Not Guilty: Trial for 19-Year-Old Homicide Defendant Set for Early 2022

By Sarah Driver [former] , Katherine Strauch [former] - July 22, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A 19-year-old homicide defendant’s trial date was set for early next year after he rejected a plea offer on July 22 in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Nearly two weeks ago, Bernard Stanford was offered a plea of life, suspending all but 50 years, with five years probation, for first-degree murder, and 15 years to run concurrently for firearm use in a violent crime in connection to a murder on Sept. 24, 2020. At the time, defense attorney Donald C. Wright said he had not yet informed his client of the offer.

The case returned to reception court on Thursday.

However, during Thursday’s proceeding, Wright said he had not heard the offer before and requested to briefly discuss it with Stanford in a private meeting over Zoom. Judge Melissa K. Copeland granted his request, later commenting that she thinks “lawyers are misusing breakout rooms.”

Wright rejected the offer on behalf of Stanford, who is also charged with carrying a handgun on his person and possession of a firearm as a minor. The case is set to go to trial on Jan. 18, 2022. 

Another homicide case was scheduled for trial on Thursday before Judge Melissa M. Phinn.

Baltimore resident Levar Shedrick is charged with manslaughter by boat or automobile and criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle or vessel for an incident on Nov. 28, 2018. 

On Thursday, Shedrick, 37, was offered a plea of 10 years, suspending all but seven, with five years of supervised probation for manslaughter by boat or automobile. Defense attorney Shomari Taylor rejected the offer on his client’s behalf. 

The case is scheduled for trial on Nov. 3. 

In another homicide case heard before Judge Phinn, the prosecution and defense counsel are discussing a counteroffer.

Baltimore resident Tyrell Antonio Barnes allegedly killed his mother, Constance Price-Barnes, on Jan. 6, 2020, according to CBS Baltimore. Price-Barnes, 59, died after suffering from severe blunt-force trauma to her head.

Barnes, 32, was later found by Baltimore Police officers on the 800 block of Wilbert Avenue. 

The prosecution offered the defendant 43 years, suspending all but 20, and five years of supervised probation for first-degree murder and the intent to injure with a deadly weapon. He is also charged with second-degree assault.

Defense attorney Stephanie Salter mentioned she had a counteroffer that took into account Barnes’ mental health issues. She did not, however, specify the terms of the offer. The prosecution said they needed to speak with Barnes’ family members and present the counteroffer to their supervisors. 

The case is scheduled to return to reception court on Aug. 16. 

Editor’s note: the defendant was found not guilty on July 12.