Manslaughter Defendant Released From Home Detention

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

Baltimore City Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong released Shakeff Hatcher, 47, from home detention partly on a technicality as well as grounds of good behavior on Aug. 11.

Hatcher was charged with and pleaded guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of Anthony Walther, 45, more than two years ago. He was sentenced to ten years, suspending all but 18 months of home detention, for what was ruled an accidental killing, at the Water Street Tavern on the 100 block of Water Street.

According to charging documents, on July 20, 2023 at approximately 11:07pm Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers arrived at the tavern for a report of an assault.

Walther was located at the bottom of a flight of stairs, suffering from a head wound. He was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he succumbed as a result of his wounds on Aug. 4, 2023.

Investigators determined that Walther walked into the bar already intoxicated and verbally confronted Hatcher. The altercation escalated and resulted in Hatcher shoving the victim down a flight of stairs located inside the bar.

The case was brought before Judge Hong two months before it was meant to be reviewed because Maryland officials reportedly revoked the license of the Advantage Sentencing Alternative Programs company that was responsible for monitoring Hatcher.

ASAP’s agreement was terminated for the organization’s alleged failure to keep defendants in compliance with release terms, even though the move was not relevant to Hatcher’s case.

Defense attorney Brian Thompson asked Judge Hong to release Hatcher from home detention and allow him to begin his three year probation period.

Despite the prosecution’s emphasis on the previous agreement to review the case a year after sentencing, Judge Hong sided with Thompson and released Hatcher on probation.