By Jeff Barker, The Baltimore Sun
2:33 p.m. EDT, July 19, 2013
Jason Shapiro, a criminal defense attorney for 22 years and a Terps football season-ticket holder from Howard County, said he will represent Maryland running back Wes Brown.
Brown is accused of second-degree assault on a Baltimore Police detective who hoped to question him as a “person of interest” in a non-fatal shooting investigation. Police say Brown’s car was linked to the shooting.
Shapiro said in an interview: “I don’t believe, from what I hear, that he has criminal culpability in Baltimore City.”
Shapiro said he is still obtaining and studying the facts in the assault case. Brown is accused of shoving the police detective on July 3 in College Park. He’s also accused of stealing a fellow Maryland student’s cell phone and using it to record his exchange with police.
“I’m looking forward to getting full discovery because I believe when Wes has a chance to tell his side of what happened, I believe we have a good defense to the allegations that were raised,” Shapiro said.
The Prince George’s County state’s attorney’s office is also reviewing the case. A spokesman said in an email Friday that it’s uncertain if Brown will be indicted — that would be a private procedure before a grand jury — or whether he will face a preliminary hearing in open court. A hearing has tentatively been scheduled for July 31.
Shapiro is a former president of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association. He said he is a Maryland season-ticket holder who rarely misses games at Byrd Stadium.