Preliminary hearing for homicide suspects continued
A preliminary hearing for two Washington men charged in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Alexis Barnett was delayed until July 1 because a witness wouldn’t testify.
Tavian Hooper, 18, and Jamaal Greene, 18, both of Washington, appeared before District Judge Robert Redlinger in the Washington County courthouse for a hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Additional security was in the courtroom, which was full of those mourning Barnett – killed in a May 4 shooting in Washington – and family and friends of at least one defendant.
Greene and Hooper, who are being held in Washington County jail without bond, joked quietly before the brief proceeding began.
Assistant District Attorney Jerry Moschetta requested a continuance, saying a witness expected to testify told Washington police the witness “doesn’t intend to come forward” to testify.
Greene faces charges of homicide and criminal conspiracy. Charges against Hooper include homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, criminal conspiracy and former convict not to own a firearm, according to the jail website. Both remain in Washington County jail without bond.
Redlinger granted the continuance over an objection lodged by Chief Public Defender Glenn Alterio, who represents Greene, and Ryan Tutera, Hooper’s attorney.
“I don’t know what Judge Redlinger will do,” Tutera said later in the day. “But if they’re not ready the second time, I’m going to ask for a dismissal.”
Tutera declined to discuss the substantive merits of the case, details of which are under seal.
County Judge Michael J. Lucas signed orders June 9, placing the documents related to the case under seal, following a rare request by the prosecution.
Lucas cited “public safety, the integrity of the ongoing investigation, the safety of the informants and the extraordinary circumstances” as justification for the decision.
“I think it’s very unusual, and I hope they’re following the letter of the law, because if not, we’ll take them to task on this,” Tutera said.
Lucas wrote in the orders a city police detective testified investigators encountered difficulty pursuing the investigation because witnesses aren’t cooperating, ongoing threats were made to those who met with police and “the fact that other potential individuals involved in the conspiracy to harm the intended victim(s) may be unknown and remain at liberty.”
Lucas wrote he had “no less restrictive alternative” than sealing the documents for 60 days.
The orders don’t mention Barnett’s name. Moschetta confirmed Thursday the case against Greene and Hooper pertains to the killing of Barnett.
He said the defendants were given copies of the criminal complaints against them. Criminal complaints include minimal details about the charges, the date, jurisdiction and name or names of victims.
Copies of the affidavits of probable cause, which usually include details of the investigation leading to the arrest, must be turned over to the defendants at the time of their preliminary hearing, Moschetta said.
Alterio and Tutera said they don’t plan to ask for the seal on the documents to be lifted before the rescheduled hearing.
Moschetta declined to say whether he expects anyone else to be charged in the case.
Barnett, of Washington, was walking about 9:40 p.m. in the 1100 block of Bruce Street with a group of friends when she was shot in the back, possibly by someone in a small silver vehicle. Her friend, Jasmine Young, 21, also of Washington, was wounded. Police believe a man who was walking with the group was the intended target.
Greene was picked up by investigators for questioning the day after the shooting and placed in jail on other charges. Hooper was jailed May 26 on marijuana charges.