Several defendants rejected plea offers on Oct. 10, leading to multiple postponements and re-scheduled proceedings before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn’s reception docket.
One Baltimore man accused of discharging a gun in Harlem Park over three years ago declined a plea offer of 30 years, suspending all but 15 years, opting instead for a retrial in December.
Henry Allen, 28, was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years in connection to the victimless shooting, which occurred May 31, 2022 at the West Carry-Out and Grocery on the 1800 block of Edmondson Avenue.
The conviction was overturned in July. Allen still faces charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, assault, and reckless endangerment, as well as multiple weapons offenses.
The trial is scheduled for Dec. 10 before Judge Hope Tipton.
Murder defendant Karin Redfern, 26, also rejected a plea offer of life, suspending all but 40 years suspended, followed by five years of probation for her first-degree murder charge.
Redfern is also charged with using a dangerous weapon with intent to injure and concealing a dangerous weapon after allegedly stabbing her fiancé’s attacker on the 3000 block of Westfield Avenue.
Redfern’s trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 24, 2026.
In another matter, a 33-year-old defendant’s competency to stand trial was called into question by the court. Defense counsel in the case of 33-year-old Melvin Douglas Scott Jr. requested a postponement in pre-trial proceedings until the completion of another mental competency evaluation for the defendant. The prosecution joined the postponement request.
Scott faces four charges, including first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, and two counts of possessing a firearm with a disqualifying conviction.
He will return to reception court on Dec. 12 before Judge Melissa K. Copeland.
Another murder defendant, 28-year-old Lamonte Sherman, also rejected a plea offer, opting instead to be tried by a panel of jurors early next year.
Sherman is charged with two counts each of first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony crime of violence for the fatal shootings of Phillip Brown, 28, and Michael Saffold, 20.
Brown and Saffold were allegedly murdered following a dispute that occurred Dec. 3, 2023 on the 3600 block of Greenmount Avenue.
Sherman will be tried Jan. 23, 2026, for four days. He is set to return to reception court Nov. 7 to finalize remaining pre-trial matters.
A Yale Heights murder case is set to return to court later this month for trial. Matthew Crawley, 27, will stand trial before Judge Barry G.Williams on Oct. 23. Crawley is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and possessing a firearm with a disqualifying felony conviction.
Crawley was arrested on March 6 after police linked him to the murder of Taijah Addison, 27, on the 700 block of Yale Avenue.
The case of a squeegee worker who allegedly pointed a gun at a man was pushed past its speedy trial deadline after Judge Phinn found good cause to exceed it.
Antonio Louis Mackey, 22, was charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder after the police found footage from the intersection of Light and Conway Streets and allegedly identified Mackey at the scene of the crime. The footage allegedly captured Mackey’s face and a distinctive necklace that helped law enforcement track the Baltimore native down and arrest him.
Mackey’s case was postponed the prior week due to the illness of his defense attorney, John Deros.
Due to Deros’ unavailability in December, Judge Phinn set Mackey’s trial to Jan. 6, 2026. Judge Lawrence R. Daniels will preside over the trial, which is expected to last three days.
Another murder trial is set to commence two weeks after Mackey’s.
Idris Malik Ramos, 51, is charged with first-degree murder and intent to injure with a deadly weapon for allegedly fatally stabbing Tyrell John Curtis, 39, on the 100 block of S. Broadway.
Defense attorney Deborah Warner-Dennis expressed concern about the prosecution’s assessing the strength of the case while Ramos remains in custody.
The prosecution assured the court that it remains confident it can prove the case, and is only awaiting pending DNA evidence.
Ramos’ trial was set for Jan. 20 before Judge Sylvester B. Cox.
Of the six homicide cases heard in reception court on Oct. 10, one involved a 17-year-old murder defendant whose case remains in limbo between Baltimore City’s adult and juvenile criminal courts.
The teenager faces six charges, including first-degree murder and possession of a firearm as a minor. Judge Stephen J. Sfekas is set to rule on whether the defendant will be tried as a juvenile or an adult. If he rules the latter, parties are expected to reconvene Nov. 7 to determine a trial date.
