Three Sentenced in Plot to Frame Innocent Woman

ESSEX—Three people pleaded guilty Tuesday to scheming to file false charges against a woman in an effort to scare her into dropping vehicular assault charges against her ex-boyfriend.

Melanie Isaacs, 41, Joshua Parker, 34, and Sheateria Halsey, 23, admitted to participating in a plan to falsely accuse the woman of crimes so she would not testify against 32-year-old David Andre Johnson.

“It was a goofy situation,” defense attorney Everett Brown said in Baltimore County Circuit Court. “It was stupid, poorly conceived, and even more poorly executed. Everything about it was just dumb.”

Prosecutors said Johnson orchestrated the plan from jail to have his charges dropped or prevent his ex-girlfriend from testifying against him. He is scheduled to stand trial next month on charges related to a vehicular assault and on conspiracy charges, according to court documents.

“The injustice that could have happened is … astronomical,” said Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney John Cox.

Johnson was jailed at the Harford County Detention Center after police said he intentionally rammed his car into his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle in Baltimore County on Aug. 7, 2025.

While incarcerated, Johnson repeatedly tried to persuade the victim to have someone else take the blame, according to the statement of charges. On one recorded call, he allegedly offered an associate five pills in exchange for accepting responsibility for the assault, according to charging documents. In another call, Johnson allegedly offered to pay his ex-girlfriend to take the associate to the state’s attorney’s office. He also threatened to call Child Protective Services to have her child removed.

In September, Johnson was transferred to the Baltimore County Detention Center, where he contacted his new girlfriend, Halsey, and asked her to arrange an assault on his ex-girlfriend. Halsey offered to do it herself, Cox said, and later engaged in a physical altercation with the woman on South Marlyn Avenue on Sept. 5, 2025.

During a three-way jail call on Sept. 14, Johnson, Halsey, and Parker discussed having Isaacs file a false police report. Isaacs later told an officer the woman had threatened her with a gun, prompting a warrant for the woman’s arrest. The warrant was not served before police uncovered the scheme.

In another call, Johnson, Halsey, and a woman who has not been arrested discussed fabricating a second assault allegation, Cox said. On Sept. 17, the woman allegedly used makeup to simulate injuries and claimed she had been pistol-whipped. An officer doubted the report and no warrant was issued.

Halsey later attempted unsuccessfully to place an Apple AirTag on the woman’s car, then vandalized the vehicle’s tires at Johnson’s direction.

On another jail call, Johnson said he would “spend all of his money to ruin” his ex-girlfriend’s life for refusing to drop the charges, according to police. At one point, he allegedly offered $500 to anyone willing to file additional false reports and repeatedly pressured Halsey to recruit others.

Halsey, who had no prior criminal record and suffered a miscarriage while jailed, tearfully apologized in court.

“I just want to apologize for my actions and how naïve I was,” she said. “Sitting in jail, I’ve learned some lessons.”

Judge Michael Barranco sentenced Halsey to 10 years, suspending all but one year, for one count each of second-degree assault, retaliation against a witness, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Judge Robert Cahill sentenced Isaacs and Parker—both jailed since October 2025 with no prior criminal records—to time served.

Cox said the case was resolved quickly out of concern for Isaacs’ and Parker’s safety.

“There were very credible indications that David Johnson was spreading word throughout the jail that these people were cooperating, and their safety could have been in danger,” Cox said.