Two New Attorneys Bolster Johnson’s Defense In Barnes Teen Murder Trial: Recent Court Fillings Subpoena Tangible Evidence

Posted by David Adams on July 8th, 2012

In what appears to be gearing up as one of the most highly anticipated murder trials for the City of Baltimore in recent memory, court filings show momentum toward the scheduled August 13, 2012 trial date for accused killer Michael Maurice Johnson. One day after Johnson stood primarily silent and shackled before a Circuit Court Judge, his defense team acquired two new counsels who filed their appearances in this case. On Jun 21 Tony Garcia esq. and Ivan Bates esq. filed ADFs as attorneys for the defense. The filings bolsters the defense counsel from three to five attorneys now officially connected to the Phylicia Barnes murder trial who are now defending Michael Johnson. Prosecutors allege that Johnson, who was reportedly the last person to see young Phylicia Barnes alive, strangled the child and transported her body out of a Northwest Baltimore apartment in a large tub style container. Although, the state hasn’t hinted at possible physical evidence which links Johnson to the killing, other recent court filings seem to point to at least some kind of actual physical evidence in the case. On July 3 there were other filings that relates to tangible evidence. There was actually a motion filed to subpoena tangible evidence in the case. That filing was followed by a trigger date of July 11, 2012. Filings of this nature are mere procedural as each side begin mounting crucial evidence that supports their arguments in the case. However, it’s widely believed that the evidence subpoena is more than likely for telephone or social media records and the medical examiners reports which may help shape the state’s case while proving Johnson actually killed the studious honors teen. Early on during the investigation of the Barnes teen killing, Federal authorities sought social media accounts of the Barnes teen, Michael Johnson, his kid brother Delanie, Denna Barnes, and another unnamed male associated with the case. The subpoena probably was a prosecutorial filing because the state’s entire outlined case against Johnson must be turned over to the defense in accordance with discovery laws at some point prior to the scheduled court appearance. Subpoenas are typically measures taken to insure that evidence which normally wouldn’t voluntarily be entered as evidence, is in fact at the state’s disposal during trial, and could be mandated by a court of law. The evidence in this case remains to be seen if any bona fide material even exist. The defense has long claimed that the state’s case is nothing more than mere circumstantial, and charges against Johnson were a rush to judgement as the prosecutor’s lead investigator became a subject of a criminal investigation which alleged he used his police powers to illegally enter private homes in search of his runaway daughter. Johnson’s attorneys say the investigator’s integrity is now under scrutiny, and the state wants the Barnes case adjudicated before departmental charges take center stage against the detective. Whether the defense’ claims hold any bearing or not remains to be seen. However, court filings points to the potential direction of the state’s case against Johnson. A DEMAND FOR CHEMIST filing was entered during the pretrial phase on April 27 2012 and recently another such filing was made on June 21 2012 in the case. Though the filings are again procedural, it clearly demonstrates that some expert will testify regarding the toxins, chemicals or other forensics that were found either on the body or within the Barnes teen’s system at the time of her medical examination. Such evidence could be categorized as tangible if such findings link Johnson or supports some other theory related to how Johnson meted out the pretty little girl’s murder. In all actuality, the court filings can be interpreted in various ways as it is uncertain which side of this criminal case has requested the services of a chemist. Such a request could have been filed by the state and the defense respectively. For instance, the state may use the expert testimony of a chemist to prove that fibers discovered on the Barnes teen’s body are chemically consistent with fibers and other forensic findings inside the trunk of Johnson’s car or are exact in comparison to fibers on clothing he wore that day. On the other hand, the defense may argue that the Barnes teen’s cause of death wasn’t a result of strangulation as the state has alleged. The defense could use a chemist to prove that Barnes died from alcohol poisoning or a combination of drug and alcohol intoxication. Such a perspective wouldn’t be a stretch at all considering the allegations that Barnes was allowed to use drugs and alcohol while she visited her half-sister’s apartment in Baltimore. Either way that a chemist is utilized in this case, the very existence of a scientific professional of this caliber is a rudimentary in the eventual final disposition determining Micheal Johnson’s guilt or innocence in the murder of Phylicia Barnes. For now the public can only speculate on what these court filings actually mean, while continuing to pray that justice prevails for our pretty little flower, Phylicia Simone Barnes. View the State of Maryland’s Court filing history for Michael Johnson’s murder trial below:

Event History Information

Event	Date	Comment
CASI	04/25/2012	CASE ADDED THROUGH ON-LINE ON THIS DATE 20120430
WARI	04/25/2012	CAPI;WARRANT CAPIAS ISSUED ;HOWARD, JOHN A. ;MD0040600
WARS	04/26/2012	CAPI;042512;WARRANT CAPIAS SERVED
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – NEVERDON, RUSSELL A , ESQ 610455
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – MEAD, MARGARET , ESQ 545692
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – MEAD, BRANDON , ESQ 545690
HCAL	04/27/2012	P13;0930;420 ;BAIH;HR;DENI; ;HOWARD, JOHN A.;8D3
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION FOR SPEEDY TRIAL
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS
MOTF	04/27/2012	REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION FOR GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
MOTF	04/27/2012	DEMAND FOR CHEMIST
MOTE	05/23/2012	ENTRY OF APPEARANCE
MOTE	05/23/2012	STATE’S REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTE	05/23/2012	STATE’S DISCLOSURE
MOTE	05/23/2012	MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND OFFENSES
MOTE	05/23/2012	NOTICE OF PLEA BARGAIN POLICY
TRAK	06/20/2012	ASSIGNED TO TRACK A – 60 DAYS ON 06/20/2012
FILE	06/20/2012	FILED ADF – GARCIA, TONY , ESQ 288350
FILE	06/20/2012	FILED ADF – BATES, IVAN , ESQ 43061
HCAL	06/20/2012	P09;0930;600 ;ARRG; ;TSET; ;BROWN, EMANUEL ;9P6
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION FOR SPEEDY TRIAL
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS
MOTF	06/21/2012	REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION FOR GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
MOTF	06/21/2012	DEMAND FOR CHEMIST
MTAN	07/03/2012	MOTION FOR SUBPOENA / TANGIBLE EVID;TICKLE DATE= 20120711
TRIG	07/11/2012	MTAN;MOTION FOR SUBPOENA / TANGIBLE EVIDENCE

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

David Adams

David B. Adams grew up in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore's southeast district and is his parent's youngest child. He experienced pervasive poverty, which taught him humility and compassion for the plight of others. His exposure to violence and gritty urban life were some of his early lessons of life's many hardships. Adams credits the upheavals he endured during his conformity with helping to shape the foundation of his outlook and perspectives on society. With a steadfast commitment to giving voice to the voiceless, Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and blogger renowned for tireless investigative journalism and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. As founder and administrator of The People's Champion, Adams sheds light on critical social issues, championing the rights of: - Homeless individuals - Victims of violent crime and their families - Wrongfully convicted individuals - Missing and exploited children; Additionally, he is a seasoned investigative reporter, Adams has earned recognition for relentless pursuit of truth and justice. With a strong national and global focus, on inspiring meaningful change and crucial conversations impacting all of humanity.

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In what appears to be gearing up as one of the most highly anticipated murder trials for the City of Baltimore in recent memory, court filings show momentum toward the scheduled August 13, 2012 trial date for accused killer Michael Maurice Johnson. One day after Johnson stood primarily silent and shackled before a Circuit Court Judge, his defense team acquired two new counsels who filed their appearances in this case. On Jun 21 Tony Garcia esq. and Ivan Bates esq. filed ADFs as attorneys for the defense. The filings bolsters the defense counsel from three to five attorneys now officially connected to the Phylicia Barnes murder trial who are now defending Michael Johnson. Prosecutors allege that Johnson, who was reportedly the last person to see young Phylicia Barnes alive, strangled the child and transported her body out of a Northwest Baltimore apartment in a large tub style container. Although, the state hasn’t hinted at possible physical evidence which links Johnson to the killing, other recent court filings seem to point to at least some kind of actual physical evidence in the case. On July 3 there were other filings that relates to tangible evidence. There was actually a motion filed to subpoena tangible evidence in the case. That filing was followed by a trigger date of July 11, 2012. Filings of this nature are mere procedural as each side begin mounting crucial evidence that supports their arguments in the case. However, it’s widely believed that the evidence subpoena is more than likely for telephone or social media records and the medical examiners reports which may help shape the state’s case while proving Johnson actually killed the studious honors teen. Early on during the investigation of the Barnes teen killing, Federal authorities sought social media accounts of the Barnes teen, Michael Johnson, his kid brother Delanie, Denna Barnes, and another unnamed male associated with the case. The subpoena probably was a prosecutorial filing because the state’s entire outlined case against Johnson must be turned over to the defense in accordance with discovery laws at some point prior to the scheduled court appearance. Subpoenas are typically measures taken to insure that evidence which normally wouldn’t voluntarily be entered as evidence, is in fact at the state’s disposal during trial, and could be mandated by a court of law. The evidence in this case remains to be seen if any bona fide material even exist. The defense has long claimed that the state’s case is nothing more than mere circumstantial, and charges against Johnson were a rush to judgement as the prosecutor’s lead investigator became a subject of a criminal investigation which alleged he used his police powers to illegally enter private homes in search of his runaway daughter. Johnson’s attorneys say the investigator’s integrity is now under scrutiny, and the state wants the Barnes case adjudicated before departmental charges take center stage against the detective. Whether the defense’ claims hold any bearing or not remains to be seen. However, court filings points to the potential direction of the state’s case against Johnson. A DEMAND FOR CHEMIST filing was entered during the pretrial phase on April 27 2012 and recently another such filing was made on June 21 2012 in the case. Though the filings are again procedural, it clearly demonstrates that some expert will testify regarding the toxins, chemicals or other forensics that were found either on the body or within the Barnes teen’s system at the time of her medical examination. Such evidence could be categorized as tangible if such findings link Johnson or supports some other theory related to how Johnson meted out the pretty little girl’s murder. In all actuality, the court filings can be interpreted in various ways as it is uncertain which side of this criminal case has requested the services of a chemist. Such a request could have been filed by the state and the defense respectively. For instance, the state may use the expert testimony of a chemist to prove that fibers discovered on the Barnes teen’s body are chemically consistent with fibers and other forensic findings inside the trunk of Johnson’s car or are exact in comparison to fibers on clothing he wore that day. On the other hand, the defense may argue that the Barnes teen’s cause of death wasn’t a result of strangulation as the state has alleged. The defense could use a chemist to prove that Barnes died from alcohol poisoning or a combination of drug and alcohol intoxication. Such a perspective wouldn’t be a stretch at all considering the allegations that Barnes was allowed to use drugs and alcohol while she visited her half-sister’s apartment in Baltimore. Either way that a chemist is utilized in this case, the very existence of a scientific professional of this caliber is a rudimentary in the eventual final disposition determining Micheal Johnson’s guilt or innocence in the murder of Phylicia Barnes. For now the public can only speculate on what these court filings actually mean, while continuing to pray that justice prevails for our pretty little flower, Phylicia Simone Barnes. View the State of Maryland’s Court filing history for Michael Johnson’s murder trial below:

Event History Information

Event	Date	Comment
CASI	04/25/2012	CASE ADDED THROUGH ON-LINE ON THIS DATE 20120430
WARI	04/25/2012	CAPI;WARRANT CAPIAS ISSUED ;HOWARD, JOHN A. ;MD0040600
WARS	04/26/2012	CAPI;042512;WARRANT CAPIAS SERVED
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – NEVERDON, RUSSELL A , ESQ 610455
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – MEAD, MARGARET , ESQ 545692
FILE	04/27/2012	FILED ADF – MEAD, BRANDON , ESQ 545690
HCAL	04/27/2012	P13;0930;420 ;BAIH;HR;DENI; ;HOWARD, JOHN A.;8D3
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION FOR SPEEDY TRIAL
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS
MOTF	04/27/2012	REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253
MOTF	04/27/2012	MOTION FOR GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
MOTF	04/27/2012	DEMAND FOR CHEMIST
MOTE	05/23/2012	ENTRY OF APPEARANCE
MOTE	05/23/2012	STATE’S REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTE	05/23/2012	STATE’S DISCLOSURE
MOTE	05/23/2012	MOTION FOR JOINT TRIAL OF DEFENDANTS AND OFFENSES
MOTE	05/23/2012	NOTICE OF PLEA BARGAIN POLICY
TRAK	06/20/2012	ASSIGNED TO TRACK A – 60 DAYS ON 06/20/2012
FILE	06/20/2012	FILED ADF – GARCIA, TONY , ESQ 288350
FILE	06/20/2012	FILED ADF – BATES, IVAN , ESQ 43061
HCAL	06/20/2012	P09;0930;600 ;ARRG; ;TSET; ;BROWN, EMANUEL ;9P6
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION FOR SPEEDY TRIAL
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS
MOTF	06/21/2012	REQUEST FOR DISCOVERY
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION TO SUPPRESS PURSUANT TO MD 4-252 AND 4-253
MOTF	06/21/2012	MOTION FOR GRAND JURY TESTIMONY
MOTF	06/21/2012	DEMAND FOR CHEMIST
MTAN	07/03/2012	MOTION FOR SUBPOENA / TANGIBLE EVID;TICKLE DATE= 20120711
TRIG	07/11/2012	MTAN;MOTION FOR SUBPOENA / TANGIBLE EVIDENCE

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

David Adams

David B. Adams grew up in the Highlandtown section of Baltimore's southeast district and is his parent's youngest child. He experienced pervasive poverty, which taught him humility and compassion for the plight of others. His exposure to violence and gritty urban life were some of his early lessons of life's many hardships. Adams credits the upheavals he endured during his conformity with helping to shape the foundation of his outlook and perspectives on society. With a steadfast commitment to giving voice to the voiceless, Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and blogger renowned for tireless investigative journalism and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. As founder and administrator of The People's Champion, Adams sheds light on critical social issues, championing the rights of: - Homeless individuals - Victims of violent crime and their families - Wrongfully convicted individuals - Missing and exploited children; Additionally, he is a seasoned investigative reporter, Adams has earned recognition for relentless pursuit of truth and justice. With a strong national and global focus, on inspiring meaningful change and crucial conversations impacting all of humanity.