BUCYRUS—Three co-defendants with two defense attorneys successfully convinced a jury they were innocent of serious felony charges.
The defendants were each facing first-degree felonies.
Darrell Raines, 30, of Detroit, was charged with first-degree aggravated burglary. Jamal-Al-Din Gatling, 28, of Detroit, and Megan Phillips, 31, of Bucyrus, each face first-degree felon for complicity.
Each defendant faced up to 11 years in prison if convicted.
According to Defense Attorney James Mayor of Mansfield (who was retained by Philips approximately six weeks before trial), the efficiency of Judge Sean Leuthold and the thoughtfulness of the jury were important in the victory.
“I give a lot of credit to the jury. They were 12 smart and interested individuals who were willing to keep an open mind and worked hard to connect the dots. They understood proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
I also give Judge Leuthold a lot of credit. He had his research-ready. He took time to listen, and if so needed, he took a recess to research information and made good and fair rulings in this case. Considering the number of evidentiary issues and objections raised combined with trying three different cases together, everybody still got a fair trial.” Mayer said.
The alleged victim in the case, Kevin Davis, who had a criminal record himself, set out to retrieve his property that Gatlin had stolen from him.
But before the alleged crime, Davis and Phillips, who had been in a long-standing on-again, off-again relationship, moved together to Michigan to find work. They were also struggling with drug addiction.
They struck up a friendship with Gatlin, who owned properties. Gatlin gave them a place to stay, a phone, and other help in exchange for work on his properties.
There came time when Davis and Phillips left and came back to Crawford County.
Davis and Phillips later broke up over his involvement with another woman.
In the meantime, Gatlin discovered thousands of dollars of flooring and other materials missing from properties where Davis was supposed to work.
Texts were submitted in court that proved Davis admitted he owed Gatlin about $10,000.00.
After Gatlin could not get Davis to return his calls in an attempt to collect his money (according to prosecutors), Philips helped Gatlin locate Davis. Raines came to get Davis’ property back.
Megan Phillip’s attorney pointed out that she did give Gatlin an address, but it was incorrect. The state had nearly 200 text messages between the parties. Even though she gave the wrong address for Davis, the state told the jury she had still helped him locate Davis.
When Davis was located, he told the court that Gatlin had fired shots and used a hammer as a weapon.
Gatlin’s attorney, Tom Nicholson, pointed out to the court that Gatlin lived in a duplex. The young girl who lived in the other half of the duplex made a lengthy 911 call reporting a break-in next door to her.
Nicholson pointed out that had Gatlin shot a gun. It would’ve been heard on the 911 call.
Both defense attorneys argued that Davis himself shot the gun before police arrived but lied because he is a convicted felon and therefore unable to legally possess a firearm.
Nicholson also pointed out that the hammer had Davis’ fingerprints on it.
Nicholson told the jury his client had one misdemeanor on his record and no felonies.
Nicholson told Crawford County Now that, in his opinion, the 911 call was a deciding factor for the jury. He also noted that the love triangle between Davis, Phillips, and the other woman contributed to the case. The other woman was slated to testify along with others that the state did not call at trial.