March 16, 2018 Press Release

The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the felony murder conviction of Patrick Deon Johnson.  Johnson, 44, was convicted in Jefferson County Circuit Court in October 2016 for discharging a firearm into the vehicle of Keary Hollis, causing Hollis’ death.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 10, 2014, Hollis, an off-duty Birmingham Police Officer, backed over the motorcycle of Johnson, and he began to drive away.  Johnson fired four shots into Hollis’ car, where one of the bullets struck Hollis in the temple, causing his death.  Hollis’ vehicle rolled forward and crashed into an abandoned building next door.  Johnson then got on his motorcycle and drove away.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts and Julie McMakin, both of the office of Jefferson County District Attorney Mike Anderton.  “Both Joe and Julie protected the people of Jefferson County and the trial rights of the defendant, according to the law, as evidenced by the affirmation by the Court of Criminal Appeals,” Anderton said.  Brown was sentenced to Life imprisonment and sought to have his conviction reversed.  The Alabama Attorney General’s Appeals section argued for the Court to affirm the conviction.  The Court did so in a decision issued March 9.