Defense Rejects Plea Offer on Behalf of Murder Defendant

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A defense attorney representing a murder defendant declined a plea offer posed by the prosecution during a Nov. 10 court proceeding under the counsel of Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn.

Clifton Hodges, 48, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use during a violent felony, carrying or wearing a firearm, and illegal possession of a firearm in connection to the death of 56-year-old Bernard Jackson II on June 12 on the 3600 block of West Lexington Street.

According to CBS Baltimore, the shooting unfolded after a dispute ensued between the two men. Police found Jackson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds that evening from which he would not recover.

At Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution introduced a plea offer, proposing a life sentence, suspending all but 40 years with five years of probation in exchange to a guilty plea to first-degree murder. Hodge’s defense attorney Gary Proctor rejected this offer.

Parties agreed to a March 1, 2023, trial date for this matter. They anticipate the trial will last 4 days.

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