May 26

At a hearing on Tuesday, Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Clayton Damon Colkley, 27, of N. Polk Street to 30 years for the second-degree murder of James "Buck" Bowens. Judge Glynn also sentenced him to 20 years consecutive for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, the first five years without parole, consecutive to the 30 years for murder and then sentenced him to life in prison, consecutive to the 50 years, for the attempted murder of William Courts, and a concurrent life sentence for the conspiracy to murder William Courts. Judge Glynn also sentenced co-defendant Darnell Fields, 22, of the 3200 block of Elmna Avenue, to life in prison, suspend all but 45 years, for the conspiracy to murder William Courts. He then sentenced Fields to 25 years, concurrent, for the attempted murder of William Courts, and 20-years consecutive to the 25 years but concurrent with the life, suspend all but 45 years, for the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. A Baltimore City jury convicted Colkley and Fields April 1.
Here's the story:

In the early evening hours of May 28, 2003 a vehicle turned into the 1700 block of Port St. and pulled to the curb in the middle of the block. Four people jumped from the car and shots were fired. James Bowens was struck once in the chest and died from his wound, William Courts was shot 10 times but survived and an innocent bystander up the street was struck one time in the shoulder suffering a minor injury. Police investigation found several witnesses who ultimately identified Clayton Colkley as the person who shot Mr. Bowens in the chest and who then shot William Courts repeatedly as he lay wounded on the sidewalk. Mr. Fields was identified as the driver of the vehicle and as a person who was also firing at the group of intended victims.

Also on Tuesday, the drug kingpin trial of William Nicholson, 27, of Boxthorn Road began before Judge Joseph H. H. Kaplan, Jr. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Nicholson July 31, 2003 on kingpin and conspiracy narcotic counts. A kingpin can be defined as a person who allegedly was part of a drug conspiracy in which he/she was the manager, organizer, supervisor, or financier of narcotics distribution. Court documents allege Nicholson supplied at least three high-volume dealers in the Baltimore City metro area with large quantities of nose candy. He faces a maximum prison term of 40 years if convicted.

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy announced today that the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Bradford Mulcahy, 25, of Towson yesterday for automobile manslaughter in connection with the death if a pedestrian, Stephen Cage, 46. The indictment stems from an automobile accident that occurred on February 15, 2005 in the 1500 block of West Baltimore Street in which Mulcahy's automobile struck Cage. Mulcahy was also indicted for first-degree assault of Baltimore City Police Officer Cornell Williams on that same date.