Man released from jail under 'speedy trial' law
Under a state law meant to ensure a speedy trial, a 19-year-old Detroit man is being released from jail after being held 180 days in Butler County Prison without a trial or guilty plea in his case.
Davion A. Johnson was arrested last summer on accusations he broke into a house and beat a woman who police suspected was high on crack cocaine.
Johnson is considered an “associate through drug use” of the victim, according to previous court testimony.
He faces a felony count of burglary as well as misdemeanor charges of simple assault, harassment, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
He has been in the Butler County Prison on a $100,000 bond since his July 17 arrest.
Johnson and two other men allegedly broke into a house in West Sunbury to retrieve a gun from the beating victim and another woman, ages 28 and 29, respectively. Both women were in the house when the three men entered the home.
Because of Rule 600(B), Johnson was granted release on pretrial supervision Wednesday by Judge William Shaffer. Since a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the rule is meant to ensure a defendant isn't held for too long in jail before a trial or entering a guilty plea.
Johnson will reside in Butler with a friend while he awaits trial, according to court testimony. He will be under pretrial supervision.
Johnson is accused of committing the alleged burglary with his co-defendants, Robert M. Codispot Jr., 31, of Clay Township; and Eric D. Purnell, 48, of Detroit.
During a preliminary hearing last year, Trooper Matthew Kephart testified the homeowner, Joel Cumberland, told authorities he was at his home with two women when he saw a car with the three men pull up.
Kephart recalled Cumberland's statement, saying one of the defendants, Codispot, exited the car holding a gun. According to Kephart's testimony, Cumberland fled to a nearby car wash and called 911 when he saw the defendants go into his house. The two women were inside when the three men allegedly entered the home.
The victim allegedly told police the men began hitting her in and around the head and face, and Kephart testified the woman had facial injuries, including swelling, bruising and a bloody nose. The trooper further said the victim told investigators the men were there to retrieve a gun one of the women allegedly stole the night before at a party.
According to Kephart, the women blamed each other for the theft. The trooper also said he believed the victim was high on crack cocaine when she claimed she was assaulted.
While in Cumberland's house, one of the defendants allegedly saw a handgun at the bottom of the cellar steps and left with it. The second woman in the home left with the men, according to testimony.
Johnson was arrested with Codispot and Purnell later that day at Codispot's home on Muddy Creek Drive.
