Darnell Lemons Weighs Plea Deal in April Road-Rage Incident; Hearing Scheduled for July

Darnell E. Lemons II appeared in court today concerning charges related to a road-rage shooting that transpired in April along State Route 347. The incident escalated near a Maricopa elementary school, grabbing significant public attention.

During the status conference, the prosecutor revealed a potential settlement offer that had not yet been communicated to Lemons’s defense attorney, Michael Nachmanson. Although prosecutor Monica Sochacki is assigned to the case, another attorney represented her today and engaged in discussions with Nachmanson.

Nachmanson requested additional time to analyze the evidence, citing the need to review approximately 18 hours of body camera footage from Maricopa police and Arizona state troopers. He asked Judge Jason Holmberg for 45 days to adequately prepare the defense.

Judge Holmberg scheduled the next hearing, focused on determining the necessity of a trial, for July 28 at 1:30 p.m. Lemons waived his right to a speedy trial, with 140 days remaining under his current release conditions.

At 30 years old, Lemons faces multiple felony charges, including drive-by shooting and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from an incident on April 8. It is alleged that he fired at least nine shots through his own windshield in a confrontation with another driver.

According to authorities, Lemons opened fire on a Ford F-150 after claiming the driver brake-checked him. Although no injuries were reported, the truck sustained damage in two locations. The truck’s driver pursued Lemons until law enforcement apprehended him near his home.

Investigators later found 10 shell casings inside Lemons’s vehicle. He admitted ownership of a Glock 43X used in the incident.

This altercation adds complexity to Lemons’s legal history; he was previously convicted of a non-violent felony related to weapons misconduct. This was after prosecutors dropped more severe gang-related and murder charges a decade ago. Just weeks prior to the road-rage incident, Lemons attempted to restore his gun rights, although court records show no ruling was made on that matter.

Lemons’s legal team previously sought to prohibit InMaricopa’s David Iversen from photographing in court, citing the potential for biased coverage impacting the jury pool. They argued that past articles unfairly characterized Lemons, referring to him as a murderer and street gang member, despite the dismissal of those charges in 2012.

However, Judge Holmberg denied this motion. Lemons remains free on bond but declined to comment on the case.