Defendant Offered Pleas in Non-Fatal Shooting, Attempted Murder Cases

By Alyssia Davis [former] - October 4, 2021
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore man involved in a non-fatal shooting was offered a plea on Oct. 4 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn, while also negotiating additional pleas in a separate attempted murder case. 

In the non-fatal shooting case discussed on Monday, Joseph Black, 35, is charged with possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a firearm, having a handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammo, and discharging firearms in connection to an incident on Oct. 10, 2019. 

He is also charged in another case where he is facing 52 charges, including attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment. This incident occurred about two months later on Dec. 26, 2019.

On Monday, Judge Phinn listened as the prosecution presented a plea of 15 years, suspending all but time served, with two years supervised probation for possession of a firearm with a felony conviction to run concurrent with an attempted murder plea, which he has yet to accept.

Both attempted murder pleas were rejected; however, Black and his attorney, Tom Rafter, have not yet decided whether to accept or reject the non-fatal shooting plea.

Black’s first plea in the attempted murder case was offered in June to which he would have received 20 years for attempted second-degree murder, 5 years for firearm use in a violent crime, and three years for carrying a handgun on his person. Under the deal, these sentences would be served concurrently, in addition to five years for firearm possession with a felony conviction. 

In September, he received another plea offer in the attempted murder case for 15 years, suspending all but five, without the possibility of parole, and three years of probation for possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

The defendant has been scheduled to return to reception court on Nov. 4.