When in doubt

By Sherry Larson

People’s Defender

Since 2019, Defense Attorney Anthony Baker has only had one not guilty verdict, and one hung jury in Adams County. Then, in May and June of 2024, two of his clients and one client of Attorney John Walker were found not guilty by a jury in the Adams County Common Pleas Court. Establishing reasonable doubt can be challenging, but once achieved, it renders a not guilty verdict.

Defendant Robert J. Shelton, represented by Defense Counsel Anthony Baker assisted by Austin G. Ervin, appeared before the Adams County Court of Common Pleas with Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tyler Cantrell on May 20 and 21, 2024, in a legal proceeding.

Shelton, indicted on six counts from two separate events, was found innocent in four of the verdicts:

The jury found Shelton not guilty in Count I of kidnapping in violation of ORC 2905.01 (B)(2), Count II of abduction in violation of ORC 2905.02(A)(2), County VI of kidnapping in violation of ORC 2905.01(B)(2), County V of abduction in violation of ORC 2905.02(A)(2). The jury found Shelton guilty of misdemeanors in the first degree in Count III of domestic violence in violation of ORC 2912.25 (A) and Count VI of domestic violence in violation of ORC 2919.25 (A).

Attorney John Walker of Georgetown, Ohio, defended Logan Jones the same week of Shelton’s trial. His trial also resulted in a non guilty verdict.

On June 10, Baker represented Tary Lanter, who was charged with a serious offense- felonious assault of the second degree with a gun specification. Despite the seriousness of the charges, the following day, a jury found Mr. Lanter not guilty in a remarkably short 30-minute deliberation.