Attempted Murder Defendant Seeks New Counsel

By Racquel Bazos [former] - October 26, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Oct. 26, a 46-year-old attempted murder defendant wound up before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn even though his lawyer wasn’t ready for trial.

Randy Jones is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, conspiracy to have a handgun on his person, having a handgun and loaded handgun in his vehicle, conspiracy to have a handgun and loaded handgun in his vehicle, having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of ammunition and discharging a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a March 16 incident.

Jones was brought to court today along with his codefendant, 44-year-old Latonya Arter. But his attorney, Augustine Okeke, wasn’t prepared because he said he hadn’t received all of the evidence from the prosecutor during the discovery process. 

Additionally, Jones told the judge that he did not trust his appointed attorney and wanted a new one from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD). Jones said Okeke had never gone over the discovery with him and lied as well.

Jones asked Judge Phinn,  “How can I trust him with my freedom?”

Although Judge Phinn was unable to reach Gregory Fischer, the supervisor at the OPD, during the hearing, she told Jones she would contact him and that Fischer and Okeke would meet with him in jail. Turning to Okeke, she told him to work with the prosecutor to get the rest of the discovery and meet with Jones to go over it within two weeks. 

The prosecutor offered Jones 50 years, suspending all but 25 years, for attempted first-degree murder; a concurrent 20 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime; and a concurrent five years without the possibility of parole for firearm possession with a felony conviction. Upon release, Jones would have been required to serve five years of supervised probation, register as a gun offender and have no contact with the victim in this case. Jones rejected the offer. 

The prosecutor told Judge Phinn this offer was reduced five years from a previous deal made in August, but the judge and clerks could not find any record of Jones appearing in August. 

Judge Phinn scheduled Jones’ trial to begin on March 12, 2024, before Judge Cynthia H. Jones. 

A Baltimore Police Department press release states that Jones and Arter are suspects in the shooting of a 48-year-old man on the 1300 block of North Gilmor Street.