquitted him completely, stunning everyone. More recently, in 2010, the same prosecutor tried a murder case against a city police officer who shot a fleeing theft suspect in the back.  Another acquittal. With this prosecutor’s dismal record in high-profile cases , Bernstein is taking a big chance.  Maybe he expects that Phylicia Barnes is so sympathetic a victim that a jury will be loath to let her accused murderer go, whoever prosecutes. Many have asked why Berstein is taking such a huge risk with such sketchy evidence the state has offered thus far. Followers of this case should dig in for a long ride for a case that has played out in the typical fashion that only Baltimore City can produce. If Johnson walks it would be even more tragic than the circumstances that resulted in the lost of such a promising child. We pray for justice for her and the Mustafa Family, and the day of resolution is approaching. Will the state let us all down? We can only wait now for the process to take its course. May God be with us all!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

I must admit that it’s been difficult to endure all of the racist comments by Conservatives, and Gun Advocates that I’ve been reading all over the internet. Many of the comments appear to derive from suburban creeps who fear just about everything in society, and believe that they have the right to bust a cap in everything moving when they perceive fear. You know the kind of people who I’m talking about. The people who lock their car door when a vehicle occupied by a black person pulls along side of them, the little old white woman who clutches her purse tightly when she finds herself alone in an elevator with a man of color, and the kind of people who have never even interacted with minorities while accepting the notion that every person of color is a violent purse snatching thug. The mentality of this group of people hinges on bias, racism, and pure ignorance. Their ideology about this subject is sickening and many are willing to shell out cash to support even the most obvious criminal to help bolster their philosophy related to race hate, privilege, and social status within American culture. The case at issue here is how many within the public have rallied around George Zimmerman, the self-appointed Neighborhood Watch Captain that gunned down an unarmed Trayvon Martin back in February. Almost from the start our country was divided on whether or not Zimmerman was justified in using deadly force on the Martin teen. In general, the vast majority within the public had issue with the account of the only survivor of the conflict that occurred that fateful night. We can debate the merits of this case until the cows come home, but the fact remains that Zimmerman’s failure to use common sense and listen to a request from a trained 911 dispatcher, the encounter that lead to a fatal shooting would not have ever happened. More importantly, the 911 tape that captures the fatal movement with the sound of screams of desperation, a gun shot, and the immediate halt of the cries after the shot was fired clearly demonstrates from a rational person’s perspective that the audible was more than likely coming from the slain youth.  Though the facts were cloudy in the beginning, most of the public didn’t buy Zimmerman’s claims of self-defense in the face of  serious bodily harm or death. Like myself, I believe most of the public felt that Zimmerman killed the Martin teen in cold blood. Even if we consider Zimmerman’s claims, they remain illogical, falls on the most generous consideration regarding self-defense because the teen was unarmed, and while he appeared to have sustained contusions about his head the injuries were non-life threatening. In short, it appears that Zimmerman confronted the Martin kid, got his ass kick, pride busted, and in anger fired his gun killing the teen. I believe Zimmerman was extremely cocky in deciding to use deadly force, because he manifested a mindset that he could get away with it. His previous successful encounters with the criminal justice system couple with his former Judge daddy, helped fuel such arrogance. However, even though his “stand your ground” claim was doubtful at best, there are people within the public who still bought into his bullshit, and did so literally to the tune of $204,000 dollars which was generated from a website Zimmerman created to aid his legal defense funding.  The money was placed in his personal account where Zimmerman even used a portion of it for his living expenses prior to his Bail Hearing, but during that hearing the Zimmermans claimed that they were broke, and told the court that most of the resources that would be used for his bond would come from a loan off his parent’s mortgage. “That was a blatant lie” the prosecutor’s office told a Seminole County judge who agreed, and revoked Zimmerman’s Bail. Additionally, not only was the court made aware of the funds during and after the bail hearing, Mrs. Zimmerman also lied to the court telling the judge she was unaware of how much money had been received in donations, which is simply not very credible because the Zimmermans had already transferred the funds  to their account and used a portion of it prior to the hearing, and their actions which their attorney called “an oversight” is in fact a violation of Florida State Law. Here is Florida’s Statue on false information to the court during Bail hearings:

These recent developments in the Zimmerman criminal court case comes on the heels of other disturbing details that depict George Zimmerman’s intent on misleading the court. Prosecutors also recently disclosed jail house audio tapes which reveal Zimmerman discussing a second Passport she discovered, with Zimmerman overheard telling his wife, “you hold on to that”. A condition of Zimmerman’s Bail release was that he turn over his passport to authorities, a routine order by the court to eliminate the potential of international flight risk by defendants who seek to avoid prosecution of criminal charges. The established attempt by Zimmerman to conceal the existence of another passport should weigh heavy on the continuance of his bail if any at all by the court. Moreover, the money they claimed they forgot about along with the passport element of Zimmerman’s Bail Hearing has cast even more credibility on Zimmerman’s character as well  as his candor related to this entire case. Quite frankly, George Zimmerman is bare face liar that believes his social status and family’s political influence will get him out of this situation. Social Media moguls following this case have dug up Myspace comments by Zimmerman from 2005 which show him making racial comments about Mexicans with in his former Manassas, Virginia community. The findings are very telling, especially since the 911 tapes from the night he killed the Martin teen has him captured clearly saying, “fucking coons”, which could result in a Federal Indictment for a hate crime, and could result in a prison term of 25 years to life. A little research on George Zimmerman will also disclose tweets and other comments on Social Media with him bragging about how he beat previous criminal charges of assaulting a police officer, and domestic violence. “Every time I go to court I beat it”, is what he exclaimed in one rant on Social Media, and offers a glimpse inside Zimmerman’s invincible mindset that he personally fosters. Zimmerman appears to believe that his extremely clever, more so than the police, and his own attorney. Fortunately though, some of his lies are finally catching up to him, and it now remains to be seen if his pie faced followers will come to grips with the credibility issues that continue to linger around him. Hell, even the cops thought that Zimmerman should have been charged that night. The conscious public that knows all about  how the game is played within the American Criminal Justice System haven’t forgotten that Florida’s Attorney General drove over 50 miles to intervene in this case that resulted in Zimmerman not being arrested that night, and more than likely was a direct result in Judge daddy picking up the phone and calling in a favor for his boy. “Oversight” my ass, lock him back up before trial, and do it before he uses that second passport to flee the country.  I wonder how those money giving supporters feel now knowing that their donations have yet o even be used for his defense. A defense that most certainly could fail. Don’t be outraged now. You should have used common sense which is exactly what got George Zimmerman into this situation the night he shot and killed an unarmed teen.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The entire world is aware of the injustice that occurred in the Rueben “Hurricane” Carter case that sent the former Champion Boxer to state prison for nearly 2 decades for a murder it was later determined he did not commit, the Mumia Abu-Jamal conviction for killing a Philadelphia Police Officer in the early 80’s is  a case for reasonable doubt that he ever even killed anyone, and the story of Troy Davis who was put to death for murdering a Police Officer by the state of Georgia in a case which many also believed he to was innocent. These are just a few of the more well-known cases of injustice in our country. Time and time again we find criminal cases within the American Justice System that seemingly fail African-Americans and other people of color as a standard operating procedure when interpreting the laws of the land. Unfortunately, we see here in America that many state criminal cases blatantly railroad black people in criminal courts, show a distinct disparity in cases that their white counterparts are similarly situated by having lesser sentences handed out, and in the slightest appearance of guilt by blacks  routinely result in defendants being sentenced to the maximum under the law. This of course is if the defendant has actually been convicted of the charges that the state has brought against them. You would think that any criminal case where the defendant has in fact been acquitted of felony murder charges, that life in prison would be the most unlikely result of his case, right? No, wrong! Now here comes the case of Curtis Shuler Jr., a man now serving life without the possibility of parole in a Florida State prison for murder. Some how the jury was able to find him guilty on a lesser count of attempted burglary all along while acquitting him of the felony murder count. In fact the sworn Jury Foreman even read this statement at his trial:

“We, the jury, find as follows as to Count 2 of the charges. The defendant is guilty of attempted burglary, a lesser-included offense to that charged in the indictment, and we further find that the defendant did not carry, display, or use a firearm, and we further find that the defendant did not make an assault or battery on Larry Steven Tyler or John Steven Green.”

Shuler was charged with Premeditated First Degree Murder on a victim that a ‘sworn’ jury ‘Acquitted Him’ of. The jury never found him guilty of killing the victim. In fact the jury acquitted him of  ‘essentially every element’ that constitute the crime Of premeditated murder. Yet instead of following state and federal laws when it comes to legally inconsistent verdicts the prosecutor persuaded the judge to find him guilty as charged and the court adjudicated him guilty despite the judge’s confusion as to the verdict. Federal and state law requires that verdicts rendered like this ‘require acquittal” . Instead, Shuler was sentenced to  a life sentence without benefit of parole for a murder he was never convicted of doing. He was wrongfully convicted and railroaded by the state. This particular case is important for several reasons. First, it highlights the unjust and unethical application of the felony murder rule. Approximately half of the states in America allow a person to be convicted of first degree murder, even if the jury believes the person did not commit the act of murder. This is possible because in many states if a person is charged with murder and another felony, such as aggravated assault or burglary, the jury only need find the person guilty of the lesser felony offense for the individual to receive an egregious sentence, such as life without parole. However, the manner in which the state of Florida adjudicated   the Shuler case is contradictory not only to precedent, but the state’s statue for a charge of this nature, and many within the legal community have expressed the point that Shuler’s case should have been a mistrial at the very maximum. The argument is simple. How can a man be found guilty of a lesser charge in a carjacking, murder, robbery case, and be found innocent of the more serious charges. As precedent in the State of Florida as well as other states in this country, defendants acting in harmony during the commission of a felony are charged along with the actual perpetrators. The confusion comes when the jury seemingly agrees that Shuler was there during the crime and participated (i.e. attempted burglary)  The jury acquitted Shuler on the more serious charges, but found him guilty on a lesser charge, which is something the court was restrained on during the sentencing phase of the Shuler case. The jury did not believe that Curtis committed the murder. Instead, the jury found him guilty on the lesser charge of burglary. The problem was that under the felony murder rule if a person is found guilty for the additional felony charge, they are penalized for murder component of the charges as well.  The charges go hand in hand, but the jury’s findings were improperly adjudicated or the jury instructions were not explicit at the very least. The jury can not find defendants in Capitol Murder cases guilty only of lessor charges in the state of Florida when the defendant acted in harmony with others during a crime of premeditated murder. This confusion should have been clarified by the sitting Judge of the case. Instead of following precedent and state law, the judge was coerced by the prosecutor to hand down a maximum sentence of life without parole. I am wondering why this jury found Curtis innocent of murder, but found that he was there during the commission of an attempted burglary, that ultimately led to Capitol Murder. What’s equally troubling about the Curtis Shuler case is that he judge sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole even with a sworn jury’s verdict clearing him of murder, a rare finding when we consider the fact that all parties involved in heinous criminal acts of this nature generally are found guilty of the more serious crimes as well. Why didn’t the judge query the jury about their findings. In fact I am not even sure if the Court can rule as it did, which is clearly an egregious abuse of the court’s sentencing discretion. This case is textbook for depicting the unfair manner in which criminal cases against blacks are often meted out in the American Criminal Justice System. I will be conducting further investigations into the Curtis Shuler Jr. story to aid in exposing this bizarre case which hopefully help gain his freedom. Curtis has written two books since his incarceration: “I Became Another Man” and “Never Has A Road Been So Dark”. The books can be purchased on Amazon.com. Please support Curtis and his family as he is in desperate need of funding for his legal representation. Meanwhile ‘ll continue you to research his case, and bring more publicity to this interesting story.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The People’s Champion Blog is committed to bringing more exciting features to enhance user experience to it’s followers. Now with the newly instituted Paltalk Widget feature, followers can Chat, Video Chat, and interact with others while browsing the site. You will see a PT widget embeded on the right side of the site in the sidebar. Just click join this live Video Chat, register, or log in with your previously established Paltalk account and you’ll be directed to the Blog’s Paltalk “ThePeoplesChampion” Chat Room. As long as the room is open you will be able to chat with everyone who is logged on with you. When the Room is closed the widget will advise you and you can click to go to the TPC Group page. Also, try downloading the Paltalk Mobile application for Android, IOS, and Windows Mobile smartphone Operating Systems. You can Video Chat on the go. The way it works is you will be able to use your PC or Laptop’s Webcam to broadcast directly to other Group Members right from the Blog. You don’t even need a webcam, because you can still participate in Video Chat conversations using your audio feature. You have the option of activating or muting sound. Paltalk has over 5,000 chat rooms and sites featuring music and other adult entertainment. You don’t want to miss out on this new exciting feature. Just join Paltalk from the TPC Blog or online by registering for a Paltalk account. You won’t regret joining Paltalk, a great new way to expand your Social Network Horizon.  I hope to see you all on Paltalk.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

For the record George Tazz Keys and other members of the Maryland based branch of the Guardian Angels should be afforded heartfelt gratitude for their efforts in helping locate missing teen Phylicias Barnes, and I personally tip my hat to them all. With that being said, Janice Sallis-Mustafa never bashed the group on the May 10th broadcast of WBRG ‘The Bridge”. During the show she was asked about how she felt about the Guardian Angels involvement in trying to locate her daughter. Mrs. Mustafa simply offered what her experience was while she was there with boots on the ground searching for Phylicia. The caller who tried to use the Mustafa’s absence during other searches as an indication that the parents themselves failed Phylicia, is a disturbing and cheap attempt to deflect from those who are actually to blames for this entire senseless tragedy. The perspective that attempts to tarnish the dedication that many have displayed in this case is simply absurd. To imply that those concerned citizens who were never there to actually help look for Phylicia, those who did not sign the petition to help enact “Phylicia’s Law” establishes a lack of concern on the part of the public, is a failed effort to diminish the interest that many have shown about the Barnes killing. These allegations couldn’t be more far from the truth. The public has participated in the Phylicia Barnes murder case from behind the scenes. Citizens have contacted law enforcement involved in the investigation, and followers of the case as far away as California have even sent in valuable information to TPC. The disadvantage of not being local to the city of Baltimore never discouraged people who held Phylica’s killing close to their heart. I don’t believe that the intelligent followers of this case will allow such nonsense to gain any momentum what so ever. In fact, with all of the circumstances related to this case having been made public, those who even attempt to create negative perceptions of the Mustafa family after they have lost their precious daughter only establishes further suspicion, and garners even greater support for the child’s grieving family. The suspicion of the Barnes family is not only growing but justified to say the very least. Let’s recap some disturbing facts about this case.

1. The “Peas In Their Pod” interview with the Barnes older-siblings was very alarming from the gate. The illogical sequence of events offered by Deena and Kelly Barnes which led up to Phylicia’s disappearance was central to why the public became concerned. The laughter and whispering overheard in the background during the interview depicted a careless family which raised doubt about the authenticity of their account, and angered many who believed that their demeanor wasn’t consistent with a family who encountered a missing child.

2. The fact that Phylicia went to work every day with one of her older half-siblings, and was left alone on the day that she went missing was a very telling factor from the very start. Chiefly Kelly Barnes’ failure to go by Deena’s apartment for a planned hair appointment signaled a red flag, and the question “why didn’t Kelly go by the apartment” remains the most consistently asked question in the entire case.

3.The fact that a sleeping Phylcia was left alone on December 28, 2010 with other male for the first time during her visit, and all along while Michael Johnson had keys to the apartment created access & vulnerability to the child, and could easily be interpreted from a rational person as possibly having been done so deliberately.

4. On the day Phylicia disappeared both Deena and Kelly admitted that they lost contact with the child during the late morning hours, yet there was never a sense of urgency on either of the women’s part to confirm the child’s personal safety. More importantly, the fact that neither of the adult female half-siblings went by to physically check on Phylicia who was left alone with adult males until nearly six hours later that day, tends to imply that both Deena and Kelly Barnes may have had advanced knowledge regarding the immediate well-being of their supposed minor kid sister.

5. The allegations of Phylicia having been exposed to drugs and alcohol by Deena, her denying such claims, and later having been revealed that her friends known to frequent her place indulged in such activity on a regular basis has stigmatized Deena’s credibility, and establishes that she more than likely had in fact introduced the teen to such culture.

6. When Deena allegedly first learned that Phylicia was missing she never called the child’s mom to inform her, but telephoned the child’s biological father in Atlanta. The information from those close to Phylicia in Baltimore which came out in the initial stages of her disappearance created confusion that resulted in the police not taking the child’s disappearance seriously, and may have bought time for those responsible for what happened to Phylicia.

7. The searches that began for Phylicia prior to anyone having knowledge that the child may be in danger is both alarming and telling to say the least. The actions of the Barnes family described by the child’s mother Janice Sallis-Mustafa after Phylcia had gone missing depicted a scenario where by people had apparently already concluded that something bad happened to Phylicia Barnes.

8. Russell Barnes’ possible involvement in his daughter’s disappearance and murder has not exactly been established for the following reasons:

a. Russell gave a televised interview which was witnessed by both Janice and Raheem Mustafa, in which Russell alleged that Phylicia had come to visit him at his home, and left his home to get something to eat. This scenario was impossible because Russell Barnes lives in Atlanta, Ga and Phylicia had gone missing in Baltimore City. Russell’s false statement clearly demonstrates that he was attempting to create confusion about Phylicia’s whereabouts for some unknown reason.

b. Russell told Michael Johnson to disappear before the cops even had the opportunity to speak with him regarding Phylicia’s disappearance, a disturbing fact because Michael was reportedly the last person to see the child on that day, and the rationalization offered by Russell Barnes that he told him to get lose because he might kill him is simply not very credible.

c. Russell Barnes contacted his half-brother,  a Baltimore City Police Sargeant who showed up and intervened in an unofficial capacity which created an immediate conflict of interest, and is a terrible blunder that both of these adult males should reasonably have known would be problematic for this case.

None of the facts that I have pointed out in this article were fabricated by me or anyone else from the public, but rather were extracted from comments made by the Barnes family themselves. In what appears to be a diligent effort to cover for family members who may have had knowledge regarding what happened to Phylicia, it’s easy to create confusion regarding the initial events that led up to this entire tragic ordeal. Had Phylicia been supervised properly none of this would never have happened, and for people to have the audacity to infer wrong doing on the Mustafas is beyond comprehension. I even wonder if those creating innuendo and other disparity toward the child’s parents characters realize how idiotic they really appear. Moreover, the above listed facts are only the primary instances that got the ball rolling resulting in public suspicion. It wasn’t until Janice Sallis-Mustafa bravely revealed the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Russell Barnes that established for the public just how much of a creep he really was, and helped many resolve in their own minds that Russell as well as hsi older kids just may possibly be capable of a such heinous crime against Phylica Barnes. Also, Janice never created a theory in which she believed that the entire case was a conspiracy to kill Phylicia orchestrated by Russell Barnes to get at her. Janice only said that she wouldn’t doubt it if some one told her that, which further illustrates the depth of her suspicion regarding Russell, and decades after having been allegedly beat by him in an effort to terminate her pregnancy while carrying Phylicia.  Perhaps I failed to convey her perspective accurately, and for that I personally apologize. However, the questionable circumstances surrounding this case by Barnes family members, coupled with the mom’s domestic abuse claims, we must consider any possible scenario that suggest the Barnes wanted to harm the child. For example Deena Barnes has continuously denied exposing Phylicia to drugs and alcohol, even if she didn’t which I personally seriously doubt, why would she allow her friends and ex-boyfriend’s family who were known alcoholics and drug users to even be around the child. That was really poor judgment, but to allow her pretty baby sister to take off her clothes and run around nude with her so-called ex, and his family & friends, and to have the presence of mind to capture the activity via camera appears to have been scripted for a purpose. I am convinced that the nude images taken of this studious child was done so to preempt or trump her ever disclosing to her parents what exactly was going down at her freaky older half-sisters apartment. This perspective reminds me of a comment Michael Johnson made on Facebook very early on in the case when he stated, “Deena should just tell Phylicia’s mother what was going on at the apartment”. That comment raised many eyebrows at the time, because it was telling and potentially offered a glimpse into the demons that Deena Barnes may hold related to Phylicia’s murder, and also may be why others are staunchly supporting the Barnes family. The fact that Michael Johnson held on to nude pictures of Phylicia, allegedly Deena, and himself while the cops were actively investigating her disappearance seems that he at the very least wanted that element of the case made public, because he knew the impact it would have on Deena. The perception being created that implies Janice’s comments suggesting others involvement may hurt the case against Johnson is pure bullshit. Janice has never said that she doesn’t believe Johnson isn’t guilty, she has expressed that she believes that he didn’t act alone, which is a perspective also widely held by many within the public. So lets keep the facts straight, and stop trying to create diversions from  the truth. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy, this case isn’t about me, and if the Barnes females didn’t want the public hinged on their every word then they should have acquired an attorney like Johnson cleverly did from the very start. Ultimately, when it’s all said and done I am convinced that most from the public will remember that Phylicia Simone Barnes was killed by her sister’s lifestyle and those she allowed unabated access to her. To Janice Sallis-Mustafa on behalf of all of us here at The People’s Champion, rest today assured that Justice continues for your beautiful daughter. Happy Mother’s day Mrs. Mustafa. God speed.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams