Defense Counsel For North Ellwood Avenue Shooter Pursues Plea

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As negotiations of a possible plea offer remain underway, defense counsel for attempted homicide defendant Kenneth Oakley was granted a two-week continuance on Jan. 2 to assess a not criminally responsible (NCR) plea.

Oakley, 40, is accused of shooting a man in an alley behind the victim’s mother’s home on the 1300 block of North Ellwood Avenue on Sept. 24, 2022. The victim was reportedly walking into his mother’s backyard when the defendant fired two shots that were captured on residential surveillance cameras.

During Tuesday morning’s reception court, defense attorney Adam Demetriou, who stood in for Michael Lawlor, asked Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland to return to reception court at a later date while counsel finds an NCR expert to review the case. It is likely the NCR plea process will significantly impact scheduling, Demetriou added.

Judge Copeland granted the defense attorney’s request, scheduling Oakley to return to reception court on Jan. 17.

Oakley is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment, firearm possession with a drug conviction, having a handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammunition, discharging firearms and two counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction.