Judge Continues Hearing for Attempted Murder Defendant

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On Sept. 19, a 25-year-old attempted murder defendant rejected a plea deal before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn. Judge Phinn then continued the hearing for scheduling.

Anthony Ward III is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, carrying a loaded handgun on his person, carrying a handgun on his person, discharging a weapon in Baltimore City and having a gun within 100 yards of the public in connection to a March 31 incident.

Ward and his stand-in defense attorney, Singleton Matthews, rejected a plea deal for 25 years, suspending all but 15 years for first-degree assault, with a concurrent sentence of eight years, the first five years without the possibility of parole, for firearm use in a felony violent crime. Ward would also have been required to stay away from the victim and the 4400 block of Frederick Avenue and register as a gun offender.