September 28

The blogger will be away until late next week. Please leave links to stories that readers might "enjoy" in the "comments" department.

Here's a good one from the Sun archives about the differences in the application of the death penalty between the city and the county from 2002.

September 27

Erik Johnson, 32, of Orleans Street, and Juan Tucker, 29, of West Fayette Street, pled guilty today to use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, first-degree assault, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Tucker to five-years in prison without the possibility of parole, and Johnson to seven- ears in prison with all but all but three years suspended and three years probation for second-degree assault and concurrent sentences for obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. On April 13, 2004, Johnson and Tucker threatened a homicide witness and attempted to convince the witness to not appear in Court in for an upcoming homicide trial and to retaliate against him for testifying in Tucker's case by using a handgun.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Corey McMillon, 28, for first-degree murder, handgun on person, and handgun used in commission of a felony and crime of violence in connection with the shooting death of Jamel Jermaine St. Clair, 17. McMillon was also indicted on several other counts, including robbery deadly weapon, f st-degree and second-degree assault, and additional handgun violations. Court documents allege that on April 1 McMillon fatally shot St. Clair in the 2000 block of East North Avenue. McMillon approached St. Clair and started to go through his pockets. When St. Clair attempted to run McMillon pulled out a gun and shot him multiple times. McMillon is currently in the Baltimore City jail awaiting trial on a double shooting. An arraignment is scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2005 before Judge John P. Miller.

The trial of Myron Merrill Gladney, 19, is scheduled to begin 9:00 a.m. tomorrow before Judge John Glynn. On June 1 a Baltimore City grand jury indicted Gladney on charges of attempted murder and intimidating a witness. Court documents allege that on April 6 Gladney approached the victim (who was scheduled to testify in the homicide trial of his brother) at E. 25th Street and Harford Road and shot him in the stomach.

At a hearing today before the scheduled start of the "Spam®" murder trial, Michael Hughes, 58, pled guilty to second-degree murder and wear/carry/transport a handgun. Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Hughes to 20 years in prison, suspending all but three-years and three-years in prison, concurrent, for the handgun count. (So six years then?) Hughes was extradited to Maryland in December 2004.

In arraignment court today, Donatz Winston pled not guilty and a trial date was set for December 2 before Judge Heard.

September 26

This story about elderly murder victims notes that the current Baltimore homicide clearance rate is 36 percent. The national average is about 67 percent. Even with a generous curve, that's an F-minus in my classroom.

The murder trial of Michael Hughes, 58, of the unit block of Anson Street, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Hughes for first-degree murder January 3 of this year. Court documents allege Hughes murdered McKinley Johnson, 40, on December 24, 1974 in the 1700 block of Baker Street. News sources reported the murder was over a stolen can of Spam®. A murder warrant was issued for Hughes in 1974, but he was not arrested until summer 2003 in Boston and extradited to Maryland in December 2004. Hughes is currently being held without bail. Assistant State's Attorney and Homicide Division Chief Mark Cohen will prosecute the case.

Yay, some witness intimidation prosecutions: A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sandy Rogers-Howerton, 44, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 2, Hargrove District Courthouse, 700 E. Patapsco Avenue. Court documents allege that on July 2, 2005 Rogers-Howerton attempted to influence/intimidate a witness in the discharge of his duty. The witness reports that Rogers-Howerton and an accomplice threatened the witness and family members with assault and harassment. And the witness intimidation trial of Erik Johnson, 32, and Juan Tucker, 29, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn, 236 Mitchell Courthouse, 110 N. Calvert Street. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Johnson and Tucker May 14, 2004 for intimidating/corrupting/influencing a juror/witness. Court documents allege Johnson and Tucker attempted to intimidate and retaliate against a witness in a pending murder case in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Johnson and Tucker are currently being held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center. Assistant State's Attorney Samuel Yee is prosecuting the case.

The murder trial of Michael Johnson, 15, of the 1600 block of West Franklin Street, is scheduled to begin at 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Edward R.K. Hargadon. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Johnson for first-degree murder and handgun counts May 18. Court documents allege that on December 1, 2004 Johnson shot and killed Flenall Carter, III, 19.
Johnson is currently being held without bail.

The victim who died in the Water Street triple-stabbing has been identified as Stanley Thomas, 35.
Also identified was Terrance P. Williams, 18, who was stabbed to death in East Baltimore.

A homicide arrest for the murder of Thomas Mason, 35, in the blotter.

Baltimore County police have arrested 22-year-old Geremiah Johnson for first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and arson in the death of Evelyn Amereihn and the stabbing of 22-year-old William Clark Mitchell.

The Euerildo Vasquez kidnapping case was postponed because interpreter was not present. The new court date is October 24.

Police say two of the three deaths in Howard County Detention Center were suicides.

Dontaz Anthony Winston, 23, is scheduled for arraignment for two counts of firearm violation Tuesday, September 27 before Judge Lynn Stewart. Winston was indicted by the Baltimore Grand Jury on August 22 for handgun on person and for possession of regulated firearm after being convicted of drug felony. Court documents allege that on August 3 police officers observed Winston ditching a firearm in a rear yard of a vacant dwelling in the 900 block of North Streeper Street. The firearm was recovered by police officers and Winston was arrested at the scene.

A pair of federal employees, Franklin G. Thomas and Andrea D. Harrison, are facing a max of 20 years after they pled guilty to stealing from the SSA and NASA.

After the "Staying Alive" program showed success, the city has trained about 800 people to know the signs of heroin overdose and admister naloxone, (right) and the health department is seeking to expand the program. Thanks to better availability of the drug, last year the city recorded 261 fatal overdoses, the lowest rate since the turn of the century.

The anti-snitching tee shirt is the 2005 "X" cap. Baltimore's fashion statement to the world has even been featured in the latest L'il Kim video.

O'Malley will anounce his bid for governor this week.

September 25

Did you know that a guard convicted in the Abu Ghraib scandal, Robert Jones, left, is now with the Baltimore Police?

Dan Rodericks knows well that human beings can only empathize with one person at a time, hence, another meditation on the evils of the drug trade, this time as a profile of a 25-year-old dealer who got beat up, impregnated some girl and now lives with his mom. Here's a more uplifting Baltimore story.

The York Road Giant has increased security following the July robbery of five teenagers.

In Baltimore County, police have arrested more than 100 people as part of Operation Just Cause in Landsdowne and Riverview.

In AACo a 19-year-old in has been arrested for shooting and killing 24-year-old James Tico Smith.

In Carroll County, assault and vandalism.