Defendant in 2021 W. Saratoga Street Murder Case Receives Sentence

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On June 13, defendant Donte A. Brown was sentenced for the murder of 32-year-old Tavon Hutton.

On Jan. 31, Brown, 41, was found guilty of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

During Tuesday’s proceeding before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta A. Brown, the defendant was sentenced to life for first-degree murder, a consecutive 20 years with the first five without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime, and a consecutive 15 years, the first five without the possibility of parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction. The total sentence was life plus 35 years, the first ten years without the possibility of parole.

Judge Brown said the sentence would be consecutive to any existing and future sentences.

According to charging documents, Hutton was found lying on the sidewalk suffering from gunshot wounds on the 400 block of West Saratoga Street on March 5, 2021. Video evidence recovered showed Brown shooting Hutton, who was in a wheelchair when he was shot.

Many of Hutton’s family members gave statements, including Hutton’s mother, who said, “I hurt, I hurt, I hurt.”

“The defendant has not owned up to what he did,” one of Hutton’s aunts told the judge. “Please make him own it today.”

Another aunt called Brown a “coward” while looking at him on her way back to her seat.

“I gotta keep fighting for my life,” Brown said after apologizing to the victim’s family.

The family made it clear they want justice and would be satisfied with any sentence bestowed by Judge Brown.

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