Judge Goes Beyond Guidelines, Sentences Teen Convicted of Murder to 55 Years in Prison

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On July 8, a teen convicted of a murder was sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Daquan George, 19, was found guilty of second-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime in the Jan. 17, 2022, murder of 23-year-old Darron McCoy Jr. on the 4900 block of North Franklintown Road. George shot McCoy more than 20 times.

In the hearing, Monday, the victim’s mother said she has yet to recover from the loss of her son, explaining that she does not sleep due to night terrors, suffers from survivor’s guilt and has had to seek a therapist and take depression medication to deal with the fallout of her son’s murder.

Defense attorney Judit Otvos blamed George’s youth and abnormally slow brain development for his involvement in the murder.

She also argued that the fact George was convicted of second-degree murder and not first-degree murder was because it was still unclear as to the role he played in the murder and should therefore serve less time.

During the incident, McCoy had texted his family, saying if anything were to happen to him, he was with George and two others. One of those two other people he mentioned was later murdered, and the second has not been charged.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jeannie J. Hong told George she would go beyond the suggested sentencing guidelines of 30 years for second-degree murder because of the viciousness of the crime and his continued misbehavior while incarcerated, including seven institutional infractions.

Judge Hong said his multiple threats against correctional officers led her to believe that he is a threat to the general public and deserving of a heavier sentence.

George received a sentence of 40 years in prison for second-degree murder and 15 years in prison for firearm use in a felony violent crime. The sentences are set to be served consecutively with the first five years without the possibility of parole.