Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Assault

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A 27-year-old Baltimore man accused of assault accepted a plea of time served on May 4 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Welch.

Lyndon Pettiford was initially charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, carrying/wearing a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, and illegal possession of ammo in connection to an incident on Feb. 22, 2021.

During court proceedings on Wednesday, Judge Welch listened as the defendant pleaded guilty, accepting the prosecutor’s plea offer of 10 years suspending all but time served with three years supervised probation for first-degree assault. The first 18 months of his probation will be served on home detention

Under the agreement, the defendant must have no unlawful contact with the victim.

Pettiford was represented by defense attorney Howard Cardin.

According to court documents, on Feb. 22, 2021, officers were called to the 500 block of South Caroline Street around 4:35 p.m. for reports of shots being fired. They found 28-year-old Donte William Watts suffering from a gunshot wound to the right lower thigh.

Both Watts and Pettiford have children by the same woman.

The medics took the victim to an area hospital for treatment.