Attorney withdraws from murder case, conflict cited

A Johnson City man charged with shooting a man down on a deserted road last summer will get a new attorney after his had to withdraw from the case.

Justin A. “Puff” Stratton, 31, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Gary Couch in July 2011. It happened on Quarry Road after Stratton allegedly instructed two females to take Couch there after they had all been at Numan’s in downtown Johnson City.

Stratton has been represented by the public defender’s office since his arrest, but apparently some type of conflict has surfaced.

Assistant Public Defender Bill Francisco told Judge Robert Cupp on Friday that his office had consulted with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility on the matter and that organization agreed about the conflict.

Read the full story on the Johnson City Press Web site.