Georgia criminal lawyer wins acquittal on reckless conduct charge in after-prom party death in Barrow County
Barrow County High School student Leland Martin, 18, died of suffocation in 2007 after passing out during a prom party. Authorities say alcohol contributed to the death. On Thursday, a Barrow County jury acquitted Anthony Perry, who was 19 at the time, of playing a role in Martin’s death.
The Athens Banner-Herald has the story.
The Barrow County District Attorney’s Office had charged Perry with reckless conduct, since the party at which Martin died occurred in Perry’s home. At trial, it was revealed that Martin’s body was not found until the following morning even though 20 to 40 people were at the prom party. Perry's defense attorney, Christine Koehler, did a fantastic job defending her client.
The trial came on the heels of a plea deal prosecutors made with Barbara Ann Michael, Perry’s step-mother. Michael was accused of allowing her teenage children to throw parties at her home. Prosecutors alleged that Michael was aware that alcohol was being served at the prom party even though she was not at home during the party and did not provide the alcohol. She ended up pleading to eight misdemeanors.
