18-Year-Old Attempted Murder Defendant Rejects 20 Year Plea Offer

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On Jan. 9, a prosecutor offered a 20 year plea deal to an 18-year-old defendant charged with a summer 2023 shooting before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.

Rito Cox III is charged with attempted first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm as a minor, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a June 15, 2023, incident.

The prosecution offered Cox a plea deal to serve 40 years, suspending all but 20 years, with five years of probation for attempted first-degree murder, a concurrent five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime and another concurrent five years for possession of a firearm as a minor. Cox would additionally been required to register as a gun offender. Defense attorney Sheri Scott-Redwood rejected the offer on her client’s behalf.

Though the case was indicted in August 2023, the prosecution only sent initial evidence in December. When asked by Judge Copeland if there was any reason as to the delay, the prosecutor said there was none.

Scott-Redwood’s co-counsel Julie Shapiro told the court that the only mutually available trial between all the attorneys would be in June. Because the June schedule is not yet open, Judge Copeland continued the hearing to Jan. 19 to set a trial date.

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