Defendant Facing Drug Distribution Charges Gets Non-Fatal Shooting Case Dismissed

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A defendant who was facing drug distribution charges and charges for discharging and concealing a deadly weapon appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor, Jr. on July 20.

In both cases, the defendant, Steve Meza, who was represented by Louis Guth, was facing multiple counts of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute.

In the case pertaining to an incident that occurred on Dec. 28, 2022, Meza, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute.

Judge Taylor Jr. sentenced Meza to 15 years, suspending all but two with three years of supervised probation upon release. Along with this, Judge Taylor Jr. also ordered an evaluation to be conducted as soon as possible in order to determine if Meza was eligible for a drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation program.

The completion of the rehabilitation program will equal the completion of his two-year sentence minus the three years of supervised probation that will still need to be completed after Meza’s release.

As Judge Taylor, Jr. spoke about his hesitation to move forward with an evaluation, Meza promised that he would not end up back in court upon completion of the program.

After the sentencing for this case, for Meza’s second active case the assistant state’s attorney decided to nolle pros all the charges. The charges included two counts of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, two counts of having a concealed deadly weapon and one count of discharging firearms.

According to the statement of charges, around 10:25 p.m. on Nov. 29, 2022, members of the Southwestern District action team were conducting a controlled dangerous substance investigation on the 1800 block of Wilhelm Street. Detectives noticed an individual, who would later be identified as Meza, walking eastbound on the 1800 block of Wilhelm Street after noticing the officers. Meza appeared to drop a small zipper purse onto the ground as well.

Officers then detained Meza and found gel caps that contained a powder substance on the ground next to the purse. Inside the purse they found more gel caps, containers, and pills that contained the same powder substance. Officers suspected it to be heroin.

Moments later, after admitting to officers that he had a BB gun on himself, Meza was placed into handcuffs. Officers removed the BB gun from his left inner jacket pocket as well as a switch blade knife that was found in his waistband.

While conducting a search of Meza, officers also found more suspected heroin and marijuana in the backpack he had with him and in a bag that Meza had told officers had fallen down his pants leg during the stop.