Prosecutor's Schedule Delays Start of Trial in Attempted Murder Case

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A Baltimore man will have to wait a few days to begin trial in his attempted murder case due to the prosecutor assigned to the case being in trial for another defendant.

Defense attorney James Sweeting III informed Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn on Wednesday that he was prepared to begin trial in the case against James Sutton.

Judge Phinn informed Sutton that she had “no authority” over the State’s Attorney’s Office after he became audibly upset about the delay.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Sutton, 27, is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, three counts of illegally possessing a regulated firearm, illegally possessing ammo, two counts of having a handgun in a vehicle, and discharging firearms for an incident that occurred on July 13, 2022.

Sutton is also facing narcotics and weapons charges in another case which prosecutors expect to try after the attempted murder trial.

Judge Phinn scheduled the defendant to begin trial on Feb. 16 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Videtta Brown. The trial is expected to last four days.

Prosecutor’s Schedule Delays Start of Trial in Attempted Murder Case