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After a Mistrial, Murder Charge Dismissed
In August of 2016, Jermaine was charged with murder and carjacking in two separate incidents. At the time of his arrest, Jermaine was a 16-year-old child, just shy of his 17th birthday.
On September 6, 2016, a motion for a speedy trial on the murder charge was made, invoking rights guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution; Article I, § 14 of the South Carolina Constitution; and South Carolina Code § 17-23-90. Two months later, the case went to trial. After a seven-day trial, a Richland County, South Carolina jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, indicating in a note to the Court that it was deadlocked with 11 jurors voting to acquit Jermaine. The Court declared a mistrial and the case was dismissed.
The Court sentenced Jermaine to seven years’ incarceration suspended on the service of five years’ probation for the carjacking charge.
Based on Jermaine’s age, his disadvantage to obtain legal services and resources to defend his case, and the fact that he lived in a series of foster homes growing up, Richard A. Harpootlian, P.A. took Jermaine’s case pro bono.
Jermaine was represented by Dick Harpootlian of Richard A. Harpootlian, P.A. and Christopher Kenney.
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