Convicted Murderer on Parole Rejects Plea Offer for Non-Fatal Shooting

By Zoe Foringer-Laing [former] , Connor Driscoll [former] - August 2, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting |

A convicted murderer received a trial date for a non-fatal shooting case on Aug. 2 in Baltimore City Circuit Court. 

Baltimore resident Tyrone Miller pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 1997, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to the Maryland Judiciary website. Miller, 61, was out on parole when he allegedly became involved in a shooting on Nov. 11, 2020.

During reception court on July 28, Miller rejected a plea offer of 25 years, suspending all but 10, and two years supervised probation upon release for first-degree assault, as well as five years without the possibility of parole for firearm possession by a felon. The prosecutor did not specify whether the sentences would be served consecutively or concurrently.

During Monday’s hearing, defense attorney Maureen Rowland requested that the case be scheduled for trial, so Judge Melissa M. Phinn set the trial for Dec. 13.

In addition to the charges in the plea offer, Miller is charged with firearm use in a violent crime, carrying a handgun on his person, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of firearms with a controlled dangerous substance felony conviction, discharging firearms, and illegal possession of ammunition. He also faces two counts of second-degree assault and another count of both first-degree assault and firearm possession. 

Another of Rowland’s cases was also heard during reception court on Monday. 

Baltimore resident Antwan Terry is charged in connection to the non-fatal shooting of a 42-year-old man on Oct. 2, 2020. 

According to CBS Baltimore, officers were called around 2 p.m. to the 1600 block of N. Monroe Street, where they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was then treated successfully at a local hospital.

Terry was arrested four days later. 

During Monday’s proceeding, the prosecution offered Terry a plea of 25 years for attempted first-degree murder and firearm use in a violent crime, with five years without parole. Rowland rejected the offer on her client’s behalf. 

Terry is also charged with attempted second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and five other firearm-related charges. 

Rowland said she wanted to schedule the case for trial, but that Terry will have to waive his right to a speedy trial in order to find an available courtroom. Under Maryland law, a defendant has the right to be tried by their Hick’s date, or within 180 days of their first appearance in court.

Terry’s Hick’s date is Oct. 23. 

Judge Phinn scheduled the case to return to reception court on Aug. 9 for Terry to waive his Hick’s date and to discuss trial dates. 

A separate non-fatal shooting defendant waived her Hick’s date during Monday’s hearing.

Baltimore resident Shanika Scales is charged in connection to a non-fatal shooting on Sept. 27, 2019. 

The prosecution offered Scales, 29, a plea of three years for second-degree assault and one year for firearm access to a minor. Scales is also charged with reckless endangerment, neglect of a minor, and discharging firearms.

Defense attorney Landon White rejected the offer on his client’s behalf and said he was ready to schedule the case for trial. 

Scales then waived her right to Hick’s date of Oct. 11, and Judge Phinn scheduled the case for trial on Oct. 29.