39 Babies Gang Member Accepts 20 Year Guilty Plea in Longstanding Murder Case

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After consulting with his defense attorney, Angela Shelton, a homicide defendant and member of the notorious 39 Babies criminal gang accepted the prosecution’s plea offer of 20 years suspending all but five.

The defendant, James Brunson, 41, accepted the deal before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John Addison Howard on March 10.

Brunson, was originally charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, possessing a rifle or shot gun with a mental disability, and conspiracy to commit an unlawful act for a Nov. 1, 2021 incident. According to the prosecution, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) found a backpack that had a handgun, cocaine, and heroin the day of the murder.

However, the prosecution decided to drop all charges, except participation in a criminal organization, conspiracy to organize, supervise, and finance criminal organization, and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

The remaining charges are to be served concurrently.

Brunson was indicted in 2023 as a gang member involved in a number of serious crimes in the Baltimore area. He was specifically named as a “manager” of the gang’s narcotics distribution operation on the corner of West Baltimore Street and North Bentalou Street.

This was not the first time Brunson was offered a plea. In November and December of 2023 he rejected a similar deal from the prosecution.

Brunson faced similar charges in a different case on Nov. 15, 2021 which was dismissed on Aug. 8, 2023.

Shelton said Brunson has a history of depression and is grieving the deaths of several of family members. Brunson’s mental woes prompted him to join the 39 Babies, Shelton said.

“The final nail on the coffin was when I had to bury my only sister at the beginning of COVID-19,” Brunson told Judge Howard. “I lost my father after he OD’d. I felt like I was losing everything.”

Judge Howard said he recognizes Brunson needs mental health treatment to ensure he’ll no longer be a threat to society.