Though Scheduled, Non-Fatal Shooting Case Trial Does Not Begin

By Connor Driscoll [former] - August 9, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

The trial of a 37-year-old man accused in a shooting last fall did not begin as scheduled on Aug. 9 at Baltimore City Circuit Court. 

The Baltimore resident is charged with two counts of firearm possession with a felony conviction and one count each of possession of firearms, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle, carrying a handgun on his person, discharging firearms, and illegal possession of ammunition for a shooting on Oct. 13, 2020.

The defendant previously rejected a plea of 10 years without the possibility of parole for the first five years on July 8. During a separate hearing before Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer that same day, the prosecution ordered the defendant to stay away from the prosecution’s witness, which his defense attorney, Shomari Taylor, accepted.

On Aug. 6, the prosecution and defense presented a not guilty plea with an agreed statement of fact for five years, without the possibility of parole, for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

However, Judge Melissa M. Phinn refused to accept the plea and told the prosecution and defense “to go back to the drawing board.” 

Both parties agreed on a Monday trial date, while the prosecution noted that the plea agreement would remain on the table.

On Monday, a prosecutor told Baltimore Witness that the case was either rescheduled or moved to a different courtroom. Later, the Court Reporting Services office informed Baltimore Witness that the case was no longer scheduled for Monday’s docket.

The case’s trial date has not yet been updated on the Maryland Judiciary website.