Defendant in Child Abuse Case Elects to Proceed With Trial and Not Criminally Responsible Plea

By Jade Tabbs [former] - June 1, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects | Victims |

A defendant accused of murdering a 15-year-old elected to proceed with trial on May 31, after being found competent in mental health court in March.

According to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin, defendant Dion Ball was found competent to stand trial on March 29 by Baltimore Circuit Court Medical. Judge Rasin said Ball had the opportunity to hire his own expert for an additional evaluation, but he decided to move forward with the trial. 

Defense attorney David E. William told Judge Rasin despite his client being found competent, he did not plan to withdraw his not criminally responsible plea (NCR). A trial date has yet to be set in the case against Ball. 

Ball is facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree child abuse by a custodian, and the neglect of a minor in connection to an incident that occurred on Jan. 26, 2021, on the 800 block of McAleer Street.  

 According to previous articles from Baltimore Witness, the prosecutor stated that at the time of his death, the victim, Hezekiah Pettiford, had suffered from signs of malnourishment and abuse. By the time he was given medical attention, he was pronounced brain dead.

Ball’s co-defendant, Stefanie Colon, was found not guilty on March 28 of murder but found guilty of child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, second-degree child abuse, and two counts of neglecting a minor.