Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea of 10 Years

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A 45-year-old Baltimore man charged with murder rejected a plea offer for 10 years on May 18 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Cornelius Hayes is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm with a felony conviction in connection to an incident on Nov. 21, 2020.

During reception court on Wednesday, Judge Phinn listened as the prosecutor presented a plea offer that was contingent on the defendant providing a full statement that explained what happened.

The plea consisted of first-degree murder, which could be amended to involuntary manslaughter with a tern of 10 years in prison, suspending all but five years, with five years on probation and 15 years in prison, suspending all but five years without parole, for possession of a firearm with a felony conviction. The sentences were set to run consecutively.

Hayes would have been sentenced to 25 years, suspending all but 10 years, with the first five years without parole if the defendant gave a full explanation of the incident.

Under the plea, the defendant would also register as a gun offender.

Hayes and his defense attorney Natalie Finegar, rejected the offer. In addition, Hayes decided to retain his Sept. 5, 2022, Hicks’ date, which is his right to be tried within 180 days of his first or his counsel’s first appearance in court. However, Judge Phinn found just cause to proceed with a trial after the Hick’s date due to scheduling.

According to a news release, officers were called to a home on the 1200 block of N. Woodyear Street around 7:25 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2020. They found 48-year-old Lezatte Jackson unresponsive suffering from a gunshot wound to her back.

Medics arrived and pronounced the victim dead.

Hayes’ trial is scheduled for Dec. 12. The trial is expected to last five days with Judge John Addison Howard presiding.

Follow this case