16-Years-Old Homicide Case Returns to Court

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A motion for a three-judge panel review was requested in Baltimore City Circuit Court on July 14 in the case of a defendant who was convicted of second-degree murder 16 years ago.

On Sept. 27, 2010, Baltimore resident Leon Young accepted a plea deal of 30 years, suspending all but five, with four years of supervised probation upon release for second-degree murder and 20 years, suspending all but five, to be served consecutively, with four years of supervised probation, for committing a crime using a handgun.

While on probation, Young, 46, was arrested on Oct. 21, 2016, after police caught him making a drug deal, according to Fox 45 News.

He was sentenced to 35 years for two counts of violation of his probation on Aug. 17, 2017.

During Wednesday’s hearing, defense attorney James Nichols said Young was not properly represented during his trial for the homicide, which occurred on May 14, 2005.

Nichols argued that Young’s former defense team failed to advise him of his right to appeal for a review of his sentence in front of a three-judge panel.

Young’s former defense attorney, Janine Meckler, testified that she could not remember the specifics of the case, even after being presented with a transcript from 2005. She also said she did not to remember discussing the plea with Young when shown another transcript by the prosecutor.

During the hearing, Young said Meckler did not discuss the plea offer with him and that he “was just pleading guilty to the offer that was given.” He said he pleaded guilty while being treated for bipolar disorder.

Young added that his other defense attorney, Sean Coleman, did not advise him of his post-hearing rights or his right to appeal for a three-judge panel.

However, the prosecutor argued that a three-judge panel is “a non-fundamental right” and that Young never asked for any motions to review.

Judge Robert B. Kershaw said he would issue his opinion on the matter at a later date.