Baltimore Man Charged with Attempted Murder Receives Trial Date after Rejecting Second Plea

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On Feb. 2, a Baltimore man charged with attempted murder received his second trial date in his afternoon reception court hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn.

On Thursday morning, defendant Calvin Hemphill appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones where he was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 15 years, for attempted first-degree murder; and a concurrent sentence of 15 years without the possibility of parole for the first five years for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime.

Judit Otvos, who is representing the defendant, requested more time to discuss the offer with Hemphill.

In an afternoon reception court hearing, Hemphill, 42, rejected the plea and elected to retain his Feb. 7 Hick’s date – which is his right to be charged within 180 days of his or his lawyer’s initial court appearance. Judge Phinn found probable cause to go beyond this date due to the unavailability of counsel.

Judge Phinn scheduled the defendant’s trial date for March 28, pending the assignment of a judge.

According to previous reporting by Baltimore Witness, Hemphill was arrested and charged with the non-fatal shooting of a 53-year-old male on the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Hemphill is charged with one count each of first and second-degree murder, one count each of first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm after a felony conviction for a controlled dangerous substance, having a loaded handgun on his person, and discharging a firearm.

During a Dec. 5 hearing, the defendant was initially scheduled for a trial date of Feb. 2 following a postponement request which led to Thursday’s hearing.