Attorney Amanda Burgess, who formerly represented defendant Tien Hawkins, was found in contempt of court during an August 27 hearing and later removed from the case. Hawkins is now represented by court-appointed attorneys Mackenzi Carrington and Jonathan Walker. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
The criminal cases against Tien Lynn Hawkins and Brian Moser (also known as Terry Smith III) took a dramatic turn in late August, as courtroom developments shifted the timeline for one of Adams County’s most closely watched prosecutions. Both defendants face serious felony charges in connection with the death of a two-year-old child and the alleged abuse of other children under their care.
Hawkins, who was indicted on eight felony counts including murder, involuntary manslaughter, multiple counts of permitting child abuse, and endangering children, will no longer be represented by her original attorney, Amanda Burgess. During an August 27 hearing before Judge Brett Spencer, Burgess was found in contempt of court after refusing to answer questions, interrupting the judge, and preventing the court from proceeding with scheduled matters. The judge imposed a $250 fine against Burgess and formally removed her from the case.
The judge’s decision to discharge Burgess left Hawkins without legal representation for only a short time. The court quickly appointed two new defense attorneys, Mackenzi Carrington and Jonathan Walker, who are now tasked with guiding Hawkins through a case that has already drawn significant community attention. The appointment of new counsel immediately prompted changes to the trial schedule. Hawkins’ previously scheduled September 3 final pretrial hearing and September 29 jury trial were both canceled and moved to next year. The case is now scheduled for a final pretrial hearing on March 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. and a jury trial beginning May 4, 2026, at 9 a.m.
In the weeks surrounding Burgess’ removal, Hawkins’ case saw a flurry of activity. On August 5, Burgess had filed a motion to reduce Hawkins’ bond, which currently stands at $500,000 with a 10 percent option. The Adams County Prosecutor’s Office quickly opposed the request, and the court has left Hawkins’ bond in place. Around the same time, defense attorneys filed responses to plea offers and other routine motions. Once Carrington and Walker were appointed, they moved swiftly to file new discovery requests, a demand for recordings from the crime scene, and a request for a bill of particulars, laying out the prosecution’s specific allegations. These steps signal that Hawkins’ new legal team is preparing to challenge the state’s evidence aggressively.
While Hawkins’ case has undergone significant disruption, Brian Moser’s proceedings remain on a steadier track. Moser, who faces ten felony counts including murder, involuntary manslaughter, and multiple counts of child endangerment, has consistently maintained a not guilty plea through his appointed attorney, C. Nicholas Ring. His case has not seen the same changes in representation or scheduling. Instead, his docket over the past several weeks reflects the normal back-and-forth of discovery. Prosecutors, including Assistant Prosecutors Tyler Cantrell and Ariana Bowles Norris, have filed multiple responses to discovery requests and notices of intent to use evidence, most recently on September 9.
Moser’s trial schedule remains unchanged, with a final pretrial conference scheduled for January 8, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a jury trial set to begin March 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. His bond continues to be set at $1,000,000, and like Hawkins, he has been ordered to have no contact with the surviving children connected to the case.
Both cases are being prosecuted under the direction of Adams County Prosecutor Aaron Haslam, with Cantrell and Norris handling much of the day-to-day filings. The developments surrounding Hawkins’ representation, particularly the rare instance of an attorney being held in contempt and removed from a high-profile case, underscore the challenges of bringing such a complex prosecution to trial.
The tragic circumstances of the case continue to weigh heavily on Adams County. The death of the young girl and the allegations of prolonged abuse have left a community searching for accountability and healing. Now, with both trials postponed well into 2026, residents face an extended wait before a jury will hear the evidence and decide the fate of Hawkins and Moser. The court’s decisions in recent weeks have ensured that the process will move forward, but they also serve as a reminder of how unpredictable and difficult such high-stakes cases can become.
