Man Opts for 18-Year Plea After Counsel Selects a Jury

By Andrew Michaels - May 22, 2024
Attempted Murder | Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

The jury in the case of attempted homicide defendant Lance Rogers was dismissed on May 22 following the defendant’s decision to plead guilty to a shooting in April 2023.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John A. Howard, the prosecution and defense attorneys Tony Garcia and Jessica Rubin selected a jury panel for the 42-year-old defendant on May 21; however, Rogers opted for a plea agreement late Tuesday evening for charges of attempted second-degree murder and firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

On May 22, all of the parties returned to court for Rogers’ disposition when Judge Howard imposed a sentence of 30 years, suspending all but 10 years, the first five years without parole for attempted second-degree murder and a consecutive 15 years, suspending all but eight years, the first five years without parole for firearm use in a felony or violent crime.

Rogers’ prison sentence comes to a total of 45 years, suspending all but 18 years, the first 10 years without parole and five years of supervised probation. Under the plea terms, he must also stay away from the victim and register as a gun offender.

Attempted murder and additional weapons charges against Rogers stemmed from a non-fatal shooting on April 30, 2023, on the 400 block of East Baltimore Street. Baltimore Police were called to the scene where a security guard told them that someone had been shot. Video surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a fight between the suspect and the victim, both of whom wrestled each other for the suspect’s gun before he was able to get control and shoot the victim.

Police later found the victim on June 21, 2023, who said he was shot in the stomach and arm. Rogers was positively identified and arrested the next day.