Clark Found Not Guilty of Murder, Attempted Murder

Jurors returned their verdict in the murder trial of James Clark around 11 a.m. Monday after deliberating for most of the day Friday.

Clark, 44 had been charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm, assault, and vehicle theft.

The jury only found him guilty of one count of illegal possession of a firearm for the gun he still had in his possession when Baltimore County police arrested him five days after Romy Bogier’s shooting. He will be sentenced in February 2026.

Clark’s defense team, Layne Pierre and Ryann Castleman of the public defender’s office, were visibly emotional after the verdict was read. 

At least one of the Bogier’s family’s supporters abruptly left the courtroom as the jury delivered its not-guilty verdicts.

Clark was handcuffed and returned to the Baltimore County Detention Center.

A conviction on a charge of being a prohibited felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a minimum mandatory sentence of five years without parole. The mandatory minimum applies unless the person completed their previous felony sentence and any subsequent sentence more than five years before the new offense.

Clark was arrested September 7, 2024, five days after he shot 43-year-old Romy Bogier in the head in a parking lot behind White Oak School in Parkville. Clark also fired at Boger’s adult son, Remy, as Remy fled. Remy Bogier was not hit, but he suffered a serious brain injury when he fell while running away.

Video surveillance captured the shooting.

At issue in the case was Clark’s motivation for the shooting. His defense team said he was defending himself after being assaulted over a $2 debt.

The prosecution asserted that Clark was no longer in danger once Clark slammed Bogier to the ground and picked up Bogier’s gun that had fallen into the ground.