Judge to Review Motion to Modify 45-Year Murder Sentence

By Andrew Michaels - May 17, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A five-year-old murder trial was brought before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Anthony F. Vittoria on Monday to discuss a motion for modification of the sentences.

On May 17, the judge was presented with cases for codefendants Allen Pinkney, 23, and Gorham-Ramos, 22, who both pleaded guilty in May 2016 to the murder of 51-year-old Kim Leto. Pinkney and Alonzo Gorham-Ramos were sentenced to life suspending all but 45 years as well as five years probation in May 2016.

According to Pinkney’s defense attorney, John Hassett, who was present via Zoom, Pinkney, who was 16 years old at the time, and Gorham-Ramos, who was 14, pleaded guilty after stabbing Leto 11 times in her home on Jan. 31, 2014, on the 400 block of South Ellwood Avenue.

Hassett told the court Pinkney had admitted to stabbing Leto twice during his sentencing and that both codefendants were attempting to rob Leto, who was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Hassett explained to the court that Pinkney was first sent to Eager Street Academy, a Baltimore public school for youth who are incarcerated, where he remained until age 18. He was then sent to the Patuxent Youth Program and later the Baltimore Department of Corrections.

During this time, Hassett said, Pinkney has continued to show signs of “severe psychological issues”—signs Hassett said he noticed when he began representing Pinkney in 2015.

Two years later, Hassett said, he and Pinkney went before Judge Timothy Doory, who amended the original commitment order, to recommend Pinkney not only finish his sentence at the Patuxent Youth (PY) Program, but also receive mental health treatment as Pinkney met the requirements.

Hassett did not dispute the original sentence but requested Judge Vittoria make “some degree of modification” to assist Pinkney’s mental and psychological health as he remains in the Department of Corrections.

The prosecutor argued that Pinkney “creates a risk of safety” and no modification should be made.

In regards to Gorham-Ramos, defense attorney Robert Linthicum requested a motion for modification to the sentence, citing Gorham-Ramos’ completion of several programs.

Both Gorham-Ramos and Linthicum requested a reduction of 25 years from the 45-year sentence. 

The prosecutor argued that Gorham-Ramos’ sentence was already lenient and that if the trial had gone to jury, a conviction was likely.

Judge Vittoria said he will review the binding nature of the plea agreement as well as the exhibits submitted for consideration. Judge Vittoria said he is aware that the five-year review deadline of both cases is May 24 and, therefore, expects to address the cases in the coming days.