Defendant Removed from Courtroom Before Sentencing

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A 56-year-old defendant was forcefully removed from the courtroom by officers today before his sentence was given by Baltimore City Circuit Judge Jeffrey Geller on Sept. 14.

Defendant Douglas Cantrell became belligerent when given the chance to address the courtroom at his sentencing hearing, claiming the medical examiner was bias who performed the autopsy on the victim Vernon Jacobs.

In Oct. 2021, Cantrell was convicted in the fatal stabbing of Jacobs on May 1, 2019, following a dispute over a stolen truck.

Cantrell also made complaints about Judge Geller as well as one of the victim’s testimonies which he claimed she perjured herself.

Jacobs’ widow gave a victim impact statement describing the three children they shared and the beautiful life they had together.

Cantrell was sentenced to life in prison plus 23 years for first-degree murder, two counts of second degree assault and having a deadly weapon with the intent to injure.