Howard County judge issues no-bond bench warrant for Damien Berry

A Howard County judge has issued a no-bond bench warrant for former Baltimore Ravens reserve running back Damien Jamaar Berry.

Berry allegedly failed to appear for a settlement conference scheduled Monday afternoon in Howard County Circuit Court, according to the county's state's attorney's office.

The warrant was issued by Howard County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. McCrone.

Last May, Berry was arrested in Florida on a Howard County warrant, charging him with $100,000-plus theft, passing a bad check and auto theft in connection with the purchase of a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover from a Clarksville auto dealership, the state's attorney's office said.

Berry was later returned to Maryland, where he requested a jury trial in circuit court and was released on $15,000 bond after agreeing to Monday afternoon's settlement date that was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Settlement conferences often establish subsequent court dates for motions hearings and trials.

Berry spent the 2012 season on injured reserve after being on the Ravens' practice squad as a rookie two years ago. He was released by the Ravens before the 2013 season.

According to prosecutors, no defense attorney entered Berry's appearance in the case.

The former NFL player sold his Super Bowl XLVII ring last year and it later was auctioned off by Goldin Auctions. He told The Baltimore Sun that he didn't sell his ring, but notarized documents told a different story.

Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, two years ago said Berry and witness Brian Levine went to a Wells Fargo bank in Florida to have the sales contract notarized. Goldin said Berry displayed his driver's license to an authorized, licensed notary before being given two cashier's checks that the NFL player then cashed at the bank.

A copy of one cashier's check in the amount of $10,000 from Wells Fargo made out to Berry was emailed to The Baltimore Sun. The documents show that the purchase agreement was signed and executed Aug, 30, 2013.

Goldin said the ring later was sold to an undisclosed third party, which then consigned it to Goldin Auctions.


(baltimoresun.com)