Mother Accused of Reckless Endangerment Accepts Alford Plea 

By Amina Thiam [former] - December 12, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Dec. 9, a female defendant appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams for her sentencing hearing regarding a non-fatal shooting incident from Feb. 2021. 

Dara Kent, 39, accepted an Alford plea offered by the state prosecutor for charges of reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property valued at over $1000. 

She was also previously charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, using a firearm in a felony violent crime, discharging firearms, having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road, having a handgun on her person, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, and having a loaded handgun on her person. 

The victim of the shooting, the current girlfriend of Kent’s estranged husband, was present in court as the prosecutor read the statement of facts in the case. 

On Feb. 13, on the 3200 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Kent is alleged to have shot at the victim’s car as a result of a dispute with her husband.

According to the prosecutor, the victim still has PTSD from the incident. 

Kent’s defense attorney, Marci T. Johnson, told the court that the defendant and her ex are still in the process of a divorce and share children together. 

She also emphasized that her client, who is finishing a law degree, is maintaining her innocence, hence her decision to take the Alford plea.

In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit any criminal wrongdoing but acknowledges that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to convince a judge or jury of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Judge Williams sentenced Kent to a total of eight years, suspending all but time served and three years of probation. She was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.