Judge Overturns Defendant’s Conviction, Releasing Him in Case

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A conviction for a man who pleaded guilty in 2015 to first-degree assault and use of a firearm during a violent crime was overturned May 13.

Maryland Circuit Court Judge Melissa Copeland accepted the prosecution’s motion to vacate the conviction in the aftermath of a guilty verdict of detectives and officers in the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force. According to counsel, one of the convicted detectives served as a witness in the case.

According to the news, two detectives of the task force were found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. Six other members also received guilty convictions. Their charges included:  racketeering, robbery and overtime fraud, and not guilty on use of a gun in the commission of a crime.

The prosecution stated that the motion was filed because their witness was not eligible to submit testimony. The case was moved to a no prosecution status.

According to police reports, Keon Norris, 27, was allegedly involved in a non-fatal shooting and a robbery attempt on Nov. 26, 2014. He was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 20 years with all but 12 years suspended. He was also sentenced to three years of probation.

Judge Copeland released the defendant in this case on May 13 after Norris was incarcerated for nearly 6.5 years for the crime.

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