Just shy of his twenty-fifth birthday, Jessie Freels was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 75 years with all but 35 years suspended for his involvement in a 2023 non-fatal shooting.
The incident occurred Jan. 24, 2023 on the 200 block of N. Eutaw Street, where the defendant opened fire at a crowded bus stop. A bullet struck one individual in the arm, causing permanent scarring and requiring surgery. A young child stood just a few feet away from the victim as he was shot.
Following an October 2025 jury trial before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin Schreiber II, Freels was found guilty of attempted first- and second-degree murder and assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, and four other firearm violations.
In a proceeding on Oct. 8, Freels threatened to kill the judge who turned down a defense motion for a not criminally responsible (NCR) plea based on the notion that Freels didn’t know right from wrong nor follow the rule of law.
During the hearing on Oct. 10, Freels and both parties sat with their backs turned toward the judge, a precaution taken due to previous threats made against the bench.
At Freels’ Jan. 30 hearing, the prosecuting attorney requested a sentence of life plus 42 years. To support the recommendation, the prosecution cited the defendant’s long criminal record, disregard for public safety and his unruly behavior at trial.
Defense attorney Andre Mahasa countered that Freels suffers from mental health issues and experienced a “rough” childhood. Mahasa requested a sentencing of 15 years of active incarceration to be served at the Patuxent Institution.
Judge Schreiber deemed Freel an “exceptional threat to public safety given his extensive history of violence,” adding that the best way to address this would be to provide a substantial sentence of backup time should he violate the terms of his probation.
Echoing the defense, Judge Schreiber recommended that the 35 years of active incarceration he imposed be completed at the Patuxent Institution in hopes that Freels will receive rehabilitative treatment for his mental health.
