When prosecutors first filed the charges against Jackson in 2004, their case hinged on the testimony of Ronald P. Johnson. But Johnson, who police suspected did not want to testify against his friends, disappeared shortly after being released when attempted-murder charges against him were dropped in June 2004 because of lack of evidence..
By January 2005, prosecutors still had not located Johnson, and dismissed the charges against Jackson with a promise to refile them if Johnson was found.
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, Johnson was arrested in Baltimore during a traffic stop. On Dec. 3, he was indicted on a charge of obstruction of justice, and prosecutors filed a petition charging him with criminal contempt of court for failing to testify when Jackson was initially scheduled for court.
With their key witness back in custody, prosecutors refiled 18 charges against Jackson on Dec. 14, and he was ordered held without bail. The time, Jackson has spent jailed since then, as well as the eight months he spent jailed in 2004 and 2005, will count as time served toward the concurrent sentences he received yesterday.
Thomas and his mother said they were happy with Jackson's sentences.
"I have full confidence in the state's attorney's decision on the plea. If they feel that's adequate, then I'm fine with that," said Thomas, who will start his senior year studying electrical engineering at Morgan State University in September. "I put this situation behind me a long time ago, but for my family's sake, this brings closure."
"I want to thank the community, all of the churches and the many, many prayers that went out in support of my son," Henderson said. "As you can see, when prayers go up, blessings come down."
kevin.rector@baltsun.com
