MEMPHIS, Tenn. — According to court records, a long list of charges were dismissed for two men Memphis Police had arrested in a series of crimes including carjacking, robbery, assault, and auto theft.
Jamario Franklin, 19, was originally charged with carjacking, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, especially aggravated kidnapping, burglary, several counts of theft, and more. All except for one vandalism charge was dismissed in court March 18, 2024. That charge has been sent to the grand jury. He is out of jail after posting $10,000 bond.
Jessie Lobley, 18, was originally charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and theft. After several charges were dismissed, he was then facing one theft charge, which was sent to the grand jury. He paid a $5,000 bond on that case, but according to court records, he was booked back into jail on April 4 on a new theft charge involving a stolen car on March 31. He is now in jail on $40,000 bond in that case.
ABC24 has reached out to the Shelby County District Attorney General's Office, which said though some charges were dismissed, that does not mean the men may not face those charges in the future.
"Our office was ready to proceed with charges against both defendants. However, numerous charges were hindered by insufficient evidence and absent victims. Consequently, the judge dismissed some, though not all, of the charges due to this lack of evidence. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that a dismissal in general sessions, which has limited jurisdiction, does not preclude our office from continuing the investigation and pursuing an indictment in the future."
According to MPD investigators, both suspects are gang-affiliated.
MPD originally said the two were suspected in the following cases:
- Jan. 29, 2024 – Three armed suspects stole a silver Mercedes-Benz stolen from CarMax on Getwell.
- Feb. 13 at 12:20 p.m. – Victim told officers three armed men approached him in the 3700 block of Ketchum Rd. He said they forced him from his 2016 Chevrolet Camaro and into a black Lexus. MPD said the suspects took off in both cars, and later assaulted the victim before dropping him off along Getwell Rd.
- Feb. 14 – MPD officers said a man was loading a Porsche Cayenne onto a trailer at Gossett Porsche on Covington Pike when a silver Mercedes-Benz approached. They said a man got out of the car, got into the Porsche, and took off southbound on Covington Pike.
- Feb. 18 about 5:40 p.m. – MPD said a man saw several armed men breaking into his black 2017 Dodge Charger at the Chili’s on Poplar Ave. When he confronted the suspects, MPD said they pointed guns at the victim then took off in the Charger.
- Feb. 19 – MPD said officers spotted the stolen Charger in the 7000 block of Winchester Rd. They said the suspects switched vehicles and got into a stolen black Jeep Grand Cherokee and a silver Mercedes-Benz. MPD said the officers chased the suspects, who crashed into the woods in the 2100 block of McKellar Woods Court. Investigators said the two suspects tried to run, but were taken into custody.
MPD investigators originally said Franklin was also accused four other car thefts and a burglary at a local City Gear. They said Lobley was also accused in two of those car thefts as well. MPD also said both suspects admitted to several other crimes as well and charges were pending in those cases.
