Judge Upholds Sentence for Murder Defendant Due to ‘Severe Nature of Harm’ Involved in The Crime

By Amina Thiam [former] - October 6, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A defendant currently serving a 28-year sentence for a 2014 murder sought to have his sentence reduced on Oct. 5 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda Tanner. 

Deshawn Richardson, who was found guilty in the 2014 murder of Johneice Sheppard, sought to reduce his sentence in “any way possible.” 

His attorney Jason Ott filed a motion to modify his client’s original sentence for the charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit attempted first-degree murder. 

The shooting occurred over a drug-related dispute on March 25, 2014, on the 3800 block of 8th street, when Sheppard, 21, along with two other surviving female victims, was shot. 

According to the prosecutor, all three victims were sitting on the sofa of a residence when Richardson, 27, and his co-defendant Laser Womack allegedly fired multiple shots at them. 

During the zoom hearing, the victim’s aunt told Judge Tanner that the murder had taken a toll on their entire family, including Sheppard’s young son. 

While Otts and his client told the court that he had grown since his incarceration, Judge Tanner told Richardson that his crime involved a “severe nature of harm.” 

She informed them that she had already given him a lenient sentence considering the facts of the case. “Your motion to modify [the defendant’s sentence] is respectfully denied,” she concluded.