Homicide Defendant Opts for Trial Over 40-Year Plea Offer in 2022 Killing

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A 38-year-old Baltimore man accused of murder rejected a plea of 40 years incarceration on Aug. 8, opting for a November trial.

Dominic Hicks is currently facing charges of second-degree murder, firearm use in a crime of violence, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a handgun on his person for an incident on Dec. 29, 2022.

In Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn’s reception court on Tuesday, the prosecution shared a plea offer of 60 years, suspending all but 40 years, five years of supervised probation and gun offender registration for the second-degree murder and firearm use in a crime of violence charges. Defense attorney Michael Cooper rejected the offer on behalf of his client.

Judge Phinn scheduled Hicks’ three-day trial to begin before Judge Jennifer Schiffer on Nov. 13. Due to the prosecutor’s schedule, counsel is expected to only select a jury on Nov. 13 and proceed with opening statements and testimony on Nov. 14.

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