Pleas Rejected, Trials Scheduled in Postponement Court

By Andrew Michaels - June 9, 2021
Court | Homicides | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Two homicide cases and one non-fatal shooting case were presented to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn in postponement court on Wednesday.

The first case on the June 9 docket was against 31-year-old Baltimore resident Willian Flores. 

Flores is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder as well as first and second-degree assault, carrying a handgun, possessing a handgun in a vehicle, firearm use in a violent crime, unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and malicious destruction of property valued under $1,000. 

The prosecution offered plea deal of 10 years for attempted first-degree murder and five years without parole for firearm use in a violent crime.

Defense attorney Jeremy Eldridge said his client rejected the plea offer, and Judge Phinn scheduled a trial for Sept. 28.

Traevon George was the next case brought before Judge Phinn in connection to a homicide in January 2020. 

The Baltimore Sun reported that George allegedly shot and killed Essex resident Andre Giles, 31, on the 400 block of E. Baltimore Street.

George, 35, is facing charges for first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Assistant public defender Linda Zeit said her client rejected a plea offer from the prosecution for life, suspending all but 60 years, and five years probation for first-degree murder in addition to five years without parole for firearm use in a violent crime that he would serve at the same time. 

George’s case was scheduled for trial on July 15.

An initial plea offer of life for first-degree murder was mentioned by the prosecution in a case against 47-year-old Deshon Thomas; however, a prosecutor said an amended offer is forthcoming.

According to the  Baltimore Sun, Thomas was arrested in connection to the December 2019 murder of Antonio Clayton on the 2200 block of Sidney Avenue. 

Thomas, represented by defense attorney Howard Cardin, is facing charges for first-degree murder, firearm use in a violent crime, having a loaded handgun on his person, and firearm possession with a felony conviction.

The case will return to postponement court on June 24.