Baltimore, Maryland Criminal Attorneys

William S. Kern, a Baltimore Police instructor, was handed a 60-day jail stay, for shooting Raymond Gray, a police recruit, while they were doing exercises.

Kern, who has been in service for 19 years, told the court during his trial that he had brought a live gun to the exercises and he had accidentally used it instead of the training weapon.

Gray was hit in the head and was blinded in one eye when Kern fired his gun through the window to show the recruits the danger of lingering near the door, the window or the hallway.

Kern said that he brought his gun to the training for the safety of the recruits because the facility where they were having their exercises is not secure.

Baltimore defense attorney Shaun F. Owens had argued for Kern's release saying that his client's eventual dismissal from the service would already be enough of a punishment.

Kern is on a 60-day suspension while the Baltimore Police conducts an investigation within its ranks.

Gray's family, who expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, has also filed a civil lawsuit in relation to the incident and is being represented by Baltimore litigator A. Dwight Pettit.

Alexander Kinyua admitted to having killed a family friend, Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie, and eating his heart and some of his brains.

However, the judge deemed Kinyua not criminally responsible for what he did as he is mentally ill.

Prosecutors conceded with the decision as a consultation with a psychiatrist not involved in the case also resulted to the finding of Kinyua's mental illness.

The judge, who apologised to the victim's family, said he had based his acceptance of Kinyua's guilty plea on the submissions of the prosecutors and defense.

Baltimore criminal lawyer Donald Daneman, representing Kinyua, did not comment on the decision.

Kinyua killed Kodie just days after he was granted bail for another case wherein he mauled another student.

Tavon White, a convicted murderer, submitted a guilty plea to operating a scheme to bring in drugs and cellphone into the Baltimore jail, and of trying to kill Devon Butler over a drug dispute.

Having gone in and out of jail, and already a member of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF), White rose up the ranks of the gang to lieutenant commander when he went back in jail in 2009 while awaiting the trial for the attempted murder rap.

He became the gang chief in 2011 and started the scheme of smuggling drugs and cellphone into the facility with the help of corrections officers, mostly female, some of whom he admitted he got pregnant.

White was handed a 20-year sentence for the attempted murder case and weapon offense.

His sentencing for the drug and cellphone scheme is scheduled for February 20 yet.

Gary Proctor, Baltimore criminal lawyer representing White, had asked for more time to probe into the background of his client.

Bridget McDermott, a former inmate at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Oregon, was wrongly imprisoned for an additional 21 months due to a clerical error by the Oregon Department of Corrections. Initially expecting to be released on October 4, 2024, McDermott’s release was recalculated to July 5, 2022, revealing the chaotic nature of recent prison releases. Sarah Bieri, an attorney for the Oregon Justice Resource Center’s Women’s Justice Project, is exploring potential legal avenues for her client, who now seeks employment as a counselor. The transitions from prison have proven challenging for McDermott, who aims to reintegrate into society amidst significant changes.

A new lawsuit has unveiled allegations of widespread sexual abuse at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center on Chicago's Near West Side, claiming hundreds of victims since 1995. Attorneys Jerome Block and Todd Matthews highlight the tragic stories of former detainees who suffered repeated violations at the hands of staff members. The lawsuit, representing nearly 400 survivors, calls for urgent reform, urging Chicago officials to shut down the facility. Survivors, including Temarkus Washington and Phillip Goodwin, recount their harrowing experiences and demand accountability. Amid growing scrutiny, the Cook County Chief Judge's office has proposed new community care centers as alternatives to youth detention.

Portland police have arrested 23-year-old Alex Brown-Golden in connection with the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Shepherd in Northeast Portland. The incident occurred on Beech Street, where witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before finding Shepherd collapsed on the sidewalk. Authorities are emphasizing the importance of legal representation in such severe criminal cases, highlighting the role of competent criminal lawyers in Oregon. This arrest underscores ongoing efforts to enhance public safety throughout the state. Further investigations are ongoing as the community seeks justice.

Survivors, including Temarkus Washington, have filed lawsuits against the state of Illinois, detailing decades of sexual abuse at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. Two lawsuits represent 193 victims who allege systemic misconduct, including rape and unlawful strip searches, between 1995 and 2022. Attorney Todd Mathews emphasizes the urgent need to end this cycle of violence and negligence within the facility. As national scrutiny increases, survivors are seeking justice and accountability from state officials. With nearly 400 accounts documented, further legal action is anticipated in this civil litigation battle.

A Chicago man, Jonathan Byars, 26, has been sentenced to 25 years for orchestrating a series of armed robberies targeting cellphone stores throughout Illinois. In collaboration with several accomplices, Byars committed six robberies and attempted two more between 2019 and 2020, brandishing firearms to intimidate and assault employees. The crimes occurred in cities including Lansing, Rockford, and Joliet, prompting significant concern over community safety. U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized the danger posed by such delinquent conduct, as Judge Philip G. Reinhard imposed the sentence. Four additional Chicago men received sentences ranging from seven to 12 years for their involvement in these criminal acts.