Convicted Homicide Defendant’s Hearing Postponed Due to Absent Prosecutor

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The sentencing hearing for a 26-year-old Baltimore resident was postponed on Aug. 23 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Dana Middleton because the prosecutor has COVID-19.

A motion for sentencing modifications for Jaqwaun Owens is currently under consideration for the following convictions: first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime and two counts of possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

According to the Baltimore Sun, on Feb. 18, 2021, at approximately 12:17 p.m., officers with the Baltimore Police Department responded to reports of gunshots on the 5100 block of Queensberry Avenue in Northwest Baltimore. On arrival, officers found 40-year-old Justin Bucalo suffering from a gunshot wound.

In November 2021, Owens and his defense attorney, Matthew Connell, rejected the plea of life for first-degree murder and 20 years to run concurrently for use of a firearm in a violent crime. 

Owens’ hearing was rescheduled for Oct. 17.