Judge Schedules Trial for 16-Year-Old Attempted Murder Defendant

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A 16-year-old defendant charged with attempted murder was issued a trial date before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Feb. 13.

The assistant state’s attorney assigned to the case offered defendant Laronte Collins a plea offer of 25 years, suspending all but 20 years with five years of supervised probation for first-degree assault; a consecutive sentence of 20 years, the first five years without the possibility of parole; in addition to a consecutive five years for possessing a firearm as a minor. The defendant would have also been required to register as a gun offender.

The defense attorney standing in during the hearing informed Judge Phinn that the case was in the process of being reassigned by the Public Defenders Office.

Judge Phinn elected to schedule Collins’ trial to begin on June 21 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gregory Sampson.

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