Wheels of Justice

The wheels of Justice in Mecklenburg County are seldom turning. 

The full quote is often phrased as  "The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine". 

This proverb is supposed to mean that while the legal process can be lengthy, it will eventually produce the absolutely correct and thorough outcome. 

For Kendall Crank died on March 28, 2019 after she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout on 28th Street near North Tryon Street in Charlotte nothing could be further from the truth.

The following day, CMPD would charge 3 thugs; Adonis Smith, 17, Marquis Smith 24 and 22 year old Tychicus Dobie with 1st degree murder.

But it would take six years before the first case would go to trial.

March of this year the case against Adonis Smith did just that after six years.

Adonis Smith Photo Courtesy of MCSO

Unfortunately the jury selected to hear the case had the educational equivalent of squirrels and the state's case was a disaster. The judge ruled in favor of the defense on nearly every motion and his lengthy instructions to the jury seemed to reach new levels of direction from the bench. In the end the jury like a squirrel in the road could not make up its mind.

On May 8, 2025 Judge Matthew Osman declared a mistrial, and released Smith on a 10 thousand dollar secured bail while rejecting the state's request to for electronic monitoring.

Smith was released from jail on May 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM six years and two months after he was arrested for the murder of Kendall Crank. He remains free on bail awaiting a decision as to a retrial.

Then last month the other two men accused of killing Kendall Crank in 2019 pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

The remaining two thugs would wait another two months before they made their appearances before a judge back in August.

With the disaster of Smith's trial the Mecklenburg County DA offered defendants, Tychicus Dobie and Marquis Smitha a sweet plea deal. 

Dobie and Smith Photo Courtesy MCSO

Dobie pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and Discharging a Weapon into an Occupied Vehicle in Operation. Dobie also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a weapon by a prisoner, although those charges did not stem from Crank’s murder.

Dobie was released from the Mecklenburg County Detention Center on August 12, 2025 having been given credit for time served.

Marquis Smith pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact of Voluntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and was released with credit for time served on August 6, 2025.

The men’s pleas come more than six years after 27-year-old Kendal Crank was murdered.

Crank was on her way to classes at the UNC School of Nursing when a shootout broke out on 28th Street near North Tryon Street, not far outside Uptown. She was killed by a single bullet.

The case against Adonis Smith is still pending it remains to active for the time being and he remains free on bond.

At this point the Mecklenburg DA has only 3 options:

Retry the case, which could take months or years of preparation.

Attempt to negotiate a plea deal with Smith’s attorneys.

Drop the charges.

The biggest obstacle may be that the murder weapon has never been located and that makes tying the gun, the bullet and the shooter to Crank's death conclusively a bridge too far. 

Additionally now that the two co-defendants have been convicted, and sentenced to time served, Spencer Merriweather has little choice but to dismiss the charges against Adonis Smith.