South Poppleton Street Attempted Murder Defendant Rejects Plea, Will Head to Trial

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On Aug. 10, a Baltimore resident rejected a plea offer and received a trial date before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Dontay Washington and his defense counsel James Sweeting III rejected a plea offer of 50 years suspending all but 20 years for attempted first-degree murder, 10 years with the first five without the possibility of parole for the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime and five years without the possibility of parole for the possession of a firearm with a felony conviction.

According to court documents, police showed up to the unit block of South Poppleton Street regarding reports of a shooting. A witness at the scene was able to provide detectives with an image of a suspect, Washington, and his facebook page.

Washington, 28, is charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, the use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a felony violent crime, three counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction, two counts of having a loaded handgun in his vehicle, two counts of conspiracy to have a loaded handgun in his vehicle, having a loaded handgun on his person, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, firing a gun in Baltimore City and two counts of illegal possession of ammunition in connection to an incident that occurred on Feb 8.

The four-day trial is set to begin on Dec. 19 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner.