Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Rejects 25-Year Plea

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A 46-year-old Baltimore man involved in a non-fatal shooting rejected a plea offer for 25 years in prison on Sept. 23 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Wayne Wheeler is charged with four counts of first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, possession of firearm with a felony conviction, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a handgun on his person, illegal possession of ammo, malicious destruction of property greater than 1,000 and two counts of discharging firearms in connection to an incident on Dec. 20, 2021.

Wheeler and his defense counsel Amanda Savage, a stand-in for Judit Otvos, rejected a plea of 25 years suspending all but 10 years for first-degree assault; 10 years with the first five years without parole for use of a firearm during a felony violent crime; 10 years with the first five years without parole for possession of firearm with a felony conviction.

The defendant told Judge Phinn that he has not been in contact with his attorney, nor has he heard about the plea offer prior to today’s hearing.

Judge Phinn continued the hearing until Oct. 4, so the defendant’s attorney will be present to talk to her client and address his concerns.