Prince George's County State's Attorney Jack B. Johnson arrived in downtown Baltimore last night ready to discuss in detail the controversy surrounding the killing of a Hispanic man in Laurel but changed his mind upon learning that The Sun was present.
Johnson had been expected to meet with the Rev. Brian Jordan, a Franciscan priest who ministers to the Hispanic community in suburban Washington and has been highly critical of the prosecutor's handling of the Sept. 4 death of Gilberto Hernandez. Jordan did not show up.
"I'm not speaking to the press any more, and I don't feel comfortable talking in front of the press," said Johnson at the quarterly meeting of the Maryland Advisory Council for New Americans. The meeting was held at the Associated Jewish Community Federation on Mount Royal Avenue.
Nonetheless, Johnson attempted to explain to the council his investigation into the death of Hernandez, 41, a Salvadoran immigrant and dishwasher who was chased by a gang of about seven black youths in what had been described as a hate crime.
Trial for three of those youths -- charges were dropped against four others who agreed to testify -- has been set for May 10.
Johnson said last night that the case was not a hate crime but a robbery attempt and reiterated that Hernandez had not been "kicked to death," as was widely reported but died after being thrown to the ground and hitting his head.
The case highlights Hispanic community concerns that the African-American Johnson is insensitive to the needs of the Spanish-speaking community. Unhappy with Jordan's involvement, Johnson has made indirect threats that the Roman Catholic priest could be charged with "witness tampering" for helping Hernandez's brothers with their testimony.
Other advocates for the Hispanic community noted that Johnson's office of about 120 people has no Hispanic attorneys on staff. The advocates also noted cases in which Spanish-speaking witnesses were not interviewed.
Johnson said that although he has no Hispanics on his staff, he has hired Hispanic prosecutors in the past and has two Spanish-speaking non-Hispanics working for him.
Pub Date: 3/19/99