Alleged driver denied bail in 13-year-old's Gary gang murder
Deputy Prosecutors Tim Brown and Kasey Dafoe allege Porter drove as he, Kriston Barbee and Dahvee Brunson stopped, then gunned down 13-year-old Orie Dodson in front of Gary's Power and Light Church on Feb. 15, 2023.
Porter, 23, of Merrillville, has pleaded not guilty. His trial is now set for October.
Authorities believe that in a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius 'Chop' James IV, 24 — a 'revered' and 'untouchable' figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019.
The trio gunned Dodson down in retaliation, police believe.
Barbee was convicted at trial and got 125 years in August. Brunson's two-week trial is currently scheduled to start later this month.
Porter's defense lawyer Aaron Koonce argued during the bail hearings that his client's case was weaker and hinged on the testimony of a witness whom Porter allegedly told what happened.
Barbee and Brunson were charged immediately, while Porter was released within 48 hours of his arrest.
We 'wanted to shore up the case a little,' Detective Justin Clark, now Gary Police Commander of Investigations, said on the stand Wednesday.
After the man came forward, Porter was charged weeks later.
'That's what changed in the case, yes,' Koonce asked.
'The information did help,' Clark said.
While in jail, Porter was also introduced to an elder inmate for advice. Should he say he was just the driver in the 13-year-old's slaying? If you do, the cops will seize your phone, the man told Porter, according to Clark.
Porter replied he left his cell phone at home so he couldn't be tracked, Clark said.
Cappas ruled the evidence was sufficient to go to trial. The two-day bail hearing was held on July 8-9.
Porter's pretrial conference is scheduled in September.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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