Attorney pleads not guilty to bribing, tampering with witness
NEW HAVEN — A Stamford criminal defense attorney whose case was transferred to the New Haven judicial district pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of tampering and bribing a witness.
Norwalk resident Darnell Crosland, 50, who has compared his arrest to “a modern day lynching,” stood silently before New Haven Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford as his attorney, Wayne Keeney, entered the not guilty pleas on his behalf.
Clifford noted it had been decided the case would be “better handled outside that jurisdiction” of Stamford. Keeney had requested the change in venue.
During Crosland’s brief appearance, Clifford scheduled the next pretrial hearing for Jan. 23.
Although Crosland and Keeney previously were outspoken about the case — Keeney has said his client’s prosecution could cause a “chilling effect” on attorneys vigorously representing their clients — both of them declined to comment after they left the courtroom.
Crosland has been the attorney for Marquel Middleton, who faces an attempted murder charge in the shooting of Isaiah Genias in Norwalk in July 2017. According to the affidavit in Crosland’s arrest, he visited Genias in the Stamford courthouse lockup in November 2018. During that meeting, Crosland told Genias he could get him out of jail if he recanted his written statement against Middleton regarding the shooting, the affidavit said.
The affidavit also quoted Genias’ mother, who told police Crosland said he would pay Genias’ medical bills resulting from the shooting if he agreed not to testify against Middleton.
Crosland is charged with bribery of a witness, tampering with a witness and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. All three of those crimes are felonies.