Jury selection in the trial of Steven Young Jr., 26, is scheduled to begin Aug. 11 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays, after Monday’s proceedings were canceled due to a juror shortage.
Meanwhile, Young turned down a plea offer exposing himself to an extended sentence if convicted.
Young, represented by defense attorney, Christopher Purpura, is facing charges connected to a Jan. 12 shooting on the 1900 block of Ashland Avenue. According to charging documents, officers responded to reports of gunfire on the 900 block of N. Wolfe Street around 1:07 a.m. A blood trail led to the 900 block of N. Washington Street, and Young later walked into Good Samaritan Hospital with a gunshot wound to his groin.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Young and another man leaving a nearby hotel before a group of men chased their vehicle and opened fire. Officers recovered eight spent .40-caliber casings near where Young was allegedly seen returning fire.
Young rejected a deal that would have required him to plead guilty to first-degree assault and use of a handgun in a crime of violence. Under the prosecution’s offer, Young would have agreed to first-degree assault, carrying a 10-year sentence, and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, carrying a 20-year sentence with all but 10 years suspended and the first five years without parole.
Judge Stewart told Young that if he were convicted at trial, he could face up to 66 years in prison, with the first 10 years to be served without parole.
After a brief conversation with Purpura, Young told the court he wanted to proceed to trial.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Aug. 11 at 9am.
