On Aug. 9, an absent prosecutor sent the case of 34-year-old Quinton Hillery from a scheduled jury trial back to reception court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.
That morning, Hillery, represented by James Sweeting III, rejected a modified plea offer from the stand-in assistant state’s attorney for a total of 35 years in prison, the first five without the possibility of parole and five years of supervised probation for the charges of attempted first- and second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction. Hillery would have also been ordered to stay away from the victim and register as a gun offender.
After he rejected that offer, the stand-in prosecutor requested a continuation of the reception court hearing until Aug. 11, so the assigned prosecutor could return for scheduling. Judge Phinn granted that request.
When the hearing reconvened on Friday, the parties agreed to the new trial date of Oct. 12, with the presiding judge yet to be determined. The trial is expected to last two days.
Hillery is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, first- and second-degree assault, firearm possession with a felony conviction, possession of a firearm in a controlled dangerous substance offense, illegal possession of ammunition, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, discharging firearms and reckless endangerment in connection to an incident on Aug. 5, 2022.
According to WJZ, Hillery was arrested on Aug. 24, 2022, for his alleged role in the shooting that occurred on the 500 block of W. Preston Street.
