A public defender’s medical leave of absence led to postponements for two violent crime cases in Baltimore City Circuit Court on Dec. 8, including one canine-involved manslaughter case from last June and an attempted murder case from January this year.
Counsel told reception court Judge Melissa K. Copeland that Baltimore public defender John Deros had grown ill and “could barely talk” the previous week, causing repeated delays in the case of 27-year-old Angelo Riley Jr.
Riley is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and armed robbery in connection to a Jan. 31 drive-through shooting that occurred at a McDonald’s restaurant located on the 6000 block of Moravia Road. Charging documents state Riley pointed a handgun at a woman working the drive-through and demanded she open the cash register. He reportedly fired once, striking the employee in her left foot, and fled with the register.
In reception court on Dec. 8, Riley expressed argued against further postponements and refused to waive Hicks, or his right to speedy trial within 180 days. Despite Riley’s reluctance proceedings, Judge Copeland found good cause to set the case beyond Riley’s Hicks, citing Deros’ medical concerns.
Riley’s case was ultimately set back to Feb. 18, 2026 before Judge Michael A. DiPietro.
The same day in reception court, a Baltimore woman accused in a deadly pit bull attack from June 15, 2024 opted to enter plea negotiations rather than risk a jury trial. Camree Hickerson, 33, previously waived her Hicks right at an early July reception court hearing and was initially scheduled to stand trial today.
Hickerson is charged with involuntary manslaughter, three counts of reckless endangerment, and several violations regarding her documented failure to restrain her two pit bulls, Moe and Prince.
The dogs allegedly killed Shelia Jones, 54, and injured two other unnamed victims on June 14. Jones was found with multiple bite wounds to her arm and face, and was pronounced deceased two minutes before midnight. The other two victims, a man and a woman, suffered multiple bite wounds to their legs, arms and faces.
Hickerson has notably faced legal sanctions before due to the actions of her pit bulls, and was ordered to engage in corrective actions such as additional restraints and confinement measures. Basket muzzles and adequate backyard fencing were among several directives Hickerson received.
At the Dec. 8 reception court hearing, the state agreed to hold their plea offer until Dec. 19, the date Judge Copeland set for a new pre-trial conference hearing. Hickerson is now set to plead guilty on Dec. 19 before Judge Nicole K. Barmore.
