Dramatic cases come to trial in Columbus in early 2015
Three years have passed since the morning Gold & Silver Trading Center manager Steve Toms was found shot to death inside the 3717 Gentian Blvd. jewelry shop.
This spring the man charged with murder in Toms’ homicide goes to trial.
His is among four criminal cases going to trial this year. Here’s a look at each:
Gold & Silver homicide trial
Michael Jerome Johnson has been indicted on two counts of felony murder for killing the 63-year-old Toms while committing the felonies of armed robbery and aggravated assault. A grand jury indicted him also for the underlying charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and using a firearm to commit a crime.
Indicted on racketeering charges with Johnson were codefendants Dimitrius Gordon, Sidney Person, Xavier Bell and Jockas Gilchrist, who are alleged to have planned and executed a series of attempted or armed robberies around the city.
Their forming a robbery gang that carried out multiple heists led to the grand jury’s indicting Johnson, Gordon, Person, Bell and Gilchrist for violating Georgia’s RICO Act, as they are alleged to have operated an ongoing criminal enterprise. RICO stands for the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The suspects are expected to go to trial March 30.
Stocking Strangler motions
On Feb. 5 and 6, Superior Court Judge Frank Jordan Jr. will hold a hearing on new trial motions for convicted “Stocking Strangler” Carlton Gary, convicted in three of the heinous rapes and serial killings of seven older women in 1977 and ‘78.
Gary, who has been in Georgia’s death row prison since his 1986 conviction, is arguing the outcome of his trial might have been different had the jury seen evidence that casts doubt on his guilt.
Prosecutors counter defense attorneys have but a few scraps of evidence in Gary’s favor, and those are far outweighed by the detailed and damning case against him, including fingerprints found at murder scenes and a DNA test matching him to the Sept. 25, 1977, rape and strangling of Jean Dimenstein, 66, of 3027 21st St.
Gary was not convicted of killing Dimenstein, but prosecutors maintain only one perpetrator committed all seven murders, and evidence from all seven cases was used in court to show a pattern of criminal conduct.
Jordan heard evidence in a new trial hearing last year, and attorneys since have awaited a transcript of that proceeding on which to base further motions.
Tampering trial following Qualls verdict
On Feb. 9, two young Columbus men are set to go to trial on charges they tampered with evidence by helping Clayton Qualls hide beer as his girlfriend Hannah Gilmer lay mortally injured after a June 15, 2012, wreck on County Line Road.
Police said Gilmer, a 16-year-old Northside High School student, was thrown from the car Qualls was driving as he lost control on a curve while trying to pass two other vehicles. He had been drinking Keystone beer and vodka, investigators said.
Police said Austin Lott and Daniel Hughes Massengale were driving the other two vehicles, and that they stopped at the wreck scene to help Qualls hide the beer.
Qualls in April pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, and Judge William Rumer sentenced him to 15 years in prison with nine to serve and the rest on probation.
After his sentencing, Gilmer’s parents filed a civil suit against the businesses that sold Qualls alcohol despite his age and altered ID card. Qualls was 17 at the time.
New trial for Lisa Graham
On Feb. 17, a long-delayed Russell County capital murder case is set for trial.
By then, nearly eight years will have passed since Stephanie Shea Graham was found shot to death July 5, 2007, on Bowden Road between U.S. 431 and Ala. 165 near Pittsview, Ala.
The last person seen with Graham was Kenneth Walton, who told authorities Graham’s mother Lisa Graham enlisted him to kill her daughter. After pleading guilty in June 2012, Walton was sentenced to life in prison with possible parole. He has agreed to testify against Lisa Graham, prosecutors said.
Lisa Graham’s first trial was underway in September 2012 when county Circuit Judge George Greene declared a mistrial because of his poor health. Greene retired from the bench in December 2013 and died in January 2014.
Now Lee County Judge Jacob Walker will hear the case.
After the mistrial, Graham’s attorneys appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, arguing that to try Graham again would be double jeopardy, prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. The court denied her appeal, clearing the way for a new trial.
This story was originally published January 3, 2015 at 10:13 PM.