Two Co-Defendants Get Trial Date for Attempted Second-Degree Murder

By Carly Schiller [former] , Zoe Foringer-Laing [former], Vantashia Bridges [former] - June 23, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

Two co-defendants, each facing multiple charges in connection to an attempted murder six months ago, received a trial date during postponement court at the Baltimore City Circuit Court on June 23.

Joseph Black, 35, was offered a plea deal of 20 years for attempted second-degree murder, 5 years for firearm use in a violent crime, and 3 years for carrying a handgun on his person. Under the deal, these sentences would be served concurrently, in addition to five years for firearm possession with a felony conviction.

Defense attorney Thomas Rafter rejected the offer on behalf of his client.

Black faces a total of 52 charges. He is charged with two counts each of second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road; one count each of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, carrying a handgun on his person, firing a gun in the city, illegal possession of ammunition, and selling, transferring, or disposing of a stolen pistol; eight counts of firearm use with a felony conviction; and 30 traffic violations. 

Black will go to trial on Sept. 13 with his co-defendant Martinez Lasco in connection to a non-fatal shooting on Dec. 26, 2019.

Lasco, 21, is charged with one count each of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, reckless endangerment, firing a gun within the city, illegal possession of ammunition, and selling a stolen pistol, along with two counts each of second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle on a public road, possessing a firearm as a minor, and firearm possession with a felony conviction. 

Lasco was offered a plea deal of 13 years, suspending all but seven, with three years probation for attempted second-degree murder, five years for firearm use in a violent crime, and five years for firearm use with a felony conviction, all to be served concurrently.

Assistant public defender Shomari Taylor rejected the offer on behalf of his client. 

The plea deal was also rejected in the case of Ikeara Baker, a non-fatal shooting defendant, during the hearing before Judge Melissa M. Phinn. 

Baker, 28, was offered a plea deal to serve time for being an accessory after the fact. The terms of the plea, which defense attorney Roland Brown rejected, were not stated. 

In connection to a non-fatal shooting on Feb. 15, Baker is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, firearm use in a violent crime, conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, making a false statement to an officer, and being an accessory after the fact, as well as two counts of discharging a gun in Baltimore.

Baker’s case will return to postponement court on July 22.