Four Homicide Defendants Set to Return to Court Next Month

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Four homicide defendants are scheduled to return to Baltimore City Circuit Court in September.

During reception court on Aug. 3, Judge Melissa M. Phinn presided over the case of Baltimore resident Philip Blankenship.

According to CBS Baltimore, on March 25, police found Randolph Jones on the 1300 block of N. Charles Street with gunshot wounds. Witnesses allege that Blankenship, 29, pulled out a handgun and shot Jones in the torso after a fight broke out between the men.

The prosecution offered Blankenship a plea deal of 60 years, suspending all but 30, with five years of parole and 50 years probation for first-degree murder. He is also charged with firearm use in a violent crime.

Defense attorney Ann Marie Gering said she had not yet relayed the offer to her client. The case is set to return to reception court on Sept. 24. The defendant is expected to receive a trial date..

The case of another homicide defendant is set to go to trial three weeks earlier.

The prosecution offered Baltimore resident Kevin Hall a plea deal of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of probation for first-degree murder; 30 years each for two counts of attempted first-degree murder; and 20 years without the possibility of parole for the first five years for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the deal, the sentences would be served concurrently.

Defense attorney Brandon Mead rejected the offer on his client’s behalf. Hall, 32, is set to go to trial on Sept. 1.

Hall also faces first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder and firearm use in a violent crime charges. He is also charged with having a handgun on his person and in a vehicle; second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder; and regulated firearm possession.

The charges stem from an incident on Oct. 10, 2020.

Baltimore resident Tavon Sheppard will also return to court in September in connection with a homicide case that occurred four months earlier.

The prosecution offered Sheppard, 28, a plea deal of life, suspending all but 30 years, for attempted first-degree murder; 20 years for armed robbery; 20 years with the first five without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a violent crime; and 15 years with the first five years without the possibility of parole for firearm possession. The sentences would run concurrently under the deal.

Sheppard is also charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count each of first-degree murder, robbery, theft of $100 to $1500, and having a handgun on his person.

Defense attorney Anne Stewart-Hill said she had not yet relayed the offer to Sheppard, so her client was scheduled to return to reception court on Sept. 20 to accept or reject the plea offer.

Another homicide defendant will return to court in September to accept or reject his plea offer.

Angelo Wilkes was allegedly involved in a fatal shooting on Jan. 20, 2020.

The prosecution offered Wilkes, 36, a plea deal of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years of probation for first-degree murder and 20 years for firearm use in a violent crime. He would also be required to serve an additional 10 years with the first five years without parole for firearm possession. The time for the charges would run concurrently.

Defense attorney Maureen O’ Leary said she had not relayed the offer to her client. The case is set to return to reception court on Sept. 30, so the defendant can accept or reject the offer.

A non-fatal shooting defendant will also return to reception court to accept or reject his plea offer.

The defendant, 54, was offered a plea deal of 30 years, suspending all but 14, with five years of probation, for attempted second-degree murder, and five years without the possibility of parole for possession of a handgun. The time for the charges would run concurrently.

Defense attorney Marci Johnson said she had not relayed the offer to her client and could not accept or reject the offer at the time.

The defendant will return to reception court on Aug. 18.

He is also charged with attempted first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, theft of $100 to $1500, firearm use in a violent crime, discharging firearms, firearm possession with a felony conviction, illegal possession of firearms, and a minor in possession of a firearm.

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