Judge Reduces Homicide Defendant’s Sentence by 15 Years

By Andrew Michaels - October 4, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 35-year-old convicted murderer had his sentence reduced by 15 years on Oct. 1 after serving nearly the same amount of time of a 40-year sentence.

Bel Air resident Stephen Wallace, who is represented by defense attorney Catherine Flynn, appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Julie R. Rubin on Friday, following a motions hearing to modify his sentence almost two months ago.

On Friday, Judge Rubin modified Wallace’s sentence to life, suspending all but 25 years, and three years probation for first-degree murder, and time served for his handgun charges. Wallace must also write a letter to the judge when he is released on probation to keep her updated on his routines and plans.

Wallace is slated to be released from prison as soon as his paperwork is completed and processed.

Wallace and Flynn filed the motion for modification in March.

During Friday’s proceedings, Judge Rubin commended Wallace for his hard work while incarcerated, “especially after a crime as ugly as this one.”

Flynn first discussed the possibility of shortening Wallace’s sentence in early August, noting her client’s efforts to “do everything he can to better himself.” Since being incarcerated, Wallace has received certificates for adult learning, community service, and children’s advocacy, and is now a practicing Muslim.

In addition to being impressed with Wallace’s work, the judge said she found him to be “extraordinary earnest and remorseful” when he previously addressed the victim’s family and expressed his regret and sorrow.

“To continue your sentence for the duration of the sentence that was originally imposed does not help out the community,” Judge Rubin said. “It will hurt you and your family ultimately. It will deprive the community of someone who I expect to be a productive, giving, and full member of society.”

Wallace was originally sentenced to life, suspending all but 40 years, for first-degree murder, and a concurrent five years for handgun charges for the fatal shooting of Sheldon Lee Anderson Jr. on July 1, 2006, on the 2700 block of Edmondson Avenue, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Wallace was also on “double probation” for separate handgun and drug violations before Anderson’s murder after police caught him with 18 baggies of crack cocaine, the Baltimore Sun reported. However, his drug charges were among more than 300 cases dropped because of a corruption case against police officers in the Baltimore Police Department’s Southwestern District.

Wallace’s probation agents were then unable to pursue a scheduled violation of probation hearing at the time.

Under his original sentence, Wallace would have become eligible for parole in 2026.

“I thank you for acknowledging that you see it in me because it really is in me,” Wallace told the court.

“You haven’t been on the streets in a long time,” Flynn told the court. “Baltimore is not a very safe place these days. It’s very easy to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Every day you wake up, you need to remember what it was like in jail.”

The judge also addressed the victim’s mother, saying that she does not “pretend to understand the depth of [her] mourning and trauma that Mr. Wallace’s crime imposed on her family.”

“But, having considered all of that,” the judge continued, “I’m going to grant the motion because I feel like all of the priorities of incarceration have been met here.”

Wallace has 30 days to file an appeal and 90 days to file an additional motion to modify his sentence as well as execute his right to a three-judge panel review.