A Baltimore man accused of attempted murder shocked his defense attorney with violent behavior, profanity and threatening to kill Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Schreiber II who rejected his not criminally responsible (NCR) plea on Oct. 8.
If granted, the action would allow the defendant to claim he didn’t know right from wrong in the moment, nor could he behave according to the law.
Jesse Freels, 24, is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder and assault, firearm use in the commission of a violent crime, reckless endangerment, and additional firearm-related violations in connection to a downtown Baltimore shooting incident that occurred Jan. 24, 2023.
Upon hearing his client’s NCR plea, defense attorney Andre Mahasa requested a postponement in the trial to update his strategy in accordance with the unanticipated development.
After reviewing a mental health evaluation from last spring that deemed Freels mentally competent to stand trial, Judge Schreiber denied Freels’ NCR plea entirely, noting the defendant was “willingly engaging in sabotage.”
Mahasa requested an emergency competency evaluation, citing that the most recent one may be outdated and not reflective of Freels’ current mental state. Judge Schreiber denied this request, sending Freels into a disruptive rage.
Freels screamed profanity and threatened to kill Judge Schreiber, necessitating the defendant’s removal from the courtroom. Judge Schreiber insisted that Freels be brought back, stating the defendant posed little threat while shackled and surrounded by 15 armed police officers.
When Freels returned, he kicked over a chair and continued to curse violently at the judge. Judge Schreiber tried to explain the process of jury selection to Freels, but he would scream every time the judge spoke to interrupt.
Despite the council’s concern about Freels’ violent behavior, he will be present for jury selection this afternoon.
“This is about to be a sh*t show,” one officer commented before jury selection began.
