Trial Date Set for 16-Year-Old Defendant Charged with Murder

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn continued a reception court hearing for a juvenile defendant because his attorney could no longer represent him.

Judge Phinn was unable to set a trial date for 16-year-old Laronte Collins because his attorney, Brian Levy, reported that he was leaving the Youth Offenders Office and the case would need to be reassigned.

During Monday’s hearing, the prosecutor offered Collins a plea for 25 years, suspending all but 20 years with five years of probation for first-degree assault; a consecutive sentence of 20 years, the first five without the possibility of parole for firearm use in a felony violent crime; and an additional consecutive sentence of five years for reckless endangerment. Collins rejected this plea.

Judge Phinn continued the case for scheduling on Feb. 13.

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Collins faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm use in a felony violent crime, two counts of reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm as a minor, having a handgun 100 yards from a public area, having a handgun on his person, and discharging a firearm for an incident that occurred on June 6, 2021.

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