Judge Waives 15-Year Sentence for Attempted Homicide Defendant’s Probation Violation

By Andrew Michaels - December 9, 2022
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A 35-year-old Baltimore man had a 15-year sentence waived on Dec. 8 in connection to a violation of probation following an attempted murder conviction in 2007.

During Thursday’s Zoom hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that Davon Addison was sentenced to 30 years, suspending all but ten years and five years of supervised probation for attempted second-degree murder and a concurrent five years for handgun use in committing a crime in 2007. Addison received an additional one-year sentence for violating his probation in 2014.

After serving his initial sentence, Addison then returned to prison in 2017 to serve a 15-year sentence for violating probation.

Defense attorney Nancy Forster said her client’s 2017 violation was in regard to a handgun that was found on Addison’s body. Although she agreed the defendant should not have had a gun in his possession, the defense attorney said Addison had lost ten friends to gun violence, so he had the gun for protection as opposed to committing violence.

The prosecutor requested that Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones dismiss the defense’s motion to modify Addison’s sentence on the grounds of his violations and inability to work with the probation office.

“The last thing we need is a person with violent conduct to be carrying handguns on the street,” the prosecutor said. “The state hasn’t seen sufficient evidence that Mr. Addison is a changed person.”

The judge said she understood the necessity of carrying a gun during such violent times but that his probation stipulated he possess no weapons. However, her biggest concern was that Addison did not report to the probation office as required.

“I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt for the third time,” Judge Jones said, noting that it would be unlikely for her to modify his sentence again.

Judge Jones suspended Addison’s 15-year sentence, giving him credit for time served and issuing probation for three years under the condition that he receive drug and alcohol screening and treatment if appropriate.