DETROIT – A defense attorney was arrested Monday in a Detroit courtroom and charged with conspiracy to commit perjury.
David Dunn was representing 22-year-old Andre Collins, who is charged with first-degree murder.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Dunn and Collins are accused of trying to get a witness commit perjury for the trial, which was set to start Monday.
Dunn was arrested in the courtroom of Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny, who was tipped off it would happen. Kenny was set to hear a motion to delay the jury trial.
Dunn was taken away by deputies and placed in the court lockup in a back hallway. He's spending the night in the Dickerson Wayne County Jail.
"I have never heard of this. This is remarkable," said Local 4 legal analyst Todd Flood.
Sources told Local 4 that the case started when Collins was talking with a visitor to the jail on the jail phone system and said, "My attorney has it under control," referring to a witness. Dunn was then put on surveillance by Detroit police and the FBI and was recorded trying to pay the witness to lie at trial.
Both Dunn and Collins are charged with conspiracy to commit perjury in a capital trial. Dunn is also charged with witness interference, obstruction of justice, perjury incitement and solicitation to commit a felony.
"Mr. Dunn's alleged behavior is a poison arrow to the heart of the criminal justice system. The evidence will show that he has done this more than once. I cannot even begin to express how disappointed I am by his alleged actions," said Worthy.
Dunn and Collins are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court.
-- Andre Collins