Frankford Avenue Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

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A 23-year-old defendant accepted a plea agreement on Nov. 22 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner.

Derek Steele III, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a handgun on his person for allegedly killing 55-year-old Johnny Small on March 1. 

The prosecution offered a lifetime sentence suspending all but 40 years for first-degree murder, and a concurrent 20 years with five years of supervised probation for firearm use in a felony violent crime. 

Steele’s attorney, Natalie Finegar, accepted the agreement on his behalf.