Two defendants in an Atlantic City Expressway shootout are expected to fight charges that they were involved in gang activity.
Devan Leggette and Anthony Hicks were in court separately Monday in connection with the case that resulted in the killing of one man and left several others wounded.
The deadly shootout was allegedly sparked by an argument Aug. 29, 2016, inside the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing.
Rosemond Octavius was killed in the shooting. Several others were wounded.
Charges include gang criminality.
Leggette, Hicks and co-defendant Wilbert Demosthenes are allegedly members of the Southside Mob, an alleged affiliate of the Haitian mob that is centered in Pleasantville.
But both Leggette’s and Hicks’ attorneys told Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor on Monday that they would likely be filing motions to have those charges dropped.
Timothy Reilly, who is representing Hicks, said he made the decision after reading the grand jury transcripts.
Leggette’s attorney, Michael Schreiber, mentioned the motion as he argued for bail Monday.
Leggette is the only co-defendant who was not given a bail, since he was
arrested 10 months after the others, after bail reform kicked in.
But that unfairly penalized Leggette, Schreiber argued.
“He’s being treated differently than his co-defendants,” he said.
Taylor denied the motion.
Lenardo Caro was the first to plead guilty in the case earlier this month.
He faces an eight-year sentence under the plea agreement.
Caro’s plea may clear Leggette, Schreiber said in court. While the state says Leggette was driving, Caro reportedly said it was Demosthenes, Schreiber said.
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