Trying Times
After going more than 14 months without a jury trial, COVID-19 restrictions finally are being loosened. So far eight cases have been set for trial, including the first two last month, but none has yet gone forward.
An aggravated robbery/kidnapping case and an attempted first-degree murder case were reset because of last-minute defense petitions seeking continuances. Also, a case involving the rape of a child was reset because a key state witness, a police officer, had an on-the-job injury requiring surgery.
As sometimes happens on the day of a trial, three other cases were resolved when the defendants entered guilty pleas for an agreed-upon sentence. Those cases include:
- A 19-year-old Horn Lake man who pled guilty to two counts of facilitation to commit aggravated robbery and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The defendant has several other cases pending. The victim in the case, a police officer, supported the settlement.
- A 54-year-old Frayser man pled guilty to reckless aggravated assault and stalking, and was sentenced to five years in prison. The defendant turned himself in to police after stabbing a man two times during an altercation in the summer of 2018.
- A 38-year-old North Memphis woman pled guilty to aggravated assault and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison. She admitted to shooting and wounding the girlfriend of her estranged husband.
More trials are set in the coming weeks. We have two specially designed courtrooms on the fourth floor of the Community Justice Center at 201 Poplar that have glass partitions and room for social distancing.
The hope, however, is that as COVID-19 restrictions are gradually lifted, regular jury trials can be held in the 10 divisions of Criminal Court. It’s time for crime victims and the accused to have their days in court.
Interns and Externs From Near and Far
Summer is almost here and that means schools are out and help has arrived.
Welcoming these bright young law students and undergraduate students to the office for the summer is something I look forward to every year.
This year, we’ll have 24 interns and externs throughout the summer working on a wide variety of tasks and projects. Depending on their experience and interests, assignments might include contacting victims and witnesses, working with our Community Justice Program, our Community Court Program, and with our Community Prosecutors in performing research and legal analysis on cases.
Second-year law students with a student license can represent the State of Tennessee (under our close supervision) in preliminary hearings and other matters.
They all will get a first-hand view of the criminal justice system and how the multiple facets operate within the system.
We expect to learn something from them as well with their diverse backgrounds and schools, including The University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, University of Mississippi, Cornell, University of Tennessee (Martin and Knoxville campuses), Belmont University, Arizona State University, Clemson and, of course, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Welcome one and all.
(Some of the early arrivals are shown above with Training Director Steve Jones and Deputy District Attorney Ray Lepone.)
In the News
Police Officer Indicted on Murder Charge
Motorist Indicted in Double Homicide
Three Indicted in Arlington Shootout
Spotlight: Carla Taylor
Starting with this newsletter, we will be spotlighting one of our team members each month. First up is Assistant District Attorney Carla Taylor of our Crime Strategies & Narcotics Prosecution Unit (CSNPU).
Carla started as an intern in the summer of 2004 when she was assigned to work with veteran prosecutors Tom Henderson in the Capital Crimes Division and with Reggie Henderson and Paul Hagerman in the Gang Unit. Two years later she went to work here full-time, with assignments in General Sessions, the Domestic Violence Unit, and the Special Prosecution Unit.
For the last four years, Carla has worked in CSNPU where she prosecutes cases involving gang-related homicides and other violent crimes, working closely with the Multi-Agency Gang Unit.
Carla is a founding member of the Memphis Chapter of The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) and currently serves as the organization’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, representing members in Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. She also works on the NBPA’s National Board in programming, regional membership, and chapter development, and planning the Annual National Conference.
The NBPA Memphis Chapter has sponsored numerous programs and panel discussions dealing with criminal justice issues. Recently, Carla was the moderator for Criminal Procedure 101, a panel discussion that included judges, defense lawyers and prosecutors.
Says Carla: “I am a prosecutor because the citizens of the State of Tennessee need a voice in the criminal justice system. The need to help victims is what drew me to this profession, and it’s what keeps me motivated to do what I do."
“The National Black Prosecutors Association is important because it creates a unique platform for prosecutors to connect, network and learn, while also appreciating the culture and experience of fellow members.”
Highway Heroes
As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, our West Tennessee Drug Task Force Interdiction Unit was named the 2020 Team of the Year by the six-state Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
At a recognition luncheon at Bellevue Baptist Church in May, I got to catch up with current and past directors of the Task Force. Pictured above from the left: Danny Goodman Jr., Tim Helldorfer, Jerry Kitchen, me, Johnie Carter, Bobby Carter and David McGriff.
So fortunate to work with such dedicated public servants.
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