A 40-year-old Baltimore man charged with attempted murder accepted a plea agreement on Aug. 20 in Baltimore City Circuit Court after previously rejecting an earlier offer.
The defendant, Christopher Kent, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and firearm use in a felony violent crime.
Court documents state that on Feb. 12, officers responded to an assault in the 700 block of Cherry Hill Road, where Kent was still present. Following a verbal dispute with the victim, Kent allegedly left the area and later returned carrying a shotgun. The victim resisted and suffered facial injuries, including a cut above the eyebrow and a bloodied face, after Kent was accused of striking the victim with the barrel of the shotgun.
Kent appeared in court on Aug. 20 before Judge Althea M. Handy. The state told the court it had been unable to contact one of its witnesses and requested that the matter be moved to reception court with Judge Melissa Copeland to address scheduling.
The case was later heard by Judge Erik S. Atas, where defense attorney Donald C. Wright requested a psychological evaluation for Kent.
The state offered Kent a plea agreement to first-degree assault, with the remaining charges to be dismissed. The maximum penalty for first-degree assault is 25 years in prison, and Kent would receive credit for time already served.
Kent’s plea was accepted by the court after ascertaining that he knew he was abandoning his right to a trial based on the evidence.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 2. The hearing will be held in person.
