Judge Rejects Prosecution’s Plea Offer in Vehicular Manslaughter Case

By Carly Schiller [former] , Katherine Strauch [former] - July 20, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Victims |

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn rejected a plea offer during reception court on July 20 in the case of a Baltimore man who allegedly hit and killed a man with his car last year. 

Paul Rooks Jr. is charged with manslaughter in connection to the incident on May 29, 2020.  

Prosecutors alleged that Rooks, 31, was driving 53 miles per hour when he ran a red light and hit the victim, killing him. The prosecution offered Rooks a plea deal of three years, suspending all but six months, with three years of probation.

Judge Phinn said she was not satisfied with the offer based on the facts of the case. The defendant could plead guilty, she said, but she would decide the sentence.

Defense attorney Warren Brown rejected the plea on Rook’s behalf, and the case was set for trial on Dec. 1.

Judge Phinn heard another case that occurred on the roads of Baltimore involving James E. Grimes Jr.

Grimes is accused of shooting an MTA bus driver on the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard on March 14, 2020.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Grimes, 27, got into a dispute with the driver and asked to get off the bus. After getting off at the next stop, Grimes allegedly shot the 30-year-old driver, who was left seriously wounded. Grimes was arrested a week later in Ohio and extradited back to Baltimore. 

He is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, and five weapons charges. 

Grimes was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 30 years, for attempted first-degree murder, and five years with the possibility of parole for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the deal, the sentences would be served concurrently. 

Defense attorney Samuel Seidler said he has not yet relayed the offer to his client, and the case was scheduled to return to reception court on Sept. 28. 

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Judge Phinn also presided over another non-fatal shooting case from March 2020. 

A Baltimore resident is charged with firearm possession with a felony conviction, possession of firearms, carrying a handgun on his person, discharging a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition, in regards to an incident on March 7, 2020. 

The defendant, 41, was offered a plea of five years with the possibility of parole for firearm possession with a felony conviction. Defense attorney John Cox rejected the plea on his client’s behalf. 

The defendant waived his Hick’s date, referring to his right under Maryland law to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance. The case will go to trial on Jan. 21, 2022. 

Another non-fatal shooting defendant charged with discharging a firearm was also presented before Judge Phinn.

This defendant is charged with first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, having a deadly weapon with the intent to injure, firearm use in a violent crime, and wearing or carrying a shotgun. She is accused of firing a shotgun at a car on June 29, 2020.

The prosecution offered the defendant, 36, a plea of five years, suspending all, with 18 month supervised probation for first-degree assault. The defendant must also attend drug and alcohol screenings, forfeit their shotgun, compensate the victim for property damage, and receive appropriate and proper treatment.

Defense attorney Roya Hanna neither accepted nor rejected the offer, so the case was scheduled to return to reception court on Oct. 8.

Judge Phinn presided over both incarcerated and non-incarcerated reception courts during Tuesday’s proceedings, while Judge Melissa K. Copeland presided over misdemeanor reception court. Copeland usually presides over non-incarcerated reception court.