Bryan Cherry, 38, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on Sep. 10 for the first-degree murder of Sierra Johnson in July 2024. Cherry was also sentenced to an additional three years for a deadly weapon offense, with the sentences running concurrently.
During the sentencing, Johnson’s family members spoke about the impact of her death. Her younger sister, cousin, and older sister each described missing Johnson terribly. Johnson’s cousin said the two grew up together and were like siblings.
Johnson’s older sister also spoke about raising Johnson’s 17-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. She said Johnson’s daughter will have to grow up without really remembering her mother.
The Prosecutor described the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death, saying she was bludgeoned with a crowbar and was partially undressed after being sexually assaulted at a residence on the 800 block of Abbott Court.
The prosecutor described the homicide scene as one of the worst she had seen and said Cherry’s pattern of violence had continued to escalate throughout the years.
The prosecutor also said Cherry had been on a violent crime spree for approximately two weeks from June to July 2024 and had previously received the benefit of pretrial supervision and supervised probation. The prosecutor noted that Cherry had been incarcerated in 2022, during which time he earned his GED and participated in anger management.
“This sentence ensures the defendant will never be free in our community to threaten people’s lives and inflict harm,” said Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates in a release..
Defense attorney Gregory Fischer addressed Cherry’s background saying Cherry was the youngest of three children and had an unstable childhood, given his parents’ crack cocaine addiction, his father’s incarceration and time in foster care.
Fischer said Cherry and his sisters witnessed violence growing up and that Cherry has struggled with substance abuse, anxiety, and depression. He said Cherry wants mental health treatment, to stop using drugs, and to reconnect with his children– arguing a sentence of life without parole would lessen his desire for rehabilitation.
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kimberly C. McBride sentenced Cherry to life without parole for first-degree murder, along with three years for the deadly weapon offense. The sentences will run concurrently.
Cherry also has a double murder case pending in Baltimore County, where he is expected to be sentenced next week.
