Pending Competency Eval Prevents Judge From Setting Murder Trial Date

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A 33-year-old murder defendant received neither a plea offer nor a trial date in reception court April 26 due to the court waiting on results from his latest competency evaluation.

Terrance Peterson is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction and having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road in connection to the murder of 35-year-old Carmen Rodriguez in a Patterson Park convenience store on Dec. 22, 2019.

Because Peterson will return to mental health court May 1 to get results from a competency evaluation ordered by his doctor, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland did not want to schedule him for trial during Friday’s hearing.

Counsel agreed with the judge’s decision. Defense attorney Deborah Levi said that though it’s possible the case will not go to trial pending the competency results, she has not yet received a plea offer from the prosecution despite the case’s age.

The prosecutor told Levi she would relay an offer by next week.

Judge Copeland did not set a date for counsel to return to reception court, but said she would arrange one via email if Peterson is found competent.

Peterson’s co-defendant Martin Brooks was found guilty for his involvement in the murder in 2023.

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