Judge Schedules Homicide Trial for End of the Year

By Alyssia Davis [former] - March 14, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A 30-year-old Baltimore man charged with homicide has a trial scheduled at the end of the year on March 14 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn. 

Ernest Ford is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and having a handgun in a vehicle in connection to an incident on Jan. 29, 2021. 

During reception court, Judge Phinn listened as counsel came to an agreement for a trial date.  

Ford was represented by defense attorney Tony Garcia. 

According to the Baltimore Sun, on Jan. 29, 2021, Baltimore Police Department officers were called to the 4400 block of Moravia Road after reports of shots fired, finding MTA driver Frankye Duckett fatally shot. Ford and another man, Marquis Poteat, were arrested and charged for Duckett’s murder, police said.  

Ford has five prior convictions, including attempted distribution of narcotics and unlawful possession on Aug. 10, 2010. He was sentenced to two years suspending all but one year with two years on supervised probation. Ford was also convicted possession on March 11, 2011, in which he received a sentence of 10 days. On Sept. 16, 2011, he was convicted of a violation of probation and another unlawful possession in which he was sentenced to one year on Sept. 16, 2011.

Ford’s trial is scheduled for Dec. 15 with Judge Anthony F. Vittoria.