Tavon Jones, 24, was sentenced to serve five years behind bars before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer on April 24.
Jones, who was previously charged with multiple gun offenses alongside double counts of attempted murder and assault, pleaded guilty last September to firearm use and one count of first-degree assault. In exchange for his plea, the state dismissed his remaining charges.
The sentence outlined by the state consisted of 25 years, suspending all but five for the assault charge, and five concurrent years for the firearm charge. Jones will be required to complete a three-year probationary period upon release.
Jones was arrested in connection to a June 28, 2023 shooting on the 5300 block of Valiquet Avenue. The incident reportedly arose from a dispute between Jones and his girlfriend’s uncle.
According to charging documents, the defendant and victim were at Jones’s girlfriend’s house, where the latter’s uncle was cutting his niece’s grass. Her uncle reportedly entered the home and observed Jones, leading to an argument that escalated into a fistfight.
Jones entered his car. After U-turning out of the dead end street to leave the property, he reportedly fired one bullet at the victim’s car. The victim was seated inside. Jones then drove away.
The victim told police that only one bullet was fired. Investigators recovered one .38-caliber casing from the scene.
Defense attorney Bradley Macfee emphasized on Monday the lack of victim’s testimony, adding that the victim previously said he did not think Jones wanted to harm him. Jones had also recently had a child with his girlfriend, Macfee said.
On Friday, Judge Schiffer acknowledged Jones’ acceptance of the plea offer and commended him for not acquiring further infractions in jail. She emphasized that the time he served while awaiting trial—two years—will count toward his completion of the sentence.
