Defendant in 2023 Wilkins Avenue Non-Fatal Shooting CAse Make No Decision on Plea Offer 

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On July 17, stand-in defense attorney Jesse Stark advised a 2023 non-fatal shooting defendant to make no decision on a plea proposed by the prosecution. 

Stark informed Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn that Martese Scott needs time to review the plea with his defense attorney John Grason Turnbull before making a decision. 

The plea offer was five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime. 

Judge Phinn set the trial date for Sept. 21 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Robert K. Taylor. The trial is expected to last one day. 

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Scott, 29, is charged with firearm use in a felony violent crime, possession of a firearm in a controlled dangerous substance offense, having a loaded handgun on his person, discharging a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition in connection to a March 21 incident. 

Charging documents state that Baltimore City Police Department officers observed a man later identified as the defendant on the 2600 block of Wilkins Avenue. Scott immediately ran toward the 900 block of Brunswick Street when approached by officers. A gun fell out of the defendant’s waistband and he was arrested on scene by officers.