Jessamy spokesperson says video taken out of context

BALTIMORE - Baltimore City State's Attorney, Patricia Jessamy, is being blasted for what she said at her birthday party Sunday evening, just hours before a Johns Hopkins researcher was murdered by a man with a lengthy criminal past.

According to Doni Glover of bmorenews.com and The Charm City Current, Glover captured Jessamy addressing the crowd at the Baltimore Rowing Club and posted the video to YouTube. Jessamy is seen addressing supporters about prosecuting criminals.

"You gotta set priorities you gotta identify who goes to jail because not everybody needs to be in jail," Jessamy said.

In a seperate YouTube clip, Glover interviewed Jessamy where she said, "I'm tough and smart, continuing to work for and on behalf of the people."

But late Thursday, a spokesperson for Jessamy told ABC2 the YouTube clips "are being taken out of context," presenting a skewed picture of Ms. Jessamy's overall comments.

City State's Attorney spokesperson Margaret Burns even compared the current video controversy with the recent national furor over remarks caught on video made by Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod.

According to Doni Glover of bmorenews.com and The Charm City Current, both Congressman Elijiah Cummings and Maryland Lt. Governor, Anthony Brown, were both at Jessamy's birthday party.

Jessamy is facing harsh criticism for what critics say was failing to prosecute suspect John Wagner.

Wagner and his wife, Levelva Merritt, are accused of killing Johns Hopkins researcher, Stephen Pitcairn late Sunday night. Both suspects have a lengthy criminal past.

Court records show Wagner violated his probation numerous times for a domestic violence assault back in 2008 but he was repeatedly allowed to stay on the streets.

Also, police say video from April shows Wagner robbing someone outside a gas station. A jury never saw the video or a written statement from the victim.

Jessamy's office claims it couldn't pursue the case because the victim was afraid to testify.

Jessamy is facing Gregg Bernstein in the democratic primary in September. Bernstein fired back earlier this week at Jessamy's handling of Wagner's case. Bernstein says video of the April crime, and possibly testimony from the arresting officers, should have been enough to go to court.

"If the state's attorney (Patricia Jessamy) had done her job, a job she has had for over 15 years, Stephen Pitcairn might be alive today," Bernstein said.