New Castle, DE – Ex-con arrested during traffic stop with loaded handgun and drugs FREE TO GO on a “promise to appear”

Brett Johns, 27, and ex-con from Bear, was arrested after police seized an 18″ machete, a loaded .380 handgun, and drug paraphernalia (empty heroin bags and needles), during a routine traffic stop.

Johns was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, carrying a concealed dangerous instrument, carrying a firearm by a person prohibited (while in possession of a controlled substance), possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to signal.

After arraignment at JP Court 2, the judge released Johns on an unsecured bail of $10,050.00 – “unsecured” meaning Johns simply has to “promise to pay” if he fails to appear in court. The basic equivalent of a release on own recognizance, Johns has zero accountability or monitoring under these release conditions.


Another Pretrial Release Failure.

Even with the current inadequate Delaware criminal justice laws, Delaware is looking to expand the unaccountable release of violent and dangerous offenders with House Bill 204.

  • ZERO Accountability
  • ZERO Deterrent
  • ZERO Supervision
  • ZERO concern for victims
  • ZERO Bail…just a “pinky promise” to return
  • Bail Reform – Dangerous, Reckless, and a Taxpayer Burden

New Castle County Police Post via Facebook

(2/27/16)

Yesterday (02/26) morning around 10:20 a.m., members of the New Castle County Mobile Enforcement Team (Central and Tactical sections) were conducting proactive patrol in the Manor Park community in New Castle. During their patrols they observed a maroon Chevrolet Silverado commit a traffic violation while traveling on Boulden Boulevard.

Officers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as 27-year-old Brett Johns of Bear. During the contact with Johns, officers noticed a large serrated blade protruding from underneath the driver’s side seat cushion. The blade was identified as a large 18” machete and was then secured by the officers.

During contact with Johns it was discovered that he was carrying a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun in his waistband. Johns was taken into custody and after a more thorough search, officers located drug paraphernalia (empty heroin bags and needles) and a controlled substance. 

Brett Johns was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, carrying a concealed dangerous instrument, carrying a firearm by a person prohibited (while in possession of a controlled substance), possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to signal. He was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court Two (2) and issued an unsecured bail of $10,050.00. Johns was released after being issued a no contact order with the Manor Park community.


https://www.usbailreform.com/call-action-email-delaware-lawmakers-stop-ab-204-get-jail-free-bill/