Men Accused of Attempted Murder to Serve Sentences on Home Detention

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Two Baltimore men charged with shooting a 42-year-old man in March will serve their sentences on home detention following plea agreements between the prosecution and defense attorneys on Dec. 12.

Hakeem Smith, 25, and Gerald McEachern, 21, were both offered guilty pleas from the prosecution—agreements that were reached after several days of discussions between counsel. Both defendants were facing multiple counts of attempted murder, assault, conspiracy to first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and weapons charges.

On Monday, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Blomquist accepted the following plea agreements:

Smith’s guilty plea of 25 years, suspending all but four years and five years of supervised probation for first-degree assault; a concurrent five years and five years of supervised probation for illegal possession of a firearm; and a concurrent three years for having a handgun on his person.

McEachern’s guilty plea of 25 years, suspending all but four years, and three years of supervised probation for first-degree assault; a concurrent five years for minor in possession of a firearm; and a concurrent three years for having a handgun on his person.

Their sentences will be served on home detention per the plea agreement. In addition, both defendants must pay for home detention, obtain a GED, seek or obtain employment upon release, stay away from the victim, and register as gun offenders.

“This was a huge wake-up call,” said McEachern’s defense attorney, Amanda Savage, who said her client’s main priority was to get home to his daughter.

Smith was represented by defense attorney Augustine Okeke.

According to the Baltimore Police Department, officers were called to the 500 block of Dolphin Street shortly before 2 p.m. on March 8 when they found the victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was treated for his injury at Shock Trauma.

Physical evidence and witness interviews later identified Smith and McEachern, who were arrested three weeks after the shooting.

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