Case for Murder of MTA Bus Driver Not Called during Reception Court

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The case of two co-defendants charged with the murder of an MTA bus driver earlier this year received little discussion on Sept. 8, despite being scheduled for reception court at Baltimore City Circuit Court. 

Baltimore residents Ernest Ford, 30, and Marquis Poteat, 33, were scheduled to have their case heard before Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Wednesday; however, counsel was unable to agree upon a trial date.

Ford and Poteat are both charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime and having a handgun in a vehicle.

Defense attorney Tony Garcia represents Ford. According to the Maryland Judiciary website, there is no attorney listed for Poteat.

Judge Phinn asked counsel to deliberate on a trial date but ended reception court prior to their return.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Ford and Poteat allegedly shot and killed MTA driver Frankye Duckett on the 4400 block of Moravia Road on Jan. 29. Shortly after allegedly shooting Duckett, the co-defendants drove away in a Buick LeSabre.

Duckett was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital but died shortly after.