Alleged Shooter in Radio Host’s Murder Gets Trial Date

By Vantashia Bridges [former] , Sarah Driver [former], Connor Driscoll [former] - July 13, 2021
Court | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 57-year-old Baltimore resident is facing life for allegedly killing a gospel radio host last year.

Richard Green is accused of killing Trya Phillips Womack during an altercation on June 10, 2020, outside her home on the 2400 block of Albion Avenue. According to Baltimore WJZ, the victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.

Green is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of firearm use in a violent crime, and one count of first-degree assault. 

The prosecution presented him with an offer of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years on probation. Green’s defense attorneys, Brandon Mead and Filia Morgan-Xavier, said they had not yet relayed the offer to their client. 

The case is scheduled for trial on Oct. 6.

Another homicide defendant, who was represented by Mead, received a trial date during Tuesday’s hearing.

Baltimore resident Donnell Johnson is accused of shooting and killing Kenneth Bivens on Sep. 10, 2020.

The homicide occurred around 7 p.m. on the 1000 block of Beaumont Street. Johnson, 29, was arrested on Sept. 17 by Baltimore Police officers and U.S. Marshals.

Bivens died two days after seeking treatment at a local hospital, according to CBS Baltimore. 

During the hearing, Johnson was offered life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years probation for first-degree murder, and two years for firearm possession with a felony conviction. Under the deal, the sentences would run concurrently. He would also serve 20 years, the first five years to run consecutively, for firearm use in a violent crime.

He faces a total of five weapons charges.

Mead rejected the offer on behalf of his client, and Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland slated the trial to begin on Sept. 15.

A trial date was also scheduled in the case of a resident of Richmond, Va.

Marquese Winston has already been tried once before in connection to a 2017 murder of a local bartender.

Prosecutors allege that Winston, 29, shot and killed Alex Wroblewski on Nov. 14, 2017, during a failed robbery. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. outside of a Royal Farms located at 1440 Key Highway East. 

Video footage of the event led to the identification of Winston along with two other co-defendants. Winston was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Georgia the next day, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Following a jury trial, Winston was convicted of second-degree murder and use of a firearm during a violent crime. He was sentenced to 40 years, with all but 30 suspended. 

However, in August 2020, Winston’s conviction was overturned by the Court of Special Appeals. 

During the first trial, the Maryland Supreme Court changed rules regarding the jury selection process, overturning decades of precedent In its decision, the appellate court applied this ruling and held that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to ask potential jurors certain questions. 

The defense told the court that they were “still attempting, but just not there yet” in regards to negotiating a plea offer. Winston is represented by defense attorneys Pauline Mandel, Isabel Lipman, and Julie Shapiro. 

Judge Copeland scheduled the trial to begin on Jan. 25, 2022. Judge Barry G. Williams will preside over the trial, which could last up to five days.

In addition to second-degree murder, Winston is charged with first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to first and second-degree assault, two theft-related charges, and eight weapons charges.

Tuesday’s hearing before Judge Copeland proceeded with the case of another defendant facing several weapons charges, Baltimore resident Jeremiah Tehohney. 

In connection to an incident on March 28, 2020, Tehohney, 21, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder; three counts of attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, and conspiracy to first-degree murder; and 12 weapons charges.

The prosecution offered Tehohney a plea deal of life, suspending all but 55 years, with five years of supervised probation upon release, for first-degree murder and lesser firearm-related charges. 

Defense attorney Megan Lewis said Tehohney is likely to accept the plea deal on Sept. 1, when his case is set to return to reception court. Tehohney was not present during the hearing on Tuesday.

The plea deal was also neither accepted nor rejected in the case of another homicide defendant. Bernard Stanford, 19, is allegedly involved in a murder that occurred on Sept. 24, 2020. 

The prosecution offered Stanford a plea deal of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years probation, for first-degree murder, and 15 years to run concurrently for firearm use in a violent crime. 

Stanford is also charged with carrying a handgun on his person and possession of a firearm as a minor.

Defense attorney Donald C. Wright said he had not yet informed Stanford of the offer, and the case was rescheduled for reception court on July 22. 

Judge Copeland also heard another case involving a 19-year-old.

The defendant, a resident of Charlotte, N.C., is charged with possession of a firearm as a minor, handgun in vehicle, and discharging firearms. 

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 16, 2020.

The prosecution offered the defendant a plea deal of three years, suspending all but time served, and three years of probation for possession of a firearm as a minor. 

His defense attorney, Creston Smith, rejected the offer, and a trial date was set for Jan. 6, 2022.

Tuesday’s hearing included both incarcerated and non-incarcerated reception court, as Judge Melissa M. Phinn was not present in court. Judge Copeland covered cases from both dockets.