Defendant Accused of Attempted Murder Rejects Plea Offer

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During a Nov. 17 reception court hearing, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn presided over parties as a defendant accused of attempted murder declined a plea offer posed by the prosecution.

Joseph Vellines, 25, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, armed robbery, robbery, theft of property worth between $100 and $1,500, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, two counts of possessing a firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, discharging firearms and the illegal possession of ammo in connection to a non-fatal shooting perpetrated on Feb. 21.

At Thursday’s proceeding, the prosecution presented a plea offer, proposing life, suspending all but 50 years as well as five years of probation in exchange for a guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder.

Vellines’ defense attorney Julie Shapiro rejected this offer. The defendant concurred.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 29, 2023, for trial. They anticipate the matter will conclude in 3 days.

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