Circuit Court Judge Sentences Defendant to 50 Years for 2020 Fatal Stabbing

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On Jan. 13, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn S. Mays sentenced a homicide defendant to serve 50 years in prison.

Judge Mays sentenced Kenneth Smith to life, suspending all but 50 years with five years supervised probation for first-degree murder.

On Nov. 14, 2022, Smith, 63, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection to the fatal stabbing of 67-year-old Paul Behler on June 28, 2020.

Smith was also charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and the use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure.

The prosecutor suggested the defendant be sentenced to life, suspending all but 60 years with five years supervised probation for first-degree murder.

According to court documents read by the prosecutor, on the day of the incident officers were called to the 300 block of W. Saratoga Street for reports of a stabbing. On arrival, officers found the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds.

When Smith was arrested a knife was located on him which later tested positive for the victim’s and the defendant’s DNA.

Smith’s defense counsel Megan Lewis stated that her client had taken responsibility for his actions and was extremely remorseful. She claimed her client took the plea so the prosecutor didn’t have to call witnesses and the victim’s family didn’t have to relive that moment at trial.

Lewis also informed the court that when the defendant was 10 years old he witnessed the murder of his mother. She says after the incident he had to live with his sister who brutally beat him.

With a horrific up bringing the defendant turned to drugs and suffers from severe depression. After a history of substance abuse he began using cocaine, fentanyl, PCP, and marijuana, Lewis says.

What he experienced as a child doesn’t take away what he did to the victim, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor noted that this was a very serious and brutal attack on the victim. He constantly stabbed the victim in the back and chest after the victim didn’t give him any money.

Given the opportunity to address the court the defendant asks the court for leniency and their help.