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By
Sage Cho
- January 21, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland approved the defense’s request to postpone the homicide trial of alleged ‘39 Babies’ gang member James Brunson after his defense attorney, Angela Shelton, was unable to appear due to illness. The ruling came in a Jan. 21 proceeding.
This marks the fourth postponement in Brunson’s case. Judge Copeland previously granted a request by Shelton in October last year after she was ill multiple times over the summer, preventing her from reviewing key evidence.
Brunson, 41, is charged with first-degree murder; attempted first-degree murder; participation in a criminal organization; and organizing, supervising and financing a criminal organization. He is also charged with conspiracy to organize, supervise and finance a criminal organization; commit an unlawful act; and distribute narcotics.
Other charges include firearm use in a felony or violent crime; firearm possession with a felony conviction; possessing a rifle or shotgun with a mental disability, possessing a rifle or shotgun with a felony conviction; and possession of non-marijuana narcotics in connection to an incident that occurred Nov. 1, 2021.
Brunson previously rejected the state’s plea offer of 20 years with the first five without possibility of parole.
Judge Copeland reset the trial, which is likely to last five days, to March 10 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard.