Man Who Admitted to Stepfather’s Murder Expected to Take Guilty Plea

By Andrew Michaels - September 13, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Homicide defendant Cortez Johnson is expected to plead guilty to 50 years this November for fatally shooting his stepfather in the family’s kitchen last year.

The 21-year-old appeared in Baltimore City Circuit Court alongside his defense attorney, James Scott, on Sept. 13 when the prosecution and defense counsel reached an agreement on a plea offer of life, suspending all but 50 years, for first-degree murder.

Johnson was originally facing a potential maximum sentence of life plus 28 years if he had been convicted of all charges, which also included firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a handgun on his person, and possession of a firearm as a minor.

The incident in question occurred on April 17, 2021, on the 1900 block of Braddish Avenue, where Baltimore Police officers found Ivan Joseph Green dead from a gunshot wound. The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City previously reported that Johnson was riding a public bus when he allegedly called 911 and admitted that he had “just killed someone.”

Police later arrested Johnson on the 200 block of N. Hilton Street after he walked towards them with his arms out and told them to “cuff me up, you already know.”

On Tuesday, Johnson was scheduled to begin his jury trial but opted for a plea agreement after a brief recess to discuss the deal with his defense attorney.

Judge Dana Middleton, who presided over the morning hearing, scheduled a status hearing for Oct. 24 followed by Johnson’s sentencing at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21.