Homicide Defendant’s Jail Calls Referring to Another ‘Body’ Recalled During Sentencing

By Andrew Michaels - February 24, 2023
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Jail calls from convicted homicide defendant Jeremiah Tehohney were used against him in Baltimore City Circuit Court on Feb. 23 when an assistant state’s attorney argued for a sentence of life in connection to the murder of Anthony Covington nearly three years ago.

The 23-year-old defendant appeared in a yellow jumpsuit and shackles before Judge Anthony Vittoria for his sentencing on Thursday following a conviction of conspiracy to first-degree murder and multiple weapons charges in October 2022.

During the proceedings, the prosecutor reminded the judge of Tehohney’s jail calls in which he said that “this isn’t my first body,” referring to the 27-year-old victim.

Covington was gunned down on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Ostend Street on March 28, 2020. Tehohney was among the suspected gunmen in the shootout that also injured three other men.

Earlier in the proceedings, Covington’s sister read impact statements from herself and several family members. In her impact statement, Covington’s mother said she forgave the defendant “because that’s the only way I can move on with my life.”

“The victim has been given a life sentence. Anthony Covington is never coming back,” the prosecutor said in court, describing the defendant’s criminal history as “unbelievable” in addition to the numerous infractions he has had since his incarceration.

“This defendant represents a great risk to public safety. He’s just out of control,” she concluded before recommending a sentence of life plus three years.

Defense attorney Augustine Okeke told Judge Vittoria that his client “is deeply, deeply sorry” for Covington’s death. Okeke also provided some insight into Tehohney’s unhealthy upbringing that involved drug-addled parents as well as his father’s incarceration.

Okeke countered the prosecution’s recommendation with a sentence of no more than 20 years.

“What is clear in this case is there has been this great loss,” Judge Vittoria said.

In response to the prosecution’s mentioning of the jail calls, the judge noted that this murder was “nothing but a thing” for the defendant, who thought he would get away with it.

Judge Vittoria then imposed the following sentence: three years for having a handgun on his person; a concurrent life sentence of conspiracy to first-degree murder; and a concurrent three years each for three counts of having a handgun on his person.

The judge added that he would be willing to reassess this sentence in five years should Tehohney show improvement in accordance with the defendant’s right to request a modification of his sentence.