Brown was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault and having weapons under disability for the double shooting that killed a customer at the Princeton Road store.
Attorney Brad Kraemer was the third attorney assigned to Brown’s case. The trial was scheduled to begin in November. But in July, Kramer filed a motion to withdraw from the case. In that motion he said “ethical issues” have arisen that made it impossible for him to continue to represent Brown, according to court documents.
Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Dan Haughey permitted Kraemer to withdraw and told Brown the court is at the end of “its rope” with where to go to find a new court-appointed attorney. Because Brown was represented by an attorney from the county public defender’s office he must be represented by counsel that is not a part of that office.
Haughey told Brown when a new attorney is appointed, “Do your best to make it work.”
Hamilton County attorney Rodney Harris was in court Tuesday with Brown and after some discussion, Harris and Brown agreed to the representation moving forward.
During the hearing, Brown continued to tell the judge about his issues about his former attorney and the flow of discovery evidence. The judge reminded him that he has a new attorney and that discovery issues, if any, could be address by Harris.
“I maintain I am innocent,” Brown said. “I can prove it with competent and trustworthy representation.”
Haughey told Brown that Harris has handled the most serious cases and he will have zealous representation.
But Haughey made it clear that when Brown returns to court on Oct. 8 for a pretrial hearing, a new trial date will be chosen and “set in stone.” That will likely be in February or March.
Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Katie Pridemore said during the hearing she and her office have provided all discovery evidence to all of Brown’s attorneys “over and over again” and even offered to help the defense get additional video of the incident. She said she did not appreciate Brown’s allegation of any unethical practices.
Brown, who is being held in the Butler County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bond, was originally set for trial in June 2023, but it was canceled after the attorney he hired withdrew from the case, citing irreconcilable differences. He was then given court-appointed attorneys who also withdrew, citing conflicts with Brown.
Brown is accused of shooting and killing Adam Black, 35, a Hamilton man who had recently moved to the area and who had just learned he was going to be a father. Brown also is accused of shooting and wounding Eric Ruff, 57, of Fairfield, a Walmart employee.
Brown was caught on multiple Walmart store cameras on May 26, 2022. He was seen being dropped off by his father and walking into the store, according to prosecutors.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
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