Homicide Case Delayed, Another Resolved in Reception Court Hearings

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The trial of Joseph Coates, 42, was delayed on Aug. 15 due to scheduling conflicts on the prosecution’s side.

The prosecution told the court neither she nor two detectives to the case would be available to testify on the original trial date of Jan. 12.

Though attorney Jerry Rodriguez, who recently took over the case, said the defense could be ready to proceed by mid-December, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland scheduled a Nov. 14 hearing to find a mutually agreeable trial date.

Coates faces charges of first-degree murder while armed, armed robbery and firearm use in a crime of violence for the Dec. 15, 2023 murder of 26-year-old Marvin Jason Jackson Jr., which occurred on the 1800 block of Aiken Street.

Despite Coates telling Judge Copeland he would “just like this case over as fast as possible” Judge Copeland proceeded with the postponement.

Also on the same docket, a Federal Hill murder case from September 2024 concluded in a plea deal.

Armando Batres-Ramos, 25, accepted an agreement to having a loaded handgun on his person and acting as an accessory after the fact to 24-year-old Christian Leight’s murder. Judge Copeland handed him two concurrent four-year sentences, allowing him to receive credit for time served following his arrest on March 14.

Charging documents state that on Sept. 21, 2024, at approximately 1:42 a.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of Marshall Street for a shooting. After finding Leight suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, they transported him to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 2:23 a.m.

The maximum sentence for Ramos’ crimes are five-and-10 years, respectively.