Homicide Cases Fill Reception Court Docket

By Katherine Strauch [former] , Zoe Foringer-Laing [former] - July 15, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Victims |

Multiple homicide cases filled Thursday’s docket in Baltimore City Circuit Court, including two pairs of homicide co-defendants from incidents in 2020.

Baltimore residents Brelan Handy and Kenneth Smith were arrested more than one year ago for the homicide of Paul Behler, a well-known advocate for the homeless.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Handy, 38, and Smith, 62, allegedly stabbed Behler to death on the 300 block of N. Howard Street on June 28, 2020. The incident, captured on surveillance, showed Smith and Handy robbing and stabbing Behler and then running away.

Police arrested the pair shortly after the incident.

On July 15, the prosecution presented Handy with a plea offer of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of probation, for first-degree murder. Defense attorney Natalie Finegar did not accept nor reject the offer, as the deal is still under negotiations.

Smith was offered a plea deal of life, suspending all but 60 years, with five years probation, which assistant public defender Jonathan Kerr rejected on Smith’s behalf.

Handy and Smith are both charged with another count of first-degree murder and one count each of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and having a deadly weapon with the intent to injure.

The men are scheduled to return to reception court on July 29 to set a trial date.

Judge Melissa K. Copeland also presided over a second pair of co-defendants in a homicide case from last year.

Baltimore residents Sean Braxton-Carter, 32, and Tashonda Childs, 37, both face two counts of first-degree murder and one count of firearm use in a violent crime in connection to an incident on June 28, 2020.

Braxton-Carter is also charged with having a handgun on his person, having a handgun in his vehicle, and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Braxton Carter’s and Childs’ defense attorneys, Hunter Pruette and Warren Brown, respectively, scheduled the co-defendants’ trial date for Oct. 12.

A third homicide case from last summer was also presented to Judge Phinn during Thursday’s proceedings.

According to CBS Baltimore, Travion White was arrested in connection to a shooting on July 8, 2020, on the 100 block of N. Kossuth Street. The 28-year-old victim died at a nearby hospital.

The prosecution offered White, 28, a plea deal of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of probation, for first-degree murder, and 20 years for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the deal, which defense attorney John Hassett rejected, the sentences would have run concurrently.

The case is scheduled to return to reception court on Aug. 4 when Hassett said White is expected to waive his right to a speedy trial. Under Maryland law, a defendant has the right to be tried by their Hick’s date, or within 180 days of their first appearance in court. White’s Hick’s date is Oct. 11.

Homicide defendant Warren Savage, 33, will also return to reception court after Thursday’s hearing. Savage is charged with second-degree murder and two weapons charges for an incident on Sept. 19, 2010.

The prosecution offered Savage a plea deal of 30 years for second-degree murder. Defense attorney Donald Wright asked to renegotiate the plea deal and the case was scheduled to return to reception court on Sept. 10.

The last homicide case presented to Judge Copeland was that of Traevon George.

According to CBS Baltimore, George allegedly shot a 31-year-old man multiple times on the 400 block of E. Baltimore Street in the early morning hours of Jan. 28, 2020. The victim died after being taken to a local hospital.

During Thursday’s hearing, George, 35, rejected a plea deal of life, suspending all but 60 years, for first-degree murder, and five years for firearm use in a violent crime. The sentences will run concurrently.

George also faces a charge of firearm possession with a felony conviction. He is represented by assistant public defender Linda Zeit.

Judge Copeland scheduled the case to go to trial on Sept. 28.

Zeit also represented a non-fatal shooting defendant during the hearing.

The defendant was offered a plea of five years without parole for firearm possession with a felony conviction, an offer that Zeit rejected on behalf of her client.

The defendant is also charged with firing a gun within the city, resisting arrest, and five other weapons charges in connection to an incident on Dec. 20, 2019.

The prosecution could not schedule a trial before the defendant’s Hick’s date of Aug. 31. When Judge Copeland said she would not postpone the case further, the prosecution motioned for its dismissal, which was granted.

Thursday’s hearing included both incarcerated and non-incarcerated reception court, as Judge Melissa M. Phinn was not present in court. Judge Copeland covered cases from both dockets.