Judge Holds Decision to Modify Sentence in Decades-Old Murder Case

By Andrew Michaels - August 31, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

Defense counsel motioned to modify a Baltimore man’s sentence on Aug. 31 after he allegedly violated probation nearly three decades after a second-degree murder conviction.

In 1992, Ronnie Donte Jones, 45, accepted a plea of 30 years, suspending all but 20, with five years supervised probation for second-degree murder, and a concurrent 20 years for handgun use in committing a crime. Nearly 30 years later, Jones was convicted of firearm possession with a felony conviction and illegal possession of ammo in connection to an incident in April 2018.

Jones accepted a plea of five years for the firearms charges in 2019; however, he is facing a 10-year sentence for violating probation regarding his case in the early 1990s.

During a post-conviction hearing on Tuesday, defense attorney Catherine Flynn motioned to modify Jones’ sentence before Judge John S. Nugent in regards to the defendant’s violation of probation. Flynn recommended Jones receive five years without parole or five years to be served consecutively with his current five-year sentence.

Jones told the court he was 16 when he went to jail for his earlier crime and 37 when he was released.

“I didn’t fire the gun. The gun was in the trunk of my car,” said Jones, referring to his 2018 firearms charges. “I knew I wasn’t supposed to have the gun. That’s on me. I accept that.”

The defendant also mentioned he keeps busy by educating himself with book learning as well as his interest in starting a property management business.

“You are doing things that are not just improving the way you think about things, but also helping give you drive,” Judge Nugent said. “Because you have been going infraction-free, I want to see this through a little bit longer.”

Judge Nugent said he will hold his decision until November 2022, when Jones is about four and a half years into his current five-year sentence.

“Hopefully, you see this as a carrot and not a stick,” Judge Nugent said.

The motion’s hearing was originally scheduled about a month ago, but it was postponed due to the court’s technical difficulties.