Protesters Demand Julius Henson's Release From Prison
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A political operative is in prison and now protesters come out to demand his release, as Julius Henson's lawyer files a new motion in court claiming important information was withheld at sentencing.
Mary Bubala has more.
The rally outside the Mitchell Courthouse is aimed at the criminal justice system and its treatment of political operative Julius Henson. He was sentenced to two months in prison and convicted of one misdemeanor count, while his co-defendant Paul Schurick--convicted of much more serious charges in his robocall trial--was given a 30-day sentence of home detention.
"We are asking for his immediate release from prison. I filed a motion five minutes ago with a copy to Judge Brown requesting and demanding his immediate release," said Henson's attorney Ed Smith.
In the motion--obtained Tuesday by WJZ--Henson's attorney says prosecutors didn't disclose that the only other person ever convicted in Maryland of failing to use an authority line on a robocall like Henson was only ever given a fine.
"It's the only other conviction of the authority line in the state. Now, they filed a pre-trial, pre-sentencing memoranda and they should have notified me when they did it and they didn't," Smith said.
But prosecutors said it was Henson's lack of remorse in both an exclusive interview with WJZ and in court that pushed the judge to give the prison time.
"He didn't see this as a problem, what he did. It was almost the implication that he would do it again," said State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt.
The deputy state prosecutor said they are reviewing the motion and will file a response within days.
