Seven Homicide Cases Heard During Reception Court

By Carly Schiller [former] - August 4, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Council is awaiting a competency evaluation for a homicide defendant who confessed to stabbing his roommate on Jan. 23, 2020.

Baltimore resident Epenetus Henrique is charged with first-degree murder and using a deadly weapon with the intent to injure. 

According to WBAL TV, 29-year-old Isaiah Drummond was missing for two weeks before police arrived at his and Henrique’s home on the 2500 block of Cecil Avenue and discovered evidence of foul play. Henrique, 29, confessed to the murder and led police to where he hid Drummond’s body: a river near the 100 block of Redbird Avenue.

On Aug. 4, Henrique, 29, was offered a plea deal of life, suspending all but 60 years, with five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder.

The plea offer was rejected, and a competency evaluation of the defendant is pending. According to Henrique’s defense attorney, there are “mental health issues” at play. 

Henrique’s case is set to return to reception court on Sept. 7. 

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Judge Melissa M. Phinn also scheduled another homicide defendant’s case to return to reception court.

Baltimore resident Corey Jennings is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and carrying a handgun on his person for allegedly shooting Ryan Watson on June 14, 2011, on the 2500 block of Boarman Avenue, according to the Baltimore Sun.

In the years after the shooting, Watson suffered from paralysis and other medical complications. He died on the ninth anniversary of the incident, and his death was ruled a homicide five days later. 

Jennings, 28, is currently serving 25 years for the attempted murder of Watson, to which he pleaded guilty to in 2012. There was no offer yet from the prosecution, which was also the case in reception court on July 21.

On Wednesday, Jennings waived his right to a speedy trial. Under Maryland law, a defendant has the right to be tried within 180 days of their first appearance in court, which is also called a Hick’s date. Jennings’ Hick’s date is Oct. 23.  

Defense attorney John Hassett and the prosecutor said they believe they can negotiate a plea deal and avoid trial. The case is set to return to reception court on Jan. 21. 

Hassett also represents Baltimore resident Travion White, who is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and transporting a handgun in a vehicle. 

According to CBS Baltimore, White allegedly shot a 28-year-old man on the 100 block of N. Kossuth Street on the night of July 8, 2020. 

White, 28, appeared in court on Wednesday to waive his Hick’s date, which is Oct. 11. 

He was offered 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 Hassett rejected, the sentences would run concurrently. 

Judge Phinn slated White’s case to reception court on Jan. 24, 2022. This would mark White’s third appearance in reception court, as he previously rejected a different plea deal on July 15.

Baltimore resident Ronald Haskins returned to reception court for the third time on Wednesday after also denying a plea deal last month. 

Haskins, 23, is accused of killing 38-year-old Richard Pearson on the 1400 block of Broening Highway on Jan. 11, 2020. He is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, carrying a handgun on his person, and firearm possession with a felony conviction. 

During Wednesday’s hearing, defense attorney Karyn Meriwether rejected a plea deal of life, suspending all but 55 years, for first-degree murder with the first five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a violent crime. The sentences would have run concurrently. 

Haskins is set to return to reception court again on Aug. 18 to waive his Hick’s date of Oct. 8. Haskins’ case was previously heard during reception court on June 8 and July 6. 

Judge Phinn also slated Baltimore resident Jonathan Calloway’s case to return to reception court next month.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Calloway, 24, allegedly stabbed a 25-year-old man in the neck on Sept. 4, 2019. The incident reportedly occurred inside Calloway’s apartment on the 3300 block of Windsor Avenue. 

Calloway is charged with second-degree murder and using a deadly weapon with the intent to injure.

Calloway’s defense attorney, Creston Smith, said he is working on the terms of a plea deal with the prosecution. The case is set to return to reception court on Aug. 25.

Like Calloway, Baltimore resident Bernard Jackson III is charged with second-degree murder. 

Jackson is also charged with attempted first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, and discharging firearms. The charges stem from an incident on Nov. 7, 2018. 

On Wednesday, Jackson, 28, was offered a plea deal of 40 years, suspending all but 20, for first-degree murder with the first five years without the possibility of parole, and five years for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the deal, the sentences would run concurrently. 

Defense attorney Gil Amaral said he needs more time to speak with Jackson and negotiate the deal with the prosecution. Judge Phinn scheduled the case to return to reception court on Aug. 30. 

The plea deal was neither accepted nor rejected in the case of Baltimore resident George Pullett.

Pullett, 57, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and three firearms charges. The charges stem from an incident on May 21, 2020.

Pullett was offered life for first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and attempted first-degree murder. 

His defense attorney, Shannon Heery, said she has yet to relay the offer. The case is set to return to reception court on Aug. 30 for Pullett to accept or reject the plea offer.