Baltimore Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Attempted Murder of USPS Driver

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A 26-year-old Baltimore man was sentenced to five years in prison on Sept. 29 after accepting a guilty plea in connection to the attempted murder of a USPS driver in 2020.

Robert Mitchell appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Philip S. Jackson to accept a plea of 20 years, suspending all but five years, with three years of supervised probation for first-degree assault, and a concurrent three years for having a handgun on his person. Under the plea, Mitchell must also stay away from the victim and register as a gun offender upon release if he continues to live in Baltimore City.

Defense attorney Stephen Tully represented the defendant on Wednesday and noted that his client has no prior criminal record.

In addition to the aforementioned charges, Mitchell was also charged with attempted second-degree murder, second-degree assault, having a handgun in a vehicle, discharging firearms, reckless endangerment, and firearm use in a violent crime.

According to the prosecution, Mitchell drove up to a USPS truck around noon on May 25, 2020, on the 1200 block of Winston Avenue, where he approached the driver and asked for the location of his package. The driver, who saw Mitchell had a handgun, said she couldn’t remember the exact street it was delivered but that the package may still be in the back of the truck.

When the driver went to the back of the truck, Mitchell shot at her. She then drove off until she found a police officer.

Shell casings were found at the scene, the prosecutor said, and surveillance footage from the area showed the USPS truck speeding away as well as audible gunshots.

The victim later identified Mitchell in a photo array with the Baltimore Police Department.

During Wednesday’s plea hearing, Tully requested his client have an additional 30 to 40 days on home detention to prepare for his incarceration, with no objection from the prosecution. Mitchell has been incarcerated for more than a year.

Judge Jackson approved the plea and granted Mitchell 30 more days of home detention.