Baltimore Man Rejects Plea of 20 Years

By Alyssia Davis [former] - August 10, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

A 29-year-old Baltimore man involved in a non-fatal shooting, rejected a plea offer of 20 years on Aug. 10, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.

Reginald Gardner is charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, robbery, first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a firearm, having a handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammo, and discharging a firearm in connection to an incident on Nov. 29, 2021.

The prosecutor presented a plea of 20 years in prison suspending all but 10 years with five years on probation for armed robbery, five years without parole for use of a firearm during a violent crime and one year for second-degree assault. The charges are set to run concurrently. 

Under the plea, the defendant must also stay away from the victim.

Gardner and his defense attorney, Andrea Jaskulsky, rejected the plea. In addition, Gardner waived his Oct. 2, Hicks date, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his or his attorney’s first court appearance.

Jaskulsky also said she needs to show her client the rest of the evidence the prosecution has collected, which led to her request for a postponement of their scheduled November trial. 

However, Judge Copeland denied the request for a postponement, citing the desire not to go too far past the defendant’s Hicks date.  

Gardner’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 3. It is expected to last three days long.