The difference is in the pistol whip

Self-defense double standard between 20-somethings Dominic Anderson, Abdullah Omar and John Pontolillo?

Ex-county cop robs 7 banks

When county police officer Joseph Goetz car-jacked a UPS driver in the 90s, little did anyone know he was just getting warmed up,

Behold

Chasity "Doodlebug" Morales, wanted for robbing the Pikesville Pizza Hut.

No good deed...

A teenager opened fire in a Sheraton ballroom and shot a man in the face. Two guys allegedly restrained the shooter in a "sleeper hold" and pistol-whipped him. Now the restrainers have been indicted.

More on the sad case of April Montford: sisters say mom didn't want their help.
Video from WBAL

Judges' goof gets double-murder case thrown out

Sentencing delayed for teen found to have participated in the beating of septuagenarian fisherman

Venerable haberdasher Jos. A Bank to pay $4 million for misrepresenting inventory levels to shareholders

13?

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A man murdered Monday was ID'd as John England, 27. Reports the Sun, "England was sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2006 for firearm possession." But apparently that sentence didn't take.
Minor irony dept: England, subject of a paternity suit while imprisoned in Cumberland, was killed in front of the Center for Urban Families.

No Jail for Disipicable Daughters

From the SAO:

At a hearing today Judge David Ross sentenced Sharon Jones, 26, of the 400 block of W. Franklin Avenue and Tia Sewell, 27, of the 5100 block of Darien Road to a suspended ten year prison term and five years probation. Jones and Sewell pled guilty to first-degree vulnerable adult abuse November 16, 2009.
The court heard nearly three hours of testimony from members of the victim’s family who were called as defense witnesses and offered supportive testimony for Jones and Sewell. The court-ordered a pre-sentence investigation recommended suspended sentences for both defendants. The state argued that the heinous nature of the crime and the willful neglect of the victim warranted incarceration and the state asked for six years in prison.

Jones and Sewell admitted to the negligent care of their mother, April Montford, 40. Ms. Montford sustained severe injuries to her lower abdomen and legs resulting in bed sores, gangrenous open wounds and dehydration. She died March 14, 2008. The medical examiner ruled Montford’s death a homicide as a result of a 1985 gunshot wound. That gunshot wound left her a paraplegic.

The Sun reported that Montford was also infested with maggots and lice.

Police Need Help

ID'ing a decomposed body found in White Marsh

New trial for Tyrone Jones, convicted in a 1998 murder

The Sun's eds say MD's Rx pot policy should be clearer (love the Google ads)

Anybody go see Dr. John Rich at the Walters yesterday? Thoughts? Here's a review of the book

City makeover

Chris Taylor, the Union Square actvist arrested for interefering with an investigation wants to replace the current city council. Meanwhile the city law department is trying to figure how the city should handle future sex offenders who want to get paid while in jail.

BPD to Drop Unlawful Gag Order

In a stunning reversal, BPD brass decides it will comply with federal transparency laws and release the names of officers who have shot citizens.
Wonder what brought that about?

S.A. Dix, Rollergirl

Will Steal-a Man Dixon appear rinkside tonight at the Charm City Rollergirls' home opener? Says the Girls' page,

The home season opener is a celebration as the Office of Mayor Shelia Dixon and the City of Baltimore will declare this Saturday [Jan 30] Charm City Roller Girls Day in Baltimore! Join us for the awarding of the official proclamation at DuBurns Arena this Saturday starting at 6:00pm.

UPDATE: the bouts were canceled due to snow

How the mighty have fallen...

Notorious Baltimore movie star/rapper/gang leader, Rodney "Skinny Suge" Thomas is convicted in federal court on racketeering and drug charges.
Suge is notorious for producing and starring in the notorious "Stop Snitching" movies that made national headlines in 2005. Suge is facing up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

Brotha Workitout pleaded guilty to using fraudulent identification documents.

Justified

Jessamy rules a JHU student who killed a thief was "justified"

Speaking of Scary Stalkers

... the victim's family reports that George Thompson, 37, convicted of attempting to hire someone to murder his wife less than two years ago will be out of jail next month after serving little more than a year. Says the victim's cousin,

BEWARE!!! This FELON will be back on the streets at the end of February. Most likely will attempt to do work in a trade, i.e. plumbing, electric, carpentry. He is NOT licensed!!! Do NOT let him in your home, he is a danger!!!!!!!! please repost and keep your friends and loved ones safe!

Stabby stalker shot by cops

.. outside of Union Memorial hospital. The "victim" was wanted on an attempted murder warrant after a stabbing in January outside the Royal Farms store on 36th St. in Hampden.

Murders 7 through 10 in the Ink.

A good question: if O'Malley is against the death penalty, why doesn't he commute the sentences of the five inmates on death row?

Onward & Upward with the Arts
Closing arguments in the federal case against reality star Ronnie "AIDS in Your Mouth" Thomas.

Aiiiee!! the CP's Van Smith pays a visit to the Apex.

Hermann links to Peter Barry's gallery of Baltimore memorial graffiti

Baltimore County prison crackdown

Contraband found on CO's at the Baltimore County detention center during a shift-wide search on Tuesday.

The city's Inspector General joins investigation into the sex offender who stayed on city payroll while serving time for sexually abusing a minor

New journalism takes a hit

Acorn videographers busted breaking into Senator's office Watergate style

Life + 70 for Belair Rd. Murderer

From the SAO:

At a hearing today, Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Dominic Brown, 29, of the 1300 block of Vida Drive to life in prison plus 70 years. A Baltimore jury convicted Brown October 30, 2009 of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

Judge Hears sentenced Brown to the following: life in prison for first-degree murder, 30 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder and 40 years in prison (first five years without parole) for two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, all consecutive.

On May 4, 2008, Sean Henderson and a group of friends were inside La’Son’s Bar and Grill located in the 3200 block of Belair Road. Henderson left the bar and spoke with two women outside the bar. Witnesses observed Dominic Brown approach Henderson and the two women. Brown began yelling at one of the women, the mother of his son. Shortly thereafter, Brown produced a handgun from his waistband and fired it at Henderson multiple times. As Henderson attempted to run southbound on Belair Road, he was struck once in the chest, once in the back, and once in the forearm. Witnesses observed Brown flee northbound on Belair Road. At approximately 1:54AM officers responded to that location for a shooting call. Upon arrival, officers found Henderson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported Henderson to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:31AM. A second victim, Christopher Pinkney, suffered a single gunshot wound to the right knee and entered Johns Hopkins Hospital on his own a short time after the arrival of Henderson. The investigation revealed Pinkney was not a target but was inadvertently shot as he exited a store located next to La’Son’s Bar and Grill.

Your Tax $ at Work

HR2450, a bill going to committee, would require non-Federal prisons and correctional facilities holding Federal prisoners under a contract with the Federal Government to make the same information available to the public that Federal prisons and correctional facilities are required to make available.

As of now, "companies that run private prisons say they are not required to disclose basic information about the facilities or the inmates -- except for reports issued upon an inmate's death -- under existing FOIA law because while they receive taxpayer money, they are not public agencies."

Wonder what these agencies could possibly have to hide?