Homicide Defendant Rescheduled for Another Hearing to Determine New Trial Date

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A homicide defendant’s case was rescheduled for another reception hearing on May 9 by Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn, so counsel could set a new trial date.

Ronald Brady, 48, is charged with seven violent crime counts, including first-degree murder, firearm use during a crime, carrying or wearing a handgun on person, firearm possession with a felony conviction and illegal possession of a firearm for an incident that occurred on Sept. 9, 2019.

The defendant was initially scheduled to begin trial on May 3, however his defense lawyer, Tony Garcia, double booked himself and was in another trial.

Even though Garcia had another lawyer stand in for the reception hearing, Judge Phinn requested his presence in the courtroom to speak with his client. Brady was in the courtroom with counsel on Tuesday as his stand in logged on remotely.

According to CBS Baltimore, Brady allegedly shot 44-year-old Desmond Scroggins on the 1200 block of E. Lafayette Street. Scroggins was shot in the head and pronounced dead on the scene.

Officers from the Baltimore Police Department arrested Brady for the crime on April 30, 2020.

Brady has seven prior felonies spanning back to 2012, including second-degree murder, firearm offenses, narcotics possession and parole violation. His most recent felony conviction was in 2021 for failure to register as a gun offender, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

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