A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge imposed a 20-year sentence, suspending all but eight years, in a crash that killed two of the defendant’s friends and left another permanently paralyzed.
Judge Paul Cucuzzella made his decree after Mark Anthony Redding was found guilty of two counts of felony negligent vehicular manslaughter.
According to prosecutors, the car crash occurred at about 12:32 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2024, at the intersection of Edmondson Avenue and North Monroe Street. Investigators determined Redding was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe eastbound on Edmondson Avenue when he ignored a red traffic signal and collided with a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze traveling southbound through a green light.
The impact caused the Tahoe to strike a traffic signal pole and roll over, ejecting multiple occupants. Rear-seat passengers Marquise Lavonn Sharps and Dytanyis Davis Jr. later died from their injuries, while the front-seat passenger was paralyzed from the waist down. The occupants of the Cruze sustained minor injuries.
Prosecutors introduced crash investigation exhibits, including photographs and a surveillance video of the collision. They told the court there were five people in the Tahoe and none were wearing seat belts. He also noted that although Redding had consumed alcohol before the crash, he was not legally impaired. Investigators found the Tahoe was traveling between 56 and 85 mph in a 30 mph zone during the five seconds before the collision.
During victim impact statements, Marquise Sharps’ mother told the court she still has unanswered questions about why Redding was driving so fast. She said her son had been her caretaker and that she has struggled since his death. Addressing Redding and turning to his family, Sharps’ mother asked, “Do you have insurance on the car? How can I be compensated for this case?”
Defense attorney Maureen O’Leary argued that Redding is steadily employed, volunteers with young people to discourage them from making similar mistakes, and has sought counseling since the crash. Family members described him as remorseful and said he viewed the victims as family. His wife told the court, “He wished he had died instead of his friends”, while his sister-in-law said Sharps was like a brother to him.
Redding also addressed the court, apologizing directly to Sharps’ mother. Through tears, he said the victims were like brothers to him and that he has been punishing himself since losing his best friend. A crash survivor spoke on Redding’s behalf, describing him as a good father and saying he could not remember the details of the crash.
Judge Cucuzzella sentenced Redding to 10 years on the first count, suspending all but eight years, and 10 years on the second count, also suspended consecutively. The aggregate sentence totals 20 years, with all but eight years suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation. Redding received credit for time served beginning Sept. 16, 2025.
