Negotiations for Plea Offer in Homicide Case Begin 7 Months After Incident

By Zoe Foringer-Laing [former] , Connor Driscoll [former] - July 6, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Victims |

The case of a homicide defendant, who previously appeared in postponement court nearly a month ago, began negotiations for a plea offer in reception court at the Baltimore City Circuit Court on July 6. Judge Melissa M. Phinn also heard two non-fatal shooting cases.

Among the three cases was a homicide involving Baltimore resident Ronald Haskins. His case had been postponed on June 8 because the case had been recently reassigned to the prosecution and there was no offer at the time. 

On Tuesday, the prosecution offered Haskins, 23, a plea for life, suspending all but 55 years, for first degree-murder, and five years without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a violent crime. Under the deal, the sentences would run concurrently. 

In addition to the counts presented in the plea offer, Haskins also faces two weapons charges.

Defense attorney Karyn Meriwether said she had not yet communicated the offer to Haskins and that she needed time to speak to her client. 

Haskins’ charges are in connection to the murder of Richard Pearson on Jan. 11, 2020. 

According to the Baltimore Sun, Pearson, 38, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 1400 block of Broening Highway. He died after being taken to a local hospital. 

Investigators identified Haskins as the suspect based on citizen calls and CitiWatch surveillance footage. He was arrested a day after the shooting.

With the plea under negotiation, Judge Phinn scheduled the case to return to reception court on Aug. 4. 

The case of non-fatal shooting defendant Derrel Jones was also scheduled to return to court next month.

In connection to a shooting on Oct. 31, 2019, Jones, 30, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, carrying a handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle, discharging a gun in Baltimore City, illegal possession of ammunition, and firearm possession with a felony conviction, along with two counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm. 

During the hearing, Rosenberg said he was interested in a plea offer that would consolidate a separate case in which Jones faces six drug-related charges. The prosecution agreed to negotiate a global plea. 

The case will go to Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer on Aug. 13 to put forth the offer.

Another non-fatal shooting case presented before Judge Phinn was against Antonio Richburg.

Richburg, 38, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, discharging a gun in Baltimore City, unauthorized removal of property, and use of a firearm in a violent crime. He also faces two counts of first-degree assault.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 21, 2020.

Judge Phinn scheduled the case for trial on Oct. 12, which falls after his Hick’s date, meaning that it is more than 180 days after his first appearance in court, as required by Maryland law. However, defense attorney Anne Stewart-Hill and the prosecution were unable to find a mutually available date before then.

Although Richburg did not waive his right to the Hick’s date, a delay was still granted.