A 35-Year-Old Baltimore man involved in a non-fatal shooting was denied bail on Feb. 11, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles J. Peters.
The Baltimore resident is charged with possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, reckless endangerment, discharging a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition in connection with an incident that occured on May 5, 2021.
On Friday, Judge Peters listened as defense attorney George Harris requested his client to be released on home detention because his client suffers from acute asthma, so he is more susceptible to catching COVID-19 while being incarcerated.
While the defendant is set to go to trial on March 11, given the current COVID-19 pandemic, Harris claims that this scheduled date may change. Jury trials could be suspended yet again, keeping his client away from his nine children for an even longer period.
The prosecutor was not opposed to releasing the defendant on home detention. However, the prosecutor expressed concern that the defendant is a danger to public safety in his neighborhood.
The prosecutor also added that the defendant has shown signs of paranoia. He had several objects mounted against his front door, and shot at his neighbor’s home, believing that someone was after him.
As Judge Peters listened, Harris argued that if home detention is granted, his client will undergo a mental health assessment for the court since that is the prosecution’s concern.
Judge Peters denied bail for the defendant because a mental health assessment is not enough to grant home detention. He also deemed that the defendant was a threat to public safety.
