Late Evidence May Result in Sanctions Against Prosecutor

By Breanna Pompey [former] - March 1, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

On Feb. 29, homicide defendant Deon Hudson received a motions hearing date from Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland.

Hudson, 29, is currently charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person and firing a gun within Baltimore City in connection to a May 2023 incident. 

Hudson’s attorney, Matthew Connell, claimed that the prosecution’s evidence disclosure was late and that he wasn’t able to open the video files from the interrogation or review them with Hudson due to formatting issues.

Thus, Connell was not ready for trial the day it was scheduled, Feb. 26, and requested a postponement.

Judge Copeland did not allow Connell to request the postponement Monday because of the prosecutor’s error.

However, during Thursday’s hearing, when questioned on why she did not send the evidence in a timely manner, the prosecution called it a “complete oversight.” The prosecutor then requested a postponement herself on the grounds that she was in a different trial, as well as dealing with evidence disclosure issues and pending defense motions. 

Judge Copeland could not schedule Hudson’s trial because a judge had not yet ruled on Connell’s motion to compel evidence, nor his motion to suppress Hudson’s statements in the interrogation.  

Copeland scheduled a motions hearing for the morning of March 4 before Judge Jeannie J. Hong. Once the hearing is complete, counsel will return to Judge Copeland to schedule a trial date.

In addition to hearing the motions, Judge Hong will determine whether the prosecutor will be sanctioned for her oversight. 

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a call regarding a shooting on the 1800 block of Dover Street. The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper left leg and back and was immediately transported to Shock Trauma. 

An anonymous witness identified Hudson as the shooter.