Judge Schedules Trial in February for Fairhaven Avenue Attempted Murder Case

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On Aug. 7, Antoine Stuckey and his attorney James Sweeting III appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn in reception court.

Stuckey, 32, rejected a plea offer from the prosecutor assigned to the case for an aggregated 40 years in prison with the first five years without the possibility of parole.

With the plea rejected, Judge Phinn asked the attorneys when they would be available to try the case. Neither Sweeting nor the prosecutor had any openings before Stuckey’s speedy trial right, known in Maryland law as his Hick’s date, would expire. The Hick’s date is the state of Maryland’s obligation to bring a defendant’s case to trial within 180 days of his or his attorney’s first court appearance.

Though Stuckey retained his right, Judge Phinn found cause to go beyond his Hick’s date and scheduled the trial for Dec. 13 before Judge Kendra Y. Ausby.

At the end of the hearing, Sweeting assured Stuckey that he would go to the jail after court to discuss evidence Stuckey believes could prove his innocence.

Stuckey is charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in the commission of a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, having a handgun on his person, having a handgun in his vehicle, illegal possession of ammunition, reckless endangerment and firing a gun in Baltimore City in connection to a Feb. 4 incident.

According to court documents, Stuckey drove to the victim’s home on the 3700 block of Fairhaven Avenue so she could give him some money she owed him for drugs. After being unable to give Stuckey more than $60, he hit her in the face with a handgun. A neighbor who witnessed the assault began calling 911. In response, the defendant shot a single round at the neighbor and drove away.