How Public Defender Henry Ting Outmaneuvered One of the Dirtiest Prosecutorial Moves I've Ever Seen

After more than 20 years as a bail agent, I thought I’d seen it all. But nothing compares to what I just witnessed: one of the most underhanded maneuvers ever pulled by a prosecutor’s office—met head-on by a public defender who refused to fold.

Mr. Ting and I shared a client who originally posted a $100,000 bail in 2020 and proceeded to trial. After being convicted on 3 of 6 charges, the court increased his bail to $200,000—a reflection of the fact that the presumption of innocence was gone, and the risk of flight was considered significantly higher. Despite the increased amount, he posted the new bail and still reported for sentencing, on time and without hesitation, fully aware that a lengthy prison sentence awaited him. That level of integrity is rare and worth acknowledging.

After serving a few years, Mr. Ting won the appeal. The Intermediate Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and remanded the case back to Circuit Court.

Mr. Henry Ting, the appellate public defender, was not the original trial attorney. In fact, the original attorney was later appointed to the bench—a sign of the legal caliber involved. It’s always a tall order to step into the shoes of a legal giant, but Mr. Ting did so with poise, precision, and expert command of the case.

Roughly three weeks after the appellate reversal, the court held a hearing to formally draft an Order Pertaining to Bail. The prosecutor’s office had every opportunity to reevaluate the charges, restructure the indictment, and argue for appropriate bail conditions. After hearing arguments, the court set bail at $100,000, which matched the original bail amount from the case’s first go-around—an outcome that felt measured and fair under the circumstances.

The family was relieved, posted bail, and welcomed their loved one back home after years in custody.

For only a few days…

Less than a week after bail was posted, the prosecutor’s office refiled two previously dismissed charges—ones the jury had hung on—by taking them to a 2025 grand jury as a brand-new case. With no defense counsel present, there was no one to explain the history, making it, in my view, a lie of omission. A fully informed grand jury may have rejected those charges, but instead, the prosecutor used a legal backdoor to trigger a new arrest—despite my client’s perfect, years-long record of court compliance and no new offenses.

They requested $250,000 bail—and got it.

After the prosecutor’s office stabbed my client in the back, they twisted the knife—having the warrant served just hours after the grand jury handed down the indictment. Not days later, as is typical. Not even the next morning. Same day. That kind of turnaround only happens if the police department is tipped off and prepped in advance. The fix was in.

Mr. Ting, a specialist in the appeals division of the Public Defender’s Office, chose to fight back against the move—making a special appearance at arraignment and plea to personally argue for a bail reduction. He stood before Judge Somerville and successfully got the bail reduced back to $100,000, despite the prosecutor’s clear attempt to drive it higher.

Mr. Ting's work on this case was nothing short of masterful. He reversed a sex assault conviction, neutralized multiple bad-faith bail attempts, and did so with urgency, integrity, and surgical precision.

It’s easy to criticize public defenders—until you see what a great one can actually do. Henry Ting reminded us all what real advocacy looks like.

– Nicholas Lindblad
A-1 Bail Bonds