Judge Hands Down Decades-Long Sentence For 2023 Murder Outside Adult Club

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge sentenced 31-year-old Kwante Betters to more than half of a century in prison on Jan. 21 for the murder of Stephon Stinnett outside Norma Jean’s adult entertainment club in 2023.

Betters, who was represented by defense attorney Michael Tomko, was tried before a jury in September 2024 and found guilty of second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony or violent crime and firearm possession with a felony conviction. Judge Yolanda A. Tanner presided over the five-day trial and imposed his sentence on Tuesday.

The defendant was sentenced to 25 years for second-degree murder, a consecutive 20 years for firearm use in a felony or violent crime and a consecutive 15 years, suspending all but eight years, for firearm possession with a felony conviction. He will also serve five years of supervised probation upon his release.

Betters’ 53-year sentence dates back to October 2023 and includes the two years of time already served.

At trial, the prosecution introduced video surveillance evidence that showed Betters on the 400 block of East Baltimore Street—an area known as “The Block”—on Sept. 3, 2023, when Stinnett was shot. Although there were no witnesses of the shooting, the prosecutor said, the defendant pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the 29-year-old victim before initiating a fight.

Stinnett was shot once in the chest and died from his injuries.

Throughout the trial, Tomko opted to use the video to his advantage, indicating to the jury that Stinnett started the fight and his client acted in self-defense. Defense counsel said that Stinnett took “an aggressive stance” and “bucked” at Betters. The defendant then hit the victim with his handgun, causing the gun to discharge.