2015–2021 Term Report

JUSTICE 

over convictions 

/BaltimoreCitySAO 

/BaltimoreSAO 

/BaltimoreSAO

OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR BALTIMORE CITY 

2015–2021 Term Report 

Mission and Vision Statements 

Letter From The State's Attorney 

How The Process Works 

About Us 

SAO At A Glance 

Gone But Not Forgotten: 

Victims of Homicide 2021 

Our Impact 

Our Partners 

Our Stories 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

2020 

2021 

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Our MISSION 

The mission of the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore 

City is to safeguard communities in Baltimore City through 

the effective prosecution of crime. Justice is the only barometer 

of success for our office, which is why our prosecutors are 

sworn to aggressively pursue “justice over convictions” in every 

case. Justice is doing what is fair and appropriate in each case, 

taking into account the nature of the crime, its impact upon 

the victim, and the circumstances of the defendant. Sometimes 

justice requires a conviction and lengthy prison sentence, 

but other times justice requires dropping all charges, or 

diverting a defendant out of the criminal justice system to drug 

rehabilitation, education or job training. When the evidence 

exists—justice also requires us to exonerate those that have been 

falsely accused or wrongly convicted. 

Our VISION 

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, which 

is uncompromisingly committed to accountability, 

professionalism, and transparency— is working towards a 

future where community trust in the criminal justice system 

is restored; violent offenders are held accountable; and 

communities feel safe. We seek to cultivate an environment 

where success is measured not solely by the number of 

convictions obtained, but also by how we engage communities 

and apply justice independent of one’s sex, race, religion, sexual 

orientation or occupation.

LETTER FROM THE 

STATE’S ATTORNEY 

DEAR FRIENDS, 

Iam grateful and full of pride to serve as your State’s 

Attorney and proudly present our seven year Term Report. 

As your State’s Attorney, I firmly believe that every single 

community and every single family in our city deserves 

fairness and an opportunity to grow and succeed. 

As many of you know, I was a young teenager when I first experienced 

our criminal justice system. My cousin—who was my best friend—was 

shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity, mere feet away from my 

home. It was a heartbreaking event and, unfortunately, many of us 

know what it is like to lose a loved one so suddenly and without reason. 

I decided then that I must do something that was greater than me and 

pursuing a career in criminal justice was my way to be a part of the 

solution to the incessant problem of violent crime. 

This past year, our city and my office continued to face challenges 

unlike any that we have ever experienced both as prosecutors and as 

citizens of Baltimore. Since taking office in 2015, my team and I have 

been steadfast in our commitment to ensuring one standard of justice 

for all rregardless of a person’s race, sex, religion or occupation. Our 

collective efforts are driving some of the most progressive criminal 

justice reforms enacted anywhere in the country. I am proud of the 

work underway and my prosecutors especially—we fought to remove 

violent offenders from our streets with a 90% felony conviction rate; 

we ended the war on drug users and people of color by decriminalizing 

drug possession and sex work; we pushed for second chances for people 

serving life sentences; we have exonerated 12 innocent black men; and 

we continue in our commitment to restore trust between communities 

we serve and law enforcement. That obligation to the people of 

Baltimore remained unwavering in 2021 in the face of a global 

pandemic and an unprecedented case backlog. 

It is my hope that this Term Report reflects our tremendous 

growth and progress over the past seven years to bring 

meaningful change to Baltimore. Please conduct an in-depth 

analysis of the wealth of information and data contained in 

this report. This body of work is evidence of the hard work 

of my dedicated staff who reflect the best of dedicated 

public service. I encourage you to share this Term Report 

with family, friends, and neighbors because the effort 

to interrupt the cycle of violence in Baltimore cannot 

be done alone. Success is best achieved through our 

continued work together to create a safer, healthier city 

for our children, our families and our communities. 

Looking forward together, there is still so much 

work to be done, but I am more confident than ever 

that our best days are ahead of us. 

Marilyn J. Mosby, Esq. 

Baltimore City State’s Attorney

HOW THE 

PROCESS WORKS 

Citizen calls 911 

Citizen calls 311 

Citizen files complaint 

with commissioner 

CRIMINAL CASE 

INITIATED 

Arrestee is taken to central booking 

intake facility to be booked 

State’s Attorney’s Office either 

agrees to formal charges against 

the arrestee or signs for charges to 

be dropped and person released 

POLICE MAKE 

ARREST OR 

COMMISSIONER 

ISSUES SUMMONS 

Defendant who are 

arrested appear before 

the commissioner 

COURT 

COMMISSIONER 

THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES 

RECOGNIZANCE - released with summons to report to court on trial date 

BAIL - Pay monetary amount to be released until court date 

NO BAIL - held in jail until the court date 

DISTRICT COURT 

MISDEMEANOR/ 

TRAFFIC CRIMES 

CIRCUIT COURT 

FELONY CRIMES/ 

MISDEMEANOR 

JURY TRIALS 

Misdemeanor trials 

prayed from District 

Court are heard in 

Circuit Court 

Jury Trial to determine 

guilt for innocence 

Bench trial to determine 

guilt or innocence 

Defendant, in certain cases, 

can request to be heard in 

front of a jury in circuit court 

INCARCERATION 

CASE 

PREPARATION 

In felony cases, a preliminary 

hearing is held in district court or 

the case is presented to the grand 

jury in circuit court to determine if 

there is sufficient probable cause 

to sustain the charges. if the judge 

or grand jury determines there is 

probable cause to charge, the case 

is charged and scheduled for an 

arraignment and then for trial at 

circuit court, if not, the charges 

are dismissed. 

CITY JAIL OR 

STATE PRISON 

Court mails summons 

to all complainants, 

witnesses and victims 

Assigned prosecutor contacts 

the victim(s) and witness(es) 

to discuss the case. 

Judge or Parole commission assignees 

supervision in the community by the state 

after being released from incarceration, or 

may receive in lieu of being incarcerated 

PAROLE AND 

PROBATION 

OUT OF 

SYSTEM

ABOUT 

US 

ADMINISTRATION 

CRIMINAL 

INTELLIGENCE 

EXTERNAL 

AFFAIRS 

MAJOR 

CRIMES 

OPERATIONS 

Administration 

provides all 

administrative, nonlegal 

support to the 

office and includes 

the following units: 

Human Resources, 

Finance, Information 

Technology, 

Operations, and 

Policy & Legislation. 

The Criminal Intelligence 

Bureau includes the 

Conviction Integrity Unit, 

the Public Trust and Police 

Integrity Unit, the Forfeiture 

and Economic Crimes Unit, 

the Criminal Strategies Unit, 

the Evidence Review Unit, 

and the Sentencing Review 

Unit. The recently created 

Baltimore Community 

Intelligence Centers and 

the Community Engagement 

unit now fall under this 

bureau as well. 

The External Affairs 

Bureau, created under the 

Mosby Administration, is 

responsible for fostering 

and strengthening 

relationships with the 

Baltimore community 

and includes the following 

units: Communications, 

Victim and Witness 

Services, and Crime 

Control and Prevention. 

The Major Crimes 

Bureau is the largest 

division in the office, 

and is comprised 

of all Felony Trial 

units, including; 

Major Investigations, 

Homicide, Special 

Victims, Gun Violence 

Enforcement, General 

Felony and Narcotics. 

The Operations 

Bureau is comprised 

of the District Court, 

Central Booking, 

Misdemeanor, 

Juvenile, Problem 

Solving Courts, and 

Training units.

SAO AT A GLANCE 

2015–2021 

T 

he past seven years have not been without their fair share of challenges 

as the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office (SAO) aims to continue 

Baltimore’s crime fight and restore faith in our local criminal justice 

system. Since Freddie Gray’s murder, we have had four mayors; five police 

commissioners; a scathing 163-page report by the Department of Justice 

exposing a pattern and practice of discriminatory policing; the subsequent 

federal consent decree; and experienced one of the largest police corruption 

scandals in the history of the country. Compounded with the court closures, 

case backlogs, staffing and budgetary challenges due to a global pandemic, in 

spite of these unprecedented obstacles, the Baltimore City SAO has remained 

steadfast and persistent in our mission to seek one standard of justice. 

5ANGLE-RI Sao at a glance 2015–2021

T 

hrough all of the City’s challenges, the data shows my office has maintained a 90% 

conviction rate on average for violent offenses, an average 88% conviction rate 

for mandatory minimum eligible cases, and a 92% conviction rate for violent repeat 

offenders, all of which is consistent with the conviction rates of my predecessors over 

the past ten years. For the past seven years, my office and my prosecutors have been the 

only stability in this city, and they should be valued and appreciated for their public 

service and their commitment that each of them exhibit every day. As the data shows, 

every single day my prosecutors go up against voluminous case dockets, uncooperative 

witnesses, and judges to ensure accountability against violent individuals in this city. 

Marilyn J. Mosby, 

State’s Attorney for Baltimore City 

2015–2021 TERM REPORT 

6ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

ONE 

On January 8, 2015, Marilyn J. Mosby was 

sworn in as the 25th State’s Attorney for 

Baltimore City, making her the youngest 

chief prosecutor of any major American 

city. Her first year was marked by many 

achievements and challenges as she began 

her term. Four months after being sworn in 

her swearing in, on April 12th, 2015, Freddie 

Carlos Gray, Jr,. an innocent 25-year-old 

Black man by the name of Freddie Carlos 

Gray, Jr. made eye contact with a police 

officer in a high crime neighborhood and 

was unconstitutionally arrested, placed into 

a metal wagon headfirst, feet shackled and 

handcuffed. His spine was partially severed 

in the back of that wagon and following a 

seven day coma, he died. 

This tragic event was the start of the SAO’s 

commitment to one standard of justice. On 

May 1st, 2015, State’s Attorney Marilyn 

Mosby she stood on the steps of the War 

Memorial Building to announce criminal 

charges against six police officers, - an 

unheard of demand for police accountability. 

This same year, the Body Worn Cameras pilot 

program was introduced in the Baltimore 

Police Department and their change in 

leadership led to the hiring of a new police 

commissioner, Kevin Davis. 

As Mosby assumed her new role and began 

transforming the office into a model for 

progressive, holistic prosecution, she 

exemplified the mantra of not just being 

“tough on crime” but more importantly 

“smart on crime. At this time, the SAO 

reached an 80 percent homicide conviction 

rate despite a 20 percent increase in the 

homicide caseload. 

She also reinstated the Community 

Engagement division; hired and assigned 10 

new community liaisons to each region of 

the city; personally attended more than 500 

community events, churches, and schools; 

and increased SAO grant funding by more 

than 27 percent. 

CONVICTION RATES 

93% 

FELONY 

93% 

MAJOR 

INVESTIGATIONS 

UNIT 

79% 

HOMICIDE 

95% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 

7ANGLE-RI Sao at a glance 2015

CRIME CONTROL & PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

29 

JUNIOR STATE’S ATTORNEYS 

30 

AIM TO B’MORE PARTICIPANTS 

30 

STUDENTS ENGAGED 

WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS 

Great Expectations launched in Franklin Square 

Elementary in September of 2015. 

VICTIM AND 

WITNESS SERVICES 

OVER 

3200 

VICTIMS AND WITNESSES 

OF CRIME SERVED 

549 

SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE OFFERED 

COUNSELING SESSION 

96 


OF CRIME RELOCATED 

VIOLENT OFFENDERS 

Ă SECURED 126 

CONVICTIONS including 

public enemy #1 Darryl 

Anderson and double 

murderer Quinton Bass. 

Ă Convicted serial sex 

offender Nelson Clifford 

who was sentenced to 

over 30 years in jail. 

Ă Violent repeat offender 

and Black Guerilla Family 

Gang member Capone 

Chase was convicted 

for the 2013 murder 

of Ramon Rodriquez. 

Ă Former Bishop Heather 

Cook was prosecuted for 

the drunk driving death of 

cyclist Thomas Palermo. 

Ă Carlos Wheeler, member 

of the Broadway East drug 

gang known as the “Gucci 

Boys” was sentenced to 

life in prison after being 

convicted of conspiracy 

to commit first degree 

murder, attempted first 

degree murder, and second 

degree assault. 

COURT IN THE COMMUNITY 

Court in the Community is an event 

created by State’s Attorney Mosby 

and held quarterly by the Community 

Engagement Division with the purpose 

of educating the public about the 

criminal justice process. 

Topics Covered in 

2015 Included: 

• Sexual Assault` 

• Domestic Violence 

CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT 

Ă THE CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT (CIU) investigates both in-court and out-of-court claims 

of innocence including investigating post-sentencing issues related to DNA evidence and 

wrongful conviction claims. 

Ă The CIU also enforces 

violations of probations 

and, when appropriate, 

makes diversionary 

recommendations for 

probation violators with 

drug problems, mental 

health challenges, and 

other lifestyle challenges 

that would respond to an 

alternative to incarceration. 

• Juvenile Violence 

• Re-entry 

Ă RELIEF FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

VICTIMS: Enables judges and court 

commissioners to tailor the relief provided 

by the courts to each victim’s individual 

needs, ensuring that we are doing everything 

possible to keep survivors safe. 

Ă JUVENILE TRANSFER DETERMINATIONS: 

Requires courts statewide to hold juveniles 

charged as adults in juvenile facilities 

pending transfer determinations. 

Ă In 2015, the CIU complied 

with the SAO’s legal 

obligations by reviewing 

over 8,400 petitions 

for expungement for 

statutory eligibility, 

resulting in nearly 

6,000 expunged cases. 

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE 

AFFAIRS VICTORIES 

Ă The General Assembly 

passed laws expanding 

expungement eligibility 

beginning on October 1, 

2015. The CIU vigorously 

pursues violations of 

probation committed by 

violent repeat offenders 

in order to keep the 

community safe from these 

dangerous offenders. 

Ă SECOND CHANCE ACT: Allows individuals 

to petition a court to shield certain nonviolent 

misdemeanor convictions, enabling 

them to obtain jobs without their criminal 

record blocking their paths. Shielded 

records, however, remain fully accessible to 

law enforcement and the court ensuring that 

the public’s safety is not compromised. 


8ANGLE-RI

JANUARY 2015 

Marilyn Mosby was sworn in as 

the new State’s Attorney for 

Baltimore City, being the 

youngest chief prosecutor in any 

major city. After successfully 

completing one of the largest 

upsets in Baltimore City election 

history, Mosby assumed office 

and her leadership immediately 

transformed the State’s 

Attorney’s office into a national 

model for progressive holistic 

prosecution, exemplifying the 

mantra of not just being “tough 

on crime” but more importantly 

“smart on crime.” 

APRIL 2015 

Freddie Gray died in police 

custody - a citizen video of his 

arrest showed Gray screaming in 

pain, and his death prompted 

both the peaceful protests and 

headline-grabbing riots. The 

subsequent two-week police 

investigation ultimately 

concluded that Gray’s injury 

happened sometime during the 

van’s route while he was in 

police custody. 

JULY 2015 

Batts was fired from the 

Baltimore Police Department 

in the aftermath of a spike in 

homicide rates weeks after the 

2015 Baltimore riots related to 

the untimely death of Freddie 

Gray while in police custody. 

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings 

-Blake named Kevin Davis as the 

Interim Police Commissioner. 

He was later confirmed as the 

city’s 38th police commissioner 

YEAR 

ONE 

CREATED NEW CRIME 

STRATEGIES UNIT (CSU) 

that uses intelligence and 

data analyses to more 

effectively prosecute 

violent crime. The CSU is 

modeled on the successful 

Crime Strategies Unit in 

the Manhattan District 

Attorney’s Office. 

MAY 1, 2015 

State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby 

stood on the steps of Baltimore’s 

War Memorial to announce 

criminal charges against six 

police officers, an unheard of 

demand for police accountability. 

Grand Jury issued indictments 

for all six officers involved in the 

death of Freddie Gray. 

FORM 

REVIEW 

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Developed innovative youth programming, 

including the Junior State’s Attorney program 

and Great Expectations. These programs strive 

to engage community youth in positive aspects 

of the criminal justice system and reach these 

youth before they become entangled in the 

criminal justice system. 

LAUNCHED NEW POLICY AND 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UNIT, 

within the SAO because in order 

to have an effect on the laws in 

which we implement, 

prosecutors must do more 

than just advocate in the 

courtroom. Prosecutors must 

also advocate for fair and just 

laws, which requires us to have 

a voice in Annapolis. 

ED THE EVIDENCE 

UNIT (ERU), which is 

nsible for locating, 

wing, redacting and 

ng body worn camera 

or all offenses in which 

ndant is required to 

ppear in court. 

REINVIGORATED THE COMMUNITY 

ENGAGEMENT UNIT, which is staffed 

by 9 community liaisons who work in 

each district in the city on a daily basis 

to educate, engage and empower 

while working alongside law 

enforcement partners. 

DECEMBER 2015 

The trial of the first officer to be 

tried in relation to Freddie 

Gray’s death, William Porter, 

ends with a hung jury. 


10ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

TWO 

In 2016, the office continued to transform to 

better serve the citizens of Baltimore. To that 

end, State’s Attorney Mosby created the Gun 

Violence Enforcement and the Crime Control 

and Prevention divisions to remove guns 

from our streets, tackle recidivism and deter 

youth violence through the implementation 

of innovative criminal justice initiatives such 

as Aim to B’More, the Junior State’s Attorney 

program and Great Expectations. The SAO 

was also awarded a $2.4 million grant—the 

largest grant it has ever received—to provide 

the necessary services to support victims and 

witnesses of crime. 

The Gray trials continued and in 2016, 

following three bench trials, three of the six 

police officers charged in the death of Freddie 

Gray were acquitted by a judge and the SAO 

announced they were dropping all charges 

against the remaining three officers involved. 

The acquittals, and subsequent dropping of 

charges, made it clear that when it came to 

police accountability — without being able 

to work with an independent investigatory 

agency from the start; without having 

a say on whether cases will be seen in front 

of a judge or a jury; without community 

oversight of policing; and, without real 

substantive systemic reforms to the criminal 

justice system, the case for Freddie Gray 

could have been tried one hundred times, 

and cases just like it, and the same result 

would still be reached. 

In response to the injustices brought to 

light during this time, in August of 2016, 

the Department of Justice (DOJ) released 

a scathing 160+ page report outlining the 

discriminatory practices of the Baltimore 

Police Department (BPD). The report found 

that BPD disproportionately targeted Black 

people for stops and arrests, after BPD took 

a “zero tolerance” approach to policing 

in the early 2000s. Iin response, the SAO 

published a white paper titled: Investigating 

and Prosecuting Police Misconduct: Reform 

Proposals. This was the start of the SAO’s 

subsequent years of advocacy that continues 

today for police reform proposals. 


93% 

FELONY 

92% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

77% 

HOMICIDE 

97% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 


CONVICTION 

INTEGRITY UNIT 

Ă In May of 2016 the Conviction Integrity Unit secured its first 

exoneree since restructuring and successfully exonerated 

Malcolm Bryant for the second degree murder 

of 16-year-old Toni Bullock. Bryant had spent 17 years behind 

bars. 



Ă ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR REPEAT 

DRUNK DRIVERS: Increased the maximum penalties for 

repeat offenders who kill or seriously injure someone 

while driving under the influence or impaired. 

Ă INCREASED MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR SECOND 

DEGREE MURDER: Included in the Justice Reinvestment 

Act, increases the maximum penalty for second degree 

murder from 30 to 40 years. 

Ă PRETRIAL RELEASE FOR CONVICTED OFFENDERS: 

Prohibited District Court Commissioners from authorizing 

the pretrial release of a defendant charged with certain 

firearm crimes if they have a previous crime of violence 

conviction. 

Ă ANIMAL FIGHTING PARAPHERNALIA: Prohibits the 

possession of dogfighting paraphernalia. 

Ă DEFINITION OF STALKING AND HARASSMENT: Enabled 

Maryland judges to treat harassment and destruction of 

property like other types abuse and protect victims from 

potentially escalating abusers. 

Ă INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN: Created a 

special fund to investigate and prosecute internet-based 

crimes and sexual exploitation of children. 

Ă SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION: 

Required the State Board of Education and certain 

nonpublic schools to develop and implement ageappropriate 

programs relating to sexual assault awareness 

and prevention. 


CRIME CONTROL & PREVENTION 

AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

30 


4 


EVENTS HOSTED 



• Homicide 


• Expungement 

• LGBTQIA+ and the 

criminal justice system 

VICTIM AND WITNESS SERVICES 

OVER 

3400 



1,881 


COUNSELING SESSIONS 

42 


SINCE 2015 

Over 3,300 community services hours completed 

by AIM To B’More participants 

30 



Great Expectations hosted at 

William Penderhughes Elementary 

School in West Baltimore. 

131 



In 2016, the SAO reinstituted the popular Crime Victims Emergency Fund Run/ 

Walk, supporting victims of crime in Baltimore City. 2016 was the first year the 

SAO hosted this event since 2012. Over 100 individuals braved the cool, rainy 

weather on that day to race 3.2 miles through downtown Baltimore for Victims 

of Crime and their families. 

Ă Secured conviction of Bagada Dionas for the 2007 double 

murder of Wayne and Maurice White. 

Ă Secured Conviction of 

Rashid Mayo, a public 

enemy #1, for his role in 

the tragic death of one year 

old Carter Scott in 2013 

and sentenced to two life 

sentences plus 45 years. 

Ă Using cell-site technology, 

BPD and the SAO brought 

to justice Andre Mixon, 

convicted of first degree 

murder and use of handgun 

in the commission of a 

crime of violence. 

Ă Convicted former BGF 

hitman Kenneth “Slay” 

Jones, he was one of nearly 

50 indicted in a massive 

investigation of BGF. 

Ă Christopher Goode, public 

enemy #1, was convicted 

in the attempted murder of 

his daughter’s mother. 


12ANGLE-RI

MAY 2016 

After investigation by the SAO 

CIU and it’s partners, Malcolm 

Bryant is released after 

spending 18 years in prison for a 

crime he did not commit. 

JULY 2016 

State’s Attorney Mosby 

announces that all charges 

have been dropped for 

remaining officers who were 

facing trial in relation to Freddie 

Gray’s death, after two officers 

were found not guilty and one 

ended with a hung jury. 

THE NARCOTICS U 

was created to investi 

and prosecute the drug 

in Baltimore City. The 

uses a geographic prose 

model with ASAs work 

teams to cover specific 

of the City. Prosecuto 

responsible for investi 

and prosecuting the f 

narcotics cases in th 

assigned district, as 

as developing relation 

with their counterp 

from BPD. 

YEAR 

TWO 

THE GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 

(GVED), on September, the SAO 

announced a collaborative 

division devoted to 

investigating and prosecuting 

gun crime in Baltimore. GVED 

uses intelligence gathered by 

BPD detectives and CSU in the 

State’s Attorney’s Office to 

apprehend, charge and convict 

specific gun offenders who have 

been identified as top drivers 

of crime in Baltimore. 

AUGUST 2016 

The Justice Department released 

a 160 page report announcing 

that it found reasonable cause 

to believe that BPD engages 

in a pattern or practice of 

conduct that violates the First 

and Fourth Amendments of the 

Constitution as well as federal 

anti-discrimination laws. 


NIT 

gate 

crimes 

Unit 

cution 

ing in 

parts 

rs are 

gating 

elony 

eir 

well 

ships 

arts 

OCTOBER 2016 

The SAO released a white paper 

titled: Investigating and 

Prosecuting Police Misconduct: 

Reform Proposals. The 

recommendations were in 

response to the issues faced in 

the case of Freddie Gray and 

that are illustrated in the DOJ 

report released earlier in 2016. 

This was the start of the SAOs 

six years of advocacy that 

continues today for police 

reform proposals. The purpose 

of this paper is to ensure that 

the truth is known and justice 

done when there are allegations 

of police misconduct. 

SAO JOINS COALITION TO COMBAT 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL 

ASSAULT, in partnership with BPD, 

Baltimore Child Abuse Center, House of 

Ruth, and the Governor’s Office of Crime 

Control and Prevention to improve the 

criminal justice system’s response to 

domestic violence victims and teenage 

victims of sex assault. The coalition used 

grant funding to hire a full-time prosecutor 

and two full-time advocates to work 

exclusively with the victims of these crimes. 

This significantly improves information and 

data sharing among agencies, increase 

victims’ access to services, and improves 

prosecutorial outcomes. 

CREATED NEW CRIME 

STRATEGIES UNIT (CSU) 

that uses intelligence and 

data analyses to more 

effectively prosecute 

violent crime. The CSU is 

modeled on the successful 

Crime Strategies Unit in 

the Manhattan District 

Attorney’s Office. 

VWS ADVOCATES DEDICATED 

TO MISDEMEANOR JURY 

TRIALS (MJT). MJT, with a grant 

the SAO received, was able to 

hire two advocates to work 

exclusively with victims and 

witnesses in the MJT. These 

advocates work with to identify 

and contact victims and 

witnesses, and assist them in 

arranging interviews, escorting 

them to court, and more. 

DECEMBER 2016 

Catherine Elizabeth Pugh was 

sworn in as the 50th Mayor of 

the City of Baltimore. 


14ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

THREE 

Whether it was kicking off the third year 

of the Junior State’s Attorney Program or 

starting the new B’More PopUps on Friday 

nights, the SAO continued to illustrate 

ways to be “smart on crime” and address 

crime holistically by tackling recidivism 

and deterring youth violence through the 

implementation of innovative criminal 

justice initiatives. 

Leadership in the city once again changed 

when Mayor Catherine Pugh removed 

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and 

replaced him with Commissioner Darryl 

DeSouza, who then shortly thereafter 

resigned after criminal charges were filed 

against him. 

This year also witnessed one of the largest 

police corruption scandals in the history of 

the country. Eight Baltimore police officers 

who served in a high-profile gun unit, The 

Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), were indicted 

on federal racketeering charges — the 

officers abused their power by planting 

guns and drugs on citizens and stole large 

sums of cash between 2014 and 2016. The 

indictments and convictions resulted in 

numerous investigations and the SAO 

reviewed more than 2,500 cases related 

to GTTF. 

Despite these challenges, the SAO 

continued to hold violent offenders 

accountable and saw major successes. This 

included the doubling in size of the Victims 

and Witnesses Services division, made 

possible by a competitive $2.4M grant 

awarded to the SAO from the Governor’s 

Office of Crime Control and Prevention 

through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). 


93% 

FELONY 

87% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 

95% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 

80% 

HOMICIDE 

97% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

99% 

NARCOTICS 

Gun Violence Enforcement Division (GVED) 

and Narcotics were established during the Mosby 

administration in November of 2016. 


CONVICTION 


Ă LAMAR JOHNSON was exonerated by CIU in 2017 after 

nearly 14 years behind bars for the first degree murder of 

Carlos Sawyer. The subsequent investigation of the case 

began in 2016, and resulted in several independent witnesses 

confirming that Johnson was not the shooter. 



Ă REMOVING PHYSICAL RESISTANCE AS A 

REQUIREMENT TO PROVE A SEX CRIME: Established 

that evidence of physical resistance is not required to 

prove that a sex crime occurred. 

Ă RETAINING RAPE KIT EVIDENCE/NOTIFYING 

VICTIMS OF RAPE KIT DISPOSAL: Required all 

jurisdictions to retain rape kits for at least 20 years. 

Ă PROHIBITING DOMESTIC ABUSERS FROM 

POSSESSING A REGULATED FIREARM: Closed a 

dangerous loophole in the law that enabled individuals 

to possess a firearm despite receiving a ‘probation 

before judgment’ for a domestically-related second 

degree assault. 

Ă CLARIFYING ANIMAL CRUELTY STATUTES: Further 

defined the state’s animal cruelty statutes, enabling 

prosecutors to more effectively prosecute and convict 

animal abusers. 

VICTIM AND 


The Victim & Witness Services Unit nearly doubled 

thanks to a significant increase in grant funding from 

the federal Victims of Crime Fund. This means, that 

even after 2017, Baltimore’s victims and witnesses 

of crime are served by nearly 30 employees in the 

Victim/ Witness Unit, including social workers and 

bilingual advocates. 

OVER 

5200 



699 



125 





45 


4 


EVENTS HOSTED 



• Homicide 


• Juvenile Justice 

• Police Integrity 

MORE THAN 

2500 

Launched a new Community 

Court Watch App, Tracking 


Ă Convicted Alan Ford who barricaded two 

people inside a home in late 2015 before 

lighting it on fire, resulting in the death of a 

61-year-old woman. He was sentenced to life, 

suspend all but 25 years. 

Ă Nathaniel Green was convicted by a jury 

of first degree murder and two counts of 

attempted first- and second-degree murder 

for a triple shooting in 2016. Green shot 

and killed 60-year old Sheila Jordan and 

shot and wounded two others. Green 

was sentenced to three consecutive life 

sentences plus 60 years. 

Ă Elias Alvarado was convicted by a jury of 

murdering two women within a week’s time 

in 2016. Alvarado strangled Annquinette 

Dates in Northwest Baltimore on September 

2, 2016. Just six days later, on September 

8th, he strangled Ranarda Williams. He was 

sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. 

59 

180 

YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES 

ATTENDED THE BMORE POP-UPS. 

750–1000 

at any 

CASES given time 

By the end 

of 2017, the 3,200 

map had been 

viewed over 

TIMES 


SINCE 2015 





In 2017, with grant funding from the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 

Great Expectations expanded to three schools: 

Gilmor and Matthew A. Henson Elementary 

Schools in West Baltimore and City Springs 

Elementary School in East Baltimore 

Ă Angel Fury was sentenced to life in prison, 

suspend all but 50 years, for the first 

degree murder and robbery of Edward 

Yesaitis. Fury befriended Yesaitis at Penn 

Station, then lured him back to a motel 

in Southeast Baltimore. Fury, with her 

co-defendant Christopher Wilkins, then 

bludgeoned Yesaitis to death before fleeing 

to North Carolina. 

Ă Avery Little was convicted of second degree 

murder and multiple handgun charges for 

the violent murder of Derrill Crawley in 

2014. Crawley was laying on the ground 

unconscious when Little retrieved a gun, 

and shot him multiple times. Little was 

sentenced to a total of 50 years— 30 years 

for the murder and 20 years for the handgun 

charges to be served consecutively. 


16ANGLE-RI

FEBRUARY 2017 

JANUARY 2017 

The City of Baltimore and the 

Justice Department announced 

that they agreed on a court 

enforceable consent decree to 

institute sweeping reforms in 

Baltimore's police department. 

The SAO launched a new, online 

tool to engage the community in 

the fight against crime called 

Community Court Watch, a 

citywide database that enables 

the public to track the trajectory 

of arrests that have occurred in 

their neighborhoods. 

MARCH 2017 

Governor Larry Hogan signed an 

Executive Order declaring a 

State of Emergency in response 

to the heroin, opioid, and 

fentanyl crisis ravaging 

communities in Maryland and 

across the country as Maryland’s 

rate of overdose deaths climbed 

to new heights, with Baltimore 

City being the most impacted. 

APRIL 2017 

The City of Baltimore and the 

DOJ entered into a Consent 

Decree, which is a court 

enforceable agreement to 

resolve DOJ's findings that it 

believed BPD had engaged in a 

pattern and practice of conduct 

that violates the First, Fourth, 

and Fourteenth Amendments to 

the United States Constitution, 

and certain provisions of federal 

statutory law. 

YEAR 

THREE 

THE GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 

(GVED), on September, the SAO 

announced a collaborative 


investigating and prosecuting 

gun crime in Baltimore. GVED 

uses intelligence gathered by 

BPD detectives and CSU in the 

State’s Attorney’s Office to 

apprehend, charge and convict 

specific gun offenders who have 

been identified as top drivers 

of crime in Baltimore. 

MARCH 2017 

Seven Baltimore police officers 

who served in a high-profile gun 

unit, The Gun Trace Task Force 

(GTTF), were indicted on federal 

racketeering charges —the 

officers were accused of shaking 

down citizens, filing false court 

paperwork and making 

fraudulent overtime claims. This 

would ultimately later be found 

to be one of the largest police 

corruption scandals in the 

history of the Nation. 

MARCH 2017 

The SAO announced a new 

policy, requiring it to post all 

“use of force” investigation case 

summaries to its website any 

time a Baltimore police officer is 

suspected of criminally 

assaulting or fatally wounding a 

person in Baltimore City. The 

case summaries explain the 

Office’s and/or an independent 

investigator’s decision not to 

press charges against the 

accused officer(s), as well as 

provide supporting evidence 

and documentation for the 

declination to charge. 

T 

ENF 

(GVED 

ann 

inves 

gun c 

uses 

BPD 

Sta 

appre 

specifi 

been 

o 


PARTNERED WITH THE UNIVERSITY 

OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE FAIR 

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, THE 

UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE INNOCENCE 

PROJECT CLINIC and other partners to 

release a root cause analysis report, also 

known as the Baltimore Event Review Team 

(BERT) report. The report provides 

recommendations on how the criminal 

justice system can decrease the occurrence 

of wrongful convictions. Recommendations 

included best practices for investigating and 

charging single witness identification cases, 

sharing discovery and evidence between 

the SAO and BPD, and developing an 

objective team within the SAO to review 

claims of innocence. 

OCTOBER 2017 

The SAO doubled the size of the 

Victim & Witness Services Unit, 

by having a total of 30 Victim & 

Witness advocates and support 

staff to meet the needs of 

Baltimore City residents when 

they may be most vulnerable. 

SUCCESSFULLY CONVICTED 

EVERY PUBLIC ENEMY #1 

who has been brought to trial 

since 2015; collectively, their 

sentences included six life 

sentences plus 700+ years in 

prison. This list is no longer 

maintained by BPD 

HE GUN VIOLENCE 

ORCEMENT DIVISION 

), on September, the SAO 

ounced a collaborative 


tigating and prosecuting 

rime in Baltimore. GVED 

intelligence gathered by 

detectives and CSU in the 

te’s Attorney’s Office to 

hend, charge and convict 

c gun offenders who have 

identified as top drivers 

f crime in Baltimore. 

SEPTEMBER 2017 

The SAO and the Mid-Atlantic 

Innocence Project had their joint 

motion to vacate Lamar 

Johnson’s convictions granted 

and he was released from prison 

after serving nearly 14 years for 

a crime he did not commit. 

VICTIM/WITNESS WAITING 

ROOM RENOVATION began in the Mitchell 

Courthouse to make it a more welcoming space 

for victims and witnesses to receive services and 

await their appearances in court. Thanks to grant 

funds from the Governor’s Office of Crime 

Control and Prevention, the Design Angels 

nonprofit, and the Department of General 

Services, updates began for a dedicated play 

area for children, updated power-integrated 

furniture, and a computer so visitors can 

access resources while they await trial. 

NOVEMBER 2017 

BPD Detective Sean Suiter 

was found dead due to a 

gunshot wound to the head 

while on duty in West 

Baltimore. His death came one 

day before he was scheduled 

to testify before a federal 

grand jury investigating a 

2010 drug-planting incident, 

involving the GTTF police 

corruption investigation. 


18ANGLE-RI


YEAR 

FOUR 

In 2018, State’s Attorney Mosby secured her 

second term by winning the June 26th primary 

election. This same year, the SAO advocated 

for the Repeat Sexual Predator Prevention Act 

(RSPPA) to bring Maryland’s rules of evidence 

in line with the federal system and the majority 

of other states, This was a significant legislative 

victory. The passage of such critical bipartisan 

legislation in 2018, granted prosecutors the 

ability to introduce evidence of a defendant’s 

other relevant sex crimes in sexual assault cases. 

Thirty separate organizations and agencies 

supported this bill and nearly 5,000 individuals 

signed a petition urging legislators to pass this 

critical legislation. 

2018 also saw countless achievements for 

SAO prosecutors, including two noteworthy 

exonerations. In December 2018, the Conviction 

Integrity Unit (CIU) collaborated with the 

University of Baltimore Innocence Project Clinic 

and exonerated Clarence Shipley after serving 27 

years in prison for a murder he did not commit. 

Mr. Shipley was wrongfully convicted for the 

murder of Kevin Smith in 1991. In July 2018, CIU 

and its partners united to exonerate Jerome 

Johnson, the third person in three and a half years 

for the office. Mr. Johnson was released from 

prison after serving nearly 30 years in prison for 

the 1988 murder of Aaron Taylor who was shot to 

death at the Night Owl Bar. 

The SAO continued to ensure that victims and 

witnesses in the city are a priority and unveiled a 

new trauma informed Victim & Witness Services 

Waiting Room in the Mitchell Courthouse and 

secured $360,000 in additional funds for victim 

and witness relocation. The renovation created a 

more welcoming space for victims and witnesses 

of crime to receive services and await their 

appearances in court. The nonprofit organization 

Design Angels of America designed the room 

in partnership with the Department of General 

Services. The renovation includes a dedicated 

play area for children, power integrated furniture, 

and a computer allowing visitors to access 

resources while they await trial. The therapeutic 

space focuses on instilling a sense of worth, 

security, and empowerment for visitors. 

CLARENCE 

SHIPLEY 

Ă In December 2018, CIU collaborated with 

the University of Baltimore Innocence 

Project Clinic and exonerated Clarence 

Shipley for the murder of Kevin Smith after 

serving 27 years in prison for a crime 

he did not commit. 


97% 

FELONY 

91% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 



55 


4 


EVENTS HOSTED 

105 



85% 

HOMICIDE 

94% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

JEROME 

JOHNSON 

Ă In July 2018, CIU and its partners exonerated 

Jerome Johnson, the third person in three 

and a half years. Mr. Johnson was released 

from prison after serving nearly 30 years in 

prison for the 1988 murder of Aaron Taylor 

who was shot to death at the Night Owl Bar. 

98% 

NARCOTICS 

94% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 

89 


SINCE 2015 



MORE THAN 

1500 


ATTENDED THE BMORE POP-UPS 


VICTIM AND 


OVER 

8550 



575 



139 





Ă THE REPEAT SEXUAL PREDATOR PREVENTION ACT OF 2018 (RSPPA) was passed after five 

years of lobbying to bring Maryland’s rules of evidence in line with the federal system and the 

majority of other states. The passage of this critical bipartisan legislation in 2018 means that 

prosecutors can 

now introduce evidence of a defendant’s other relevant sex crimes in sexual assault cases. 

Ă WITNESS RELOCATION FUNDING, mandated four years 

of State funding for emergency housing when witnesses 

are threatened. The funding totals $360,000 per year from 

FY 2020- 2023. 

Ă BODY ATTACHMENTS FOR ADULT WITNESSES IN JUVENILE CASES, allowed the juvenile 

court to compel adult witnesses. 

Ă PENALTY FOR VIOLATING PRETRIAL STAY AWAY ORDERS, the SAO joined House of Ruth 

and other stakeholders in advocating for penalties if a defendant violates a pre-trial stay away 

order in cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and all other violent crimes. 

Ă ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE WHO THREATEN WITNESSES, the SAO supported 

increased penalties for victim, witness or juror intimidation. 

Ă LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION©, which provided for four years of 

mandated state funding to sustain the Baltimore City Law Enforcement Assisted 

Diversion© (LEAD) program. 

Ă FIREARMS TRANSFER. The SAO joined Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action 

for Gun Sense in America for this bill which requires the surrender of firearms by convicted 

domestic abusers. 

Ă “BAN THE BOX” ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, the SAO supported a successful veto override 

and passage of 2017 legislation expanding access to higher education for individuals with prior 

criminal convictions. 


Ă Eddie Tarver was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit 

Murder of Rashaw Scott that resulted in the death of oneyear-old 

Carter Scott in May of 2013. He was sentenced to 

Life in prison. 

Ă Damon Alexander was sentenced to two Life sentences 

plus 110 years for a mass shooting outside of a store in 

November of 2016. 

Ă Anthony Clark Jr. was convicted of second degree murder, 

attempted second degree murder, and two counts of using 

a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. 

Ă Dashonn Gipson was sentenced to life in prison for 

the first degree murder of Tiffany Lowery. He was also 

convicted and sentenced to 20 years for the use of a 

handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and 

sentenced to 5 years for being a prohibited person in 

possession of a firearm. 

Ă The SAO stood with representatives from several federal, 

state, and local law enforcement agencies to announce 

the indictments of several members of a drug trafficking 

organization operating out of South Baltimore’s Brooklyn 

community. 

Ă The SAO and members of the law enforcement community 

announced the indictment of several senior members 

of a drug trafficking organization operating out of 

Cherry Hill. 


20ANGLE-RI

JUNE 26, 2018 

2018 States Attorney Mosby 

won the Democratic Primary 

election and became the city's 

first top prosecutor to be 

re-elected in over a decade. 

JANUARY 2018 

Mayor Catherine Pugh fired 

Baltimore’s top cop Kevin 

Davis, saying she had grown 

“impatient” his inability to 

stem the historic pace of 

killings in the city. 

REVIEWED OVER 2,100 CASES 

impacted by the indictments and 

convictions of eight members of 

the Baltimore Police Department 

Gun Trace Task Force. 

YEAR 

FOUR 

FEBRUARY 2018 

Darryl De Sousa, a career officer 

confirmed as Baltimore’s new 

police commissioner. 

MARCH 2018 

MAY 15, 2018 

De Sousa resigned amid 

revelations that federal 

prosecutors were probing 

deeper into his past. Pugh 

announced a national 

search for his replacement 

and appointed Deputy 

Commissioner Gary Tuggle 

as interim commissioner. 

CIU EXPAND 

A NEW, GR 

INVESTIGAT 

investigati 

actual innoce 

conviction. T 

was receive 

with the 

Innocence 

University 

Innocence 

The SAO developed an agreement 

with the city law department, 

requiring police officers involved 

in bringing felony and “serious 

misdemeanor” charges against 

criminal defendants in the city to 

disclose any misconduct 

allegations in their internal affairs 

files to prosecutors, and the law 

department must respond to 

prosecutor requests for those 

files within 48 hours. 


SAO HOSTED A COMMUNITY 

FORUM FOCUSED ON SENIORS. 

SAO staff, prosecutors, 

government officials, and 

community members met at 

Humanim Inc. to discuss the 

criminal justice challenges faced by 

Baltimore’s senior citizens during 

the summer of 2018 

THE SAO PARTNERED WITH THE 

BALTIMORE CITY SOLICITOR’S OFFICE 

to streamline the process for how the 

Internal Affairs (IA) documents of BPD 

officers are reviewed and released during 

trial proceedings. The ground breaking 

MOU, still in effect to this day, requires that 

Baltimore City police officers disclose— 

with or without a specific request by the 

ASA handling a case in which the officer is 

an integral witness—if an IA file exists that 

charges him or her with any past or present 

misconduct. Officers should relay this 

information to the ASA at the earliest 

opportunity, whether or not the 

misconduct issues have been resolved. 

DECEMBER 2018 

Clarence Shipley is released 

from prison, after the SAO 

and it’s partners filed a joint 

motion, after serving 27 

years for a murder he did 

not commit. 

ED TO INCLUDE 

ANT-FUNDED 

OR dedicated to 

ng the claims of 

nce and wrongful 

he federal grant 

d in partnership 

Mid-Atlantic 

Project and the 

of Baltimore’s 

Project Clinic. 


The SAO CIU and its partners 

united to exonerate Jerome 

Johnson, the third person in 

three and a half years. Mr. 

Johnson was released from 

prison after serving nearly 30 

years in prison for the 1988 

murder of Aaron Taylor shot 

to death at the Night Owl Bar. 

UNVEILED A NEW TRAUMA-INFORMED 

VICTIM & WITNESSES SERVICES WAITING 

ROOM IN THE MITCHELL COURTHOUSE 

that was renovated to create a more welcoming 

space for victims and witnesses of crime to 

receive services and await their appearances in 

court. The new trauma-informed, therapeutic 

space focuses on the victim and witness’ sense 

of worth, security, and empowerment. 


22ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

FIVE 

In 2019, the Conviction Integrity Unit 

secured five exonerations and State’s 

Attorney Mosby announced that her office 

would no longer prosecute marijuana 

possession as doing so has no public 

safety value; is counterproductive to 

limited law enforcement resources; and 

disproportionately impacts communities of 

color. The SAO’s policy shift is detailed in the 

policy paper entitled, “Reforming A Broken 

System: Rethinking The Role Of Marijuana 

Prosecutions In Baltimore City.” 

The new policy began a change in how the 

SAO handles substance use and also led to 

State’s Attorney Mosby testifying before 

the U. S. House of Representatives Judiciary 

Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 

Homeland Security at the “Marijuana Laws 

in America: Racial Justice and the Need for 

Reform” hearing. This was the first hearing 

of its kind as Congress began to take an 

in-depth look at the injustices of marijuana 

prohibition and began discussions to initiate 

federal law reform. 

During her testimony, State’s Attorney 

Mosby highlighted poignant data that 

depicts the wide-spread inequitable and 

disparate enforcement of marijuana laws on 

communities of color as the cause for her 

full support of federal decriminalization and 

legalization of marijuana possession. She 

also provided recommendations to “right 

the wrongs of the past” as it pertains to 

the disproportionate application of federal 

cannabis laws on people of color. This bold 

move would lay the foundation for the State’s 

Attorney’s prosecution policy that would 

come in March of 2020 during the onset of 

the COVID-19 pandemic. 


97% 

FELONY 

91% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 

98% 

NARCOTICS 



4 

COURT IN THE 

COMMUNITY 

EVENTS HOSTED 



• The SAO Marijuana Policy 

• Legislative Changes 

and Expungement 


and Elder Abuse 

• Crime in the Community 

MORE THAN 

2700 

55 

JUNIOR STATE’S 

ATTORNEYS 

85% 

HOMICIDE 

94% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

94% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 


ATTENDED THE BMORE POP-UPS. 

105 

STUDENTS 

ENGAGED 

WITH GREAT 

EXPECTATIONS 

89 


SINCE 2015 





ALFRED CHESTNUT, 

RANSOM WATKINS, 

& ANDREW STEWART 

KENNETH MCPHERSON 

& ERIC SIMMONS 

Ă In 2019, CIU exonerated five men. Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, 

and Andrew Stewart, were exonerated for the murder of a 14-year old 

Baltimore teenager after 36 years in prison. Detectives targeted the three 

men, all 16-year-old Black boys, using coaching and coercion of other 

teenage witnesses to make their case. 

VICTIM AND 


Ă Kenneth McPherson and Eric SimmonS, who are brothers, were wrongfully 

incarcerated for nearly 25 years in prison for a murder they did not commit. 



O V E R 

11,200 



797 


COUNSELING SESSION 

286 



In January 2019, the SAO launched the Together We Are 

Stronger campaign which told authentic stories from the 

perspective of family members directly impacted by crime 

while highlighting the services available for victim and 

witnesses of crime in Baltimore City. The campaign included 

an overhaul of the SAO’s website, the launch of an on-line 

app for citizens to track case information, billboards, and a 

series of public service announcements. 

Ă GTTF TAINTED CASES - In the pursuit of justice, the SAO and the Office of the Public Defender 

filed joint motions to “throw out” cases tainted by the BPD’s Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF). 

Vacatur legislation provided the SAO with the legal remedy to ask a judge to vacate those 

convictions. By the end of 2019, nearly 650 motions to vacate were granted 

Ă SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS - Required that a sexual assault evidence 

collection kit be submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis and inform a victim who wishes 

to remain anonymous that they may initiate a criminal complaint at a future time. 

Ă GRACE’S LAW 2.0 - ELECTRONIC HARASSMENT AND BULLYING - Prohibited a person 

from maliciously engaging in electronic communications, which can intimidate, harass or 

cause serious physical or emotional distress to a minor. 

Ă CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING SCREENING AND SERVICES ACT OF 2019 - Required a law 

enforcement officer and social services agency who suspects a child that has been detained 

is a victim of sex trafficking to notify a regional navigator. 


Ă In 2019, the Felony Trial Division and Special 

Victims Unit closed the term with 90 and 96 

percent conviction rates respectively. This 

year the SAO prosecuted the perpetrators in 

Baltimore City including: 

Ă A 75-year sentence for Keon Gray, a repeat 

violent offender that took the life of 7-yearold 

Taylor Hayes. 

Ă A 65-year sentence for high-ranking Black 

Guerilla Family gang affiliate, Roderick King, 

who was convicted of attempted firstdegree 

murder, first-degree assault, armed 

carjacking, armed robbery, and use of a 

firearm in a crime of violence. 

Ă A 60-year sentence for Sean Malley for 

home invasion, second-degree assault, 

wearing a dangerous weapon openly with the 

intent to injure, and conspiracy to commit a 

home invasion. 

Ă A 15 month sentence for former BPD 

Officer Michael O’Sullivan for perjury 

and misconduct in office after a three-day 

sentencing hearing. During a Baltimore 

City district court handgun case, O’Sullivan 

conscientiously lied under oath resulting in 

an innocent man’s wrongful conviction and 

imprisonment. 

Ă Life plus 40 years sentence for the killer of 

18-month-old Zaray Gray, Francois Browne. 

Browne was convicted of second degree 

murder and child abuse resulting in death. 


24ANGLE-RI

JANUARY 2018 

State’s Attorney Marilyn 

Mosby announced that 

her office will no longer 

prosecute any marijuana 

possession cases, because 

prosecuting these cases have 

no public safety value, 

disproportionately impacts 

communities of color and 

erodes public trust, and is a 

costly and counterproductive 

use of limited resources. 

Mosby’s policy shift is 

detailed in a white paper 

her office produced called, 

“Reforming A Broken System: 

Rethinking The Role Of 

Marijuana Prosecutions In 

Baltimore City.” 

VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT- In FY19, 

the SAO secured $1.7 million in 

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant 

funds from the Governor’s Office of 

Crime Control and Prevention to fill 

24 victim advocate positions— 

including three new bilingual 

advocates—bringing the advocate 

total to 40. 

The SA 

characterize 

moves to cre 

criminal justic 

MARIJUAN 

Attorney Mo 

she would u 

prosecuto 

resources to 

marijuana p 

regardless o 

history. The 

vacate the c 

5,000 ma 

convictions 

YEAR 

FIVE 

MARCH 2019 

Michael Harrison was sworn 

in as the Baltimore Police 

Department's 41st Commissioner. 

APRIL 2019 

Council President Jack Young 

becomes acting Mayor as current 

Mayor Catherine Pugh takes a 

leave of absence during a federal 

investigation into her actions 

AMICUS BRIEFS - An amicus 

brief is a legal document that 

supports a position under 

discussion in a court case. 

State’s Attorney Mosby signed 

onto briefs during 2019 in 

support of; overdose 

prevention sites in Philadelphia, 

the Deferred Action for 

Childhood Arrivals (DACA), 

and ending cash bail. 


O in 2019 was 

d by bold progressive 

ate a more equitable 

e system including: A 

A POLICY - State’s 

sby announced that 

se her discretion as a 

r to stop devoting 

the prosecution of 

ossession charges, 

f weight and criminal 

SAO then moved to 

onvictions of almost 

rijuana possession 

dating back to 2011. 

JULY 2019 


testified before the U.S. 

Congress in support of federal 

decriminalization and 

legalization of marijuana 

possession, stating the war on 

drugs was a failure and the 

enforcement of marijuana 

possession policies were 

ultimately racist, as evidenced 

by decades of research across 

the country. 

JULY 2019 

The SAO CIU and it’s legal partners agree to vacate 

the convictions and dismiss all charges against 

Ransom Watkins, Alfred and Andrew Stewart. 

The three men have each spent the past 36 years 

in prison for a murder they did not commit. 

MAY 2019 

Catherine Pugh resigned as 

Mayor of Baltimore City and 

Acting Mayor Jack Young was 

made mayor. Brandon Scott 

replaced Jack Young as City 

Council President. 

JULY 2019 

The State’s Attorney joined 

the United States Attorney 

for the District of Maryland 

Robert K. Hur, officials from 

the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice 

Assistance, BPD, and other 

federal law enforcement 

officials to initiate the 

National Public Safety 

Partnership program. 

RESURRECTION AFTER 

EXONERATION PROGRAM - The 

Conviction Integrity Unit announced 

the development of the “Resurrection 

After Exoneration” program in honor of 

Malcolm Bryant, an exoneree who 

spent 18 years in jail for a murder he 

did not commit. The program works in 

collaboration with other agencies to 

ensure exonerees are supported, both 

physically and mentally, after release 

from prison. 

MAY 2019 

The SAO CIU and it’s partners 

support the release of two 

innocent men, Kenneth 

McPherson and Eric Simmons, 

who are brothers. They were 

released from prison after 

being incarcerated for nearly 

25 years in prison for a murder 

they did not commit. 


26ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

SIX 

In tandem with convictions and lengthy 

sentences for repeat violent offenders, the 

SAO once again showed that it has the ability 

to carefully utilize resources to hone in on violent 

crime while addressing the systemic issues that 

fuel crime in the first place. 

In the face of a global pandemic, the SAO 

adapted to the restrictions imposed on the 

court system in 2020 and took massive steps to 

curtail the spread of COVID-19. Throughout the 

crisis, the SAO continued to work to safeguard 

communities in Baltimore through the effective 

prosecution of crime and offer all services, 

ensuring the safety of the community and staff. 

Understanding the need to focus on victim 

and violent crime, especially during a global 

pandemic, and after consulting with public health 

experts on how to slow the spread of COVID-19 

in prisons and jails to minimize public and police 

exposure, State’s Attorney Mosby decided to 

stop prosecuting minor offenses that did not 

impact public safety. Those offenses included: 

CDS (drug) possession, paraphernalia possession, 

prostitution, trespassing (with exceptions 

allowed), minor traffic offenses, open container, 

and urinating/defecating in public. The SAO also 

dismissed 1423 pending cases because of this 

policy and quashed (eliminated) 1415 warrants 

for the aforementioned offenses, and refined 

the bail and bench warrants process to focus 

exclusively on those individuals that posed 

public safety risks. 

At the same time and continuing to be responsive 

to the COVID-19 crisis, the office also pushed 

Governor Hogan to reduce the prison population, 

resulting in two executive orders on the early 

release of 2000 people and created a new 

Sentencing Review Unit to review and reduce 

excessive sentences for juvenile lifers and 

elderly individuals. The Office hired former 

Deputy Public Defender Becky Feldman to 

head the unit and led SRU’s support for 

Maryland’s longest serving female prisoner, 

Eraina Pretty. To date the SRU has released 23 

individuals for an estimated savings of $12.5M 

to the DPSCS Budget. 


93% 

FELONY 

91% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 


MELVIN 

THOMAS 

Ă In 2020 Melvin Thomas was exonerated for his role in a non-fatal shooting. His conviction 

was predicated wholly on the testimony of one witness, the victim, who recanted his 

testimony in 2018. 

SENTENCING REVIEW UNIT 

CALVIN 

McNEILL 

Ă After launching in 2020, within the same 

year, the SRU secured the release of Calvin 

McNeill who was incarcerated at the age 

of 16 years old and given a life sentence for 

which he served 39 years of. 

85% 

HOMICIDE 

91% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

98% 

NARCOTICS 

100% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 

ERAINA 

PRETTY 

Ă The unit later secured the release of 

Maryland’s longest serving female inmate, 

Eraina Pretty, who served 42 years of 

her life sentence beginning at the age of 

18. Both released individuals demonstrated 

tremendous personal growth while 

incarcerated and deep remorse for 

their crimes. 




Ă FORFEITURE BY WRONGDOING: This legislation made 

it easier to present out-of-court statements against those 

that intimidate witnesses by lowering the burden of proof 

needed for a prosecutor to secure convictions. This standard 

puts Maryland in line with the federal government and the 

majority of the states in our country. 

Ă PARTIAL EXPUNGEMENT, MARYLAND JUDICIARY CASE 

SEARCH: This legislation began the process to dismantle the 

‘unit rule’ and requires that Maryland Judiciary Case Search 

no longer provide information on an individual’s record 

related to any cases that were acquitted, dismissed (except 

if there were requirements for drug or alcohol treatment) 

and allows for the expungement of additional misdemeanor 

charges. 

Ă PARTIAL EXPUNGEMENT, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA 

RECORDS: This legislation provided those who have a 

marijuana possession record, to have an opportunity to gain 

meaningful employment and move past other roadblocks by 

having their records automatically removed from Maryland 

Judiciary Case Search. 

Ă JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS LAW: This bill toughened 

restrictions and requires the State to take specific 

precautions regarding testimony from jailhouse informants 

including reporting the information to the Governor’s 

Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services 

and disclosing it to the defendant. In Maryland alone, four 

innocent people have been proven to have been wrongfully 

convicted as a result of jailhouse informant’s false testimony. 

VICTIM AND 


In FY21, the SAO secured $1.7 million in VOCA grant 

funds from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, 

Youth, and Victim Services to fill 24 victim advocate 

positions, including bilingual advocates and social 

worker therapists, for an advocate total of 40. 

8,644 



722 



153 





138 


Ă Rodney Harris was sentenced to 35 years 

for Assault and Manslaughter of his pregnant 

girlfriend who lost her unborn 

child as a result. 

Ă Michael Williams, a violent repeat offender 

was sentenced to 45 years in prison for 

Armed Robbery and Weapon Charges. 

Ă Ryan Hazel was sentenced to 22 years on 

11 counts of Firearm and Drug Trafficking 

Offenses. 

Ă Victor Robinson was sentenced to Life 

suspend all but 40 Years for Strangulation 

of his pregnant girlfriend. The victim, 

Shawna Davis, was found dead on a 

playground bench in the Waverly community. 

58 

VIRTUAL JUNIOR 

STATE’S ATTORNEYS 

9,734 


PARTICIPATED IN THE SAO’S FIRST 

EVER VIRTUAL #BMOREPOPUP’S 

SUMMER SERIES. 

AIM TO B’MORE PARTICIPANTS SINCE 2015 

Over 3,300 community services hours completed by AIM To B’More participants 

The SAO’s First Virtual Court in the Community Event discussing the impact 

of the global pandemic on the criminal justice system. 

Ă Willard Turner was sentenced to Life 

plus 80 Years for Kidnapping, Torture, 

and Murder. The victim, Tiffany Jones was 

abducted in broad daylight and found dead 

inside a burning vacant home the next day. 

Ă De’Andre Sleet was sentenced to life plus 

25 years with the first 10 years to be served 

without the possibility of parole. Sleet 

was found guilty in December 2019 for the 

murder of Timothy Moriconi in Federal Hill. 


28ANGLE-RI

MARCH 2020 

All courts in the Maryland 

Judiciary, court offices, 

administrative offices, units of 

the Judiciary, and the Offices 

of the Clerks of the Circuit 

Courts closed to the public due 

to the spread of COVID-19 and 

the global pandemic that was 

just beginning in the United 

States. Courts would not 

return to full operations until 

June of 2021. Governor Larry 

Hogan announced statewide 

stay at home orders, in order to 

reduce the spread of the 

COVID-19 virus. 

COVID PROSECUTION POLICY — 

In March of 2020, the SAO consulted 

with the Office of the Public Defender, 

the ACLU, and Johns Hopkins public 

health professionals to lead a bold plan 

that did not impact public safety, but did 

address public health concerns by not 

prosecuting and incarcerating 

individuals who were in violation of 

several low-level, nonviolent offenses 

including Drug Possession, Prostitution, 

Trespassing, Minor Traffic Offenses, 

Attempted Drug Distribution, Open 

Container, Rogue and Vagabond, and 

Urinating/Defecating in Public. 

YEAR 

SIX 

MARCH 2020 

States’ Attorney Mosby 

instructed prosecutors to 

immediately dismiss any charges 

and release individuals arrested 

for nonviolent offenses that pose 

no threat to public safety and to 

reduce COVID-19 spread in 

correctional facilities. The State’s 

Attorney also joined public 

health officials in advocating for 

the development of decarceral 

guidelines for the state’s prisons 

and jails, which was ultimately 

successful following Governor 

Hogan’s announcement that he 

would release 1000 individuals 

from correctional facilities. 

RELEASE OF AT-RISK INMATES - 

The State’s Attorney insisted that the 

Governor use his power to make sweeping 

reductions to the prison population and reduce 

the exposure to the virus. In partnership with 

the Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and 

Johns Hopkins public health professionals, the 

State’s Attorney sent proposals to express the 

need for decarceration. This persistence paid 

off in April when the Governor announced an 

executive order to release 700 people. The SAO, 

the Department of Corrections, and the parole 

board provided feedback on those individuals 

who could be released. In November, the 

Governor issued a second executive order 

for early release of 1200. 

ST 

la 

Ar 

s 

cr 

vi 

D 


OCTOBER 2020 


instructed prosecutors not to 

sign off on so-called “no knock 

warrants,” a controversial police 

tactic that allows officers to 

enter a home unannounced. 

The tactic which is used 

thousands of times per year 

is used disproportionately 

on people of color. 

RESTRUCTURING OF THE CRIME 

STRATEGIES UNIT - New to 2020, 

the CSU took the SAO community liaisons 

under their umbrella. The liaisons represent 

the State’s Attorney at inter-agency, BPD, 

and community association meetings. As 

part of the CSU, liaisons now perform 

essential functions such as; Identifying 

important meetings and events in a 

designated police district; Identifying 

options and solutions to the issues raised 

by the community; Track cases that are of 

concern to the community and secure 

community/victim impact statements 

where appropriate; Compile information to 

assist CSU with its mission to use data 

more effectively in prosecutions. 

DECEMBER 2020 

SAO CIU and it’s partners 

requested that the conviction of 

Melvin Thomas be overturned. 

Thomas who has spent nearly 

19 years in prison for an 

attempted murder he did not 

commit was released. 

LAUNCH OF TOGETHER WE ARE 

RONGER CAMPAIGN (PHASE II) - 

At the end of October, the SAO 

unched Phase II of the ‘Together We 

e Stronger’ campaign, continuing the 

public education push to remind 

residents about the support and 

ervices for victims and witnesses of 

ime in Baltimore City. The campaign 

included a targeted push to share 

resources available for domestic 

olence survivors in light of the spike 

during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

uring October through December, 

the campaign generated over 53 

million impressions across various 

media platforms. 

DECEMBER 2020 

State’s Attorney Mosby 

announced the launch of a 

Sentencing Review Unit (SRU). 

This unit is a new division of 

the agency that reviews cases 

of incarcerated people to 

determine whether the office 

supports their release. 

DECEMBER 2020 

Brandon M. Scott took the oath of 

office and was officially sworn in 

as the 52nd Mayor of Baltimore. 

Council President Nick Mosby 

assumed his position as Council 

President, replacing Mayor Scott, 

on December 10, 2020. 


30ANGLE-RI

YEAR 

SEVEN 

2021 was a year of constant adaptation as courts 

began to slowly reopen to the public and jury trials 

could finally commence. The SAO transitioned to a 

hybrid work model to allow for social distancing while 

in-office and flexibility for staff. The court system and 

the SAO began tackling the massive case backlog that 

occurred during the shutdown by prioritizing violent 

crime cases. This resulted in numerous high-profile 

convictions and sentences for some of the city’s most 

heinous crimes. 

During this same year, the SAO announced the 

permanent decision to cease prosecuting low-level 

offenses like drug possession and sex work to 

prioritize victim and violent crimes. Following this 

year, the SAO was able to draw three conclusions : 

1. There is no public safety value in prosecuting 

low-level offenses. Johns Hopkins University 

researchers concluded that the reoffending rate 

for those who had charges dropped was 0.8%. 

2. SAO is able to reprioritize scarce law enforcement 

resources to pursue violent offenders. As 

the courts reopen from COVID-19 closures, 

prosecutors are able to now focus on clearing 

the backlog of victim crimes. 

3. Low-level offenses are discriminately enforced. A 

Johns Hopkins University study showed that our 

approach to these very same low-level offenses 

prevented arrests that would have fallen almost 

exclusively on the backs of black people. 

Prosecutors and police must realize that 

criminalization of these minor, low-level offenses 

too often lead to a death sentence for Black people. 

Eric Garner was stopped for a loose cigarette. Sandra 

Bland was arrested for a traffic infraction. Michael 

Brown was confronted over shoplifting. 

In April 2021, the Maryland Legislature passed 

numerous police reform bills that signify the end 

of community-damaging police tactics and the 

beginning of a holistic approach to law enforcement. 

This legislative victory was the culmination of six 

years of advocacy by the SAO and local partners. 

The bills address a variety of necessary police 

reform measures including: limiting no-knock 

warrants, requiring body-worn cameras for officers, 

establishing a statewide use-of-force policy, and 

prohibiting police officers from stopping civilians 

from recording their actions in public. 


93% 

FELONY 

87% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 

95% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS UNIT 

71% 

HOMICIDE 

97% 

MAJOR 


UNIT 

99% 

NARCOTICS 


CONVICTION 


Ă In November, David Morris was exonerated after nearly 17 

years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Morris was 

convicted in 2005 for the murder of Mustafa Carter and was 

sentenced to life suspend all but fifty years. 

Ă In December, Paul Madison had his murder conviction 

overturned and was released after 30 years in prison. The 

case against Madison rested almost exclusively on the 

uncorroborated testimony of a jailhouse informant who was 

promised a deal to testify in exchange for dropping felony 

narcotics and handgun charges. 

SENTENCING 

REVIEW UNIT 

Ă In April, 55 year old Donald Braxton was released after 

serving nearly 40 years in prison for the 1981 fatal shooting of 

Dr. George Franklin Phillips during a failed robbery attempt. 

Six teenagers, including Mr. Braxton, were arrested for the 

crime. He was 16 years-old at the time of the crime. 

Ă In June, 64 year old Kenneth Maurice Tucker, believed to be 

one of the longest-serving “juvenile lifers” in Maryland was 

released. Tucker was 17 years old at the time of the crime 

and spent the last 46 years in prison. In May, 52 year old 

Carnell Scott was released after serving 34 years in prison. A 

jury found Scott guilty for the fatal shooting of Melvin Louis 

Wilson, 83, during a failed robbery attempt which occurred 

when Scott was 17 years old. 



Ă JUVENILE RESTORATION ACT: This bill ended life 

sentences without parole for juveniles, and would allow 

courts to reconsider the sentence of juveniles who 

have spent a minimum of 20 years in prison and have 

demonstrated that they’re no longer a danger to the public. 

Ă MARYLAND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2021: 

This legislation includedv numerous police reform bills that 

signify the end of community-damaging police tactics and 

the beginning of a holistic approach to law enforcement. It 

includes the following bills: 

• HB670 - POLICE DISCIPLINE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 

PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES 

• SB71 - BODY-WORN CAMERAS, EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS, 

AND USE OF FORCE 

• SB600 - SURPLUS MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND 

INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS CAUSED BY POLICE 

OFFICERS; 



42 152 

VIRTUAL JUNIOR 

STATE’S ATTORNEYS 

ALMOST 

3000 


PARTICIPATED IN THE VIRTUAL 

#BMOREPOPUP’S 

VICTIMS AND WITNESS SERVICES 

O V E R 

12,600 



711 




Ă Davon Roberts was sentenced to 80 years in 

prison after shooting at two women, striking 

one in the face and chest. 

Ă Anthony Michael Bryant was convicted 

of several charges for dragging a woman 

into an alley at screwdriver point and was 

subsequently sentenced on November 1 

with the maximum penalty totaling 43 

years in prison. 

Ă Arnold Johnson was sentenced to the 

maximum penalty of Life plus 20 years 

for the first-degree murder of Maryann 

Wellington after shooting her in the head in 

her kitchen. 

Ă Dayon Cooper was handed-down a Life 

sentence for the First Degree Murder of 

Cameron Anderson on June 12, 2018. The 

victim was listening to music on his back 

porch when Cooper drove by and shot him. 


SINCE 2015 

NEARLY 

150 



128 



Ă BPD Officer Welton Simpson Jr., was 

convicted of all charges for offenses that 

occurred while he was an officer on January 

17, 2020 including, False Statement to Law 

Enforcement and one count of Misconduct 

in Office. 

Ă Keith Smith, 55, was convicted by a 

Baltimore City jury of all charges for the fatal 

stabbing of his wife, Jacquelyn Smith, age 

54. Smith faces a maximum penalty of Life 

plus three years. This case gained notoriety 

after Smith conspired with his daughter to 

blame a panhandler for Jacquelyn’s death. 

• HB178 - SEARCH WARRANTS AND INSPECTION 

OF RECORDS RELATING TO POLICE MISCONDUCT - 

“Anton’s Law” 


32ANGLE-RI

MARCH 2021 

The SAO announced the oneyear 

success of the Covid 

Criminal Justice policies 

alongside the Mayor’s Office 

on Neighborhood Safety and 

Engagement (MONSE) and 

partners from Baltimore Crisis 

Response Inc., Johns Hopkins 

University, the National 

Association for the Advancement 

of Colored People (NAACP), and 

other stakeholders. The policies 

enacted over since March of 

2020 resulted in a decrease in 

arrests, no adverse impact on 

the crime rate, and address the 

systemic inequity of mass 

incarceration. Therefore, the 

State’s Attorney also announced 

today the permanent adoption 

of these policies as we continue 

to prioritize the prosecution 

of public safety crimes over 

low-level, non-violent offenses. 

A new report from researchers 

at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School 

of Public Heath found that Baltimore’s 

no-prosecution policy for minor drug 

possession and prostitution, enacted 

at the start of the COVID-19 

pandemic, led to fewer new low-level 

drug and prostitution arrests, almost 

no rearrests for serious crimes for 

those who had charges dropped, 

and fewer 911 calls. 

YEAR 

SEVEN 

APRIL 2021 

The SAO launched a series 

of nine virtual town hall 

meetings in each police 

district throughout the city, 

in partnership with local 

community organizations 

and BPD. These events provided 

the community with a Q&A 

discussion on the continuing 

COVID-19 prosecution policies 

and the SAO’s new approach to 

focus resources on violent 

crimes and the needs of victims. 

The Johns Hopkins report found 

AN ESTIMATED 443 NEW 

DRUG/PARAPHERNALIA 

POSSESSION AND PROSTITUTION 

ARRESTS WERE AVERTED as a result 

of the new no-prosecution policy, 78 

percent of which were averted in the 

Black community. Of the 741 people 

whose drug and prostitution charges 

were dropped, six—less than 1 

percent—had new arrests for serious 

crimes during the study period. Calls 

to 911 about drug/paraphernalia and 

prostitution declined significantly in 

the post-policy change period. 

M 

R 

brin 

t 

peo 

in 

p 



The SAO hosted nine Chat 

and Chew events in each police 

district throughout the city 

providing attendees with an 

update of the SAO activities 

since the pandemic and offering 

an in person opportunity for 

informal discussions about 

questions the community had. 

A judge freed David Morris after he 

spent just short of 17 years in prison for 

a murder he did not commit. The 

Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP) 

brought the case to the attention of the 

Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s 

Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU). In 2018, 

the CIU began a lengthy 

re-investigation of the case, and agreed 

that Mr. Morris had been wrongfully 

convicted. Paul Madison had his murder 

conviction overturned and was released 

after 30 years in prison. Madison was 

freed following an investigation by The 

SAO CIU and the Mid-Atlantic 

Innocence Project (MAIP). 

FIRST GVRS MEETING – 

State’s Attorney Mosby joined Mayor 

Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner 

ichael Harrison at the New Shiloh Baptist 

Church to launch the first Group Violence 

eduction Strategy (GVRS) meeting. GVRS 

gs city resources together with social services 

o address the causes of shootings and stop 

ple from turning to violence. Part of the GVRS 

implementation includes the Baltimore 

Community Intelligence Centers (BCICs). 

By incorporating staff from the SAO – 

cluding a dedicated community liaison and 

rosecutor - at the district level, BCICs will 

provide the physical infrastructure to 

convene all GVRS law enforcement 

and community partners 

OCTOBER 2021 


and Prince George’s County 

State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy 

published their offices’ ‘Do Not 

Call’ lists. The Do Not Call list 

includes those police officers 

who have engaged in conduct 

that renders their potential 

testimony unreliable or 

non-credible. The State’s 

Attorney’s Offices will not call 

officers on the Do Not Call list 

as a witness. 

OCTOBER 2021 

The SAO launched the 'Faces of 

Actual Innocence' campaign to 

inform residents and students in 

Baltimore City about the stories 

of men who were wrongfully 

incarcerated and the support 

underway for crime victims and 

their family members who were 

denied justice. In partnership 

with WJZ, the campaign included 

video interviews with the 

exonerated men, a partnership 

with restorative justice nonprofit 

"Healing Justice", and culminated 

in a panel discussion on 

International Wrongful 

Conviction Day - at the University 

of Maryland, Baltimore School of 

Social Work. 


34ANGLE-RI

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: 

VICTIMS OF HOMICIDE 2021 

Tiffany Wilson 

Jayvon Montgomery 

Marcus Wilson 

Ephraim Gordon 

Stephon Boyer 

Leonard Heath 

Dereck Jackson 

Deyonte Francis Davis 

Curtis Berry 

Marvin Dessaure 

Damen Fortson 

Terrell Scott 

Markeese Stanford 

Dante Barksdale 

Devonta Williams 

Breonna Rogers 

Tavaughn Shamont 

Anderson 

Rickey Martin 

Ricky Dixon 

Melvin Anthony 

Johnson 

Alissa Simone Traylor 

Andrew Charles 

Johnson 

Angelo Baldwin 

Reginald Taylor 

Darryl Oliver 

Kevin Wallace 

Frankye Duckett 

Aaron Jefferey Shipley 

Kenneth Gerstley 

Tameshia Robeson 

Marlon Royster 

Timothy Orem 

Terrell Billie 

Dontae Green 

Dionte Green 

Heidi Pierce 

Donya Bea 

Donna Berry 

Marcus Bentley 

Kamiri Williams 

Guy Leon Thomas 

Seymour Hall 

Ervin Talley 

Justin Bucalo 

Melvin Darnell 

Hairston 

Stephanie Chandler 

Todd Fitzgerald 

Sean Horton 

Kendrick Hasty 

Preston Hill 

Tavon Hutton 

Jaileel Jones 

Terry Antonio 

Williams 

Renard Prioleau 

Dominic Simmons 

Courtney Rice 

Jamal Pinchback 

Aubrey Faulkner 

Mustafa Bates 

Lewis Wrightt III 

Durrell Wilson 

Hezekiah Pettiford 

Matthew Wayne 

Blevins 

Danyae Mariec 

Tremaine Conyers 

Kendall Norman 

Talathia Teann 

Catrice Smith 

Brennan Charles 

Richardson 

John Worrell 

Denita Barrett 

Nathaniel Anthony 

Brown 

Devon Little 

Craig Underwood 

Randolph Jones 

Cameron Green 

Ashley Lynn Lambert 

(Ebenal) 

Keyon Jones 

Fabian Mendez 

Robert Bates 

Walter Anderson 

Dominick Carr 

James Anthony 

Fullard Jr. 

Walter Johnson 

Georgio Johnson 

Vernell Tavon Moton 

Darrell Richardson 

Robert Uzzell 

Daquar Gerrod 

Harrison 

Deondre Gilliam 

Tony McLean 

Shamyar Da’andre 

Austin 

Shari Smith 

Edward William 

Johnson 

Antoine Oglesby 

Ivan Green 

Rudolph Smith 

Rodney Williams 

Nikea Jackson 

Dayvon Mason 

Quentin Brice 

Demetris Kendrick 

Henry 

Bruce Bernard Lemon 

Kevin Eugene Adams 

Wayne Williams 

Fernando Terrance 

Rouse 

Rakis Wende Nana 

Marvis Pollock 

Daquan Redd 

Kaylia Player 

Brittaney Hayes-Smith 

Renee Jones 

Danny Henson 

Donell Avery 

Angelo Tyrone Jones 

George Hawkins 

Larry Randel Jr 

Montrell Harvey 

Gary Dewayne 

Wilson 

Jackie Kallen Dunbar 

Timothy Jerome 

Fleming 

Zorii Pitts 

Ronald White 

Orlando Smith 

Emmanuel Holley 

Harrison Morten 

Donte Bernard Scott 

Tony Hedgespeth 

Dorian Shropshire 

Sarah Steel 

Tayvon Kenan 

Dontee Domonic 

Nicholson 

Robert Lee Jones, Jr 

John Hall, III 

Harry Prather 

Cincere Johnson 

Clinton Gray 

Erik Wilson 

Dana Ross 

Isiah Willis 

Torron Jackson 

Julius Dunbar, III 

Kenneth McCoy 

Jameo McClean 

Keonna Brittan 

Ali Bey 

Keith Nathaniel 

Carter 

Michael Burley 

Terrance McPhaul 

Shammarh Tavonn 

Jenkins 

Desmond Williams 

Curtis Cashwell 

Dunham 

Kozee Spriggs 

Deandre Davis 

Cyril Lynch 

Leslie Jerome Gibson 

Lee Johnson 

Devonte Jerrod Clark 

Levar Steels 

Terrell Rheubotton 

Quante Rashawn 

Thompson 

Tyrell Johnson-Woods 

Steven Reddick 

Ali Hines 

Joseph Evans 

Daurell Hudson 

Dwayne Edmonds 

Ishmael Davenport 

Jayvon Te-Sun Ghim 

Brandon Boone 

Jermail Sellers 

Clark Hohrein 

Kenyall Wilson 

Enrico Jones 

Lawrence Mack 

Christopher Mccargo 

Anthony Henry 

Keith Darnell Hughes Jr. 

Kavon Demari Hall 

Troy Rush 

35ANGLE-RI Gone but not forgotten: Victims OF Homicide 2021

Anthony Cain 

Alysse Gardner 

Darnell Maurice Jones 

Joseph Frazier 

James David Glover, 3 rd 

Candace Acevedo 

Eric Berry 

Nicholas Lee 

Delante Laboo 

Jose Vasquez 

Kim Allen 

Josiah Rogers 

Zachary Weaver 

Donta Simpson 

Vaseles Nettles 

Derick Lilly 

Tywan Murry 

Deontae Brown 

Travon Hopkins 

Corey Jermaine Drake 

William Crayton 

Jaquan Purvis 

Raynard Booker 

James Bennett 3 rd 

Brian Palmer 

Darrin Stewart 

Jermaine Antawon 

Dixon 

Bernard Knotts 

Santiago Loyal 

William Smith 

Anthony Neville 

Steven Savoy 

Ja’nyi Weeden 

Mickel Holman 

Anthony Bugg 

Rashad Marshall 

Sherry Birmngham 

Jhosy Portillo 

Jason Mcnair 

Colin Perry 

Shaketa Causey 

Darius Kimbrough 

Isaac Caldwell 

Davin Thomas 

Daneria Thomas 

Carlos Amador-Funez 

Adam Seward 

Dante Crawford 

Antwan Roberson 

Daniel Laurey 

Grace Jackson-West 

Keith Vernon Carter 

Terrence Broughton 

Travis Ben-Watkins 

Silas Montre Davis 

Montrell Graham 

Seth Turnstall 

Dayeion Tayevon 

Diggs-Smalls 

Kendell Scott 

Domonick Antoine 

Dukes 

Melvin Joseph White 

Linique Danielle 

Green 

Davon Barnes 

Abraham Ludd 

Shabro Meridith 

Pamela Pitts 

Chavez Goss 

Phillip Hamilton 

John Gilliam 

Deoyntae Tracey 

Thompson 

Latonya Wright 

Kevin Kelly 

Donnell Smith 

Tyquan Watson 

Millissa Joann 

Rogalski 

Christopher Weaver 

Troy Steve Harrison, II 

Tyriq Bowden 

Johnnie Lamont 

Brown, Jr. 

Devin Kashawn 

Turner 

Daevon Lee 

Farran Dazad 

Meredith 

Corey James Harris 

Reginald White, Jr. 

Albert Clark, Jr 

Myesha Cuffey 

Delmonte Keels 

Brionna Glasgow 

Lamont Wade 

Jonus Timothy Ben, Jr. 

Tayshawn David 

Allen Detron Parker 

DuJuan Murray 

Whitney Purnell 

Ronald Morris 

Morgan, Jr. 

Garrell Talley 

James Middleton 

Leandra Sampson 

James Byrd 

Jacques McFadden 

Antion Spyre 

Stacy Hill 

Jeremy Nkosi Bryant 

Vincent Price Evans II 

John Quinston 

Wilford Jr 

Tyrese Toney 

Antwan Lamont 

Andrews 

Davon Dentrell 

Woodrup 

William Foster, III 

Saeed Hall 

Qwize Yaso Butcher 

Phillip Hayes 

Alton Kevin 

Henderson 

Carlos Smith 

Dontay Carlton Hill 

Devin Benton 

Anthony Rollins 

Charles Simmons 

Roy Cantler, III 

Javier Francisco 

Villegas Cotto 

Carlos Ortega 

Rafael Jeffers 

Christopher Ryles, Jr. 

Evelyn Player 

Jeffrey Lamont 

Thornton 

Nivea Anderson 

Bradley Hampton 

Maliyah Turner 

Tyquan Dodd 

Lee Edward Wilkins, Jr. 

Donald Eason, Jr. 

Teaundre Donzel 

Shannon 

Edward William 

Keene, III 

Dontae Joseph 

Johnson 

Kyree Pompey 

Fanon Williams-El 

Monti Cisse 

Amir Whyee 

Lorenzo King 

Rashad Dendy 

William Russell 

Adams 

Ronald Barksdale, Jr. 

Kevin Antonio Finley 

William Flowers 

Desmond Carr 

Jake Rogers 

Tara Labang 

Darius Morton 

David Anthoney 

Harcum 

Justin Johnson 

Jaquan Robinson 

Aaron Adams 

Derrick Smith 

Ky’Shera George 

Raheem Ali Smith 

Curtis Lee Brown 

Jarrelle Gomez 

Tavon King 

Keonna Holley 

Bryant Levi 

Jose Marvin Castron 

Morales 

Darius Timothy 

Walker 

Rian Williams 

Jordan Braxton 


36ANGLE-RI

OUR 

IMPACT 

Since the inception of my administration, I’ve made it clear that the sole mission 

of my office is to safeguard communities in Baltimore through the effective 

prosecution of crime. To fulfill this mission, our prosecutors have been sworn to 

not only aggressively advocate on behalf of the victims of crime, but in the pursuit 

of “justice,”— when the evidence exists— to exonerate those that have been falsely 

accused or convicted. The public must know that “justice” is the only barometer of 

success for this office. 


FELONY 

94% 

NARCOTICS 

96% 

GUN VIOLENCE 

ENFORCEMENT 

DIVISION 

94% 

SPECIAL 

VICTIMS 

UNIT 

97% 

HOMICIDE 

80% 

PUBLIC 

TRUST 

& POLICE 

INTEGRITY 

UNIT 

100% 

37ANGLE-RI Our impact

OUR IMPACT 

CREATING A MORE FAIR AND JUST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 

12 

EXONEREES 

Collectively served nearly 300 years in 

prison for crimes they did not commit 

31 

CONVICTED 

POLICE OFFICERS 

23 

INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTED 

BY THE SENTENCING REVIEW 

UNIT FOR RELEASE 

1415 

WARRANTS 

QUASHED/ 

ELIMINATED 


38ANGLE-RI

OUR IMPACT: 

SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIME 

SECURED IN GRANT FUNDING 

FOR PREVENTION, PROSECUTION 

AND VICTIMS SERVICES 

1048 

FAMILIES RELOCATED 

52,972 

VICTIMS & WITNESSES 

SERVED 

7745 

GRIEF COUNSELING 

SESSIONS 


OUR IMPACT 

ADDRESSING CRIME HOLISTICALLY 

152 

AIM TO B’MORE 

PARTICIPANTS 

Ă 87% acquire and 

maintain employment 

through AIM 

Probation Program 

20,000 

Ă Provided over 11,000 

hours in community 

service since 2015. 

OVER 

20 


EVENTS HELD 

OVER 

YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVED AT 

POP-UP COMMUNITY EVENTS 

750-1000 

CASES TRACKED AT 

ANY GIVEN TIME BY 

COMMUNITY COURT WATCH 


40ANGLE-RI

OUR IMPACT 

INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH 

SCHOOLS SERVED INCLUDE 

2015 : Franklin Square Elementary 

2016 : William Pinderhughes 

Elementary 

580 

GREAT EXPECTATION 

PARTICIPANTS 

2017 : Matthew A. Henson 

Elementary, Gilmor Elementary, 

City Springs 

2018 : Furman L. Templeton, Harlem 

Park, Sharp Leadenhall 

2019 : Dorothy I. Heights, Eutaw 

Marshburn, Sharp Leadenhall 

2020 : no programming due to 

COVID-19 pandemic 

2021 : Eutaw Marshburn, Francis Scott 

Key, City Springs 

OUR 

PARTNERS 

ARENA PLAYERS INCORPORATED • AVA FIELDS DANCE MINISTRY • BALTIMORE CITY A 

• BALTIMORE CITY’S MAYOR’S OFFICE OF EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT • BALTIMO 

SCHOOL POLICE • BALTIMORE OFFICE OF PROMOTION AND ARTS (BOPA) • BALTIMORE 

MANAGEMENT • BMORETHANDANCE • BROWN ADVISORY • BUILD BALTIMORE • C 

BLUESHIELD • CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY • CLEO LEGALLY INSPIRED COL 

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (CHUM) • CONCERTED CARE GROUP • CORI RAMOS • CUPS COFFEE HOUSE • DEPARTMENT OF PU 

DUKE LIVE • DJ QUICKSILVA • DJ OK • DJ REDDZ • DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE PARTNERSHIP • DTLR • ELLIS G. BROWN JR. • FEA 

CHESAPEAKE OF MARYLAND • H.L.P. CATERING • HOUSE OF FITNESS • H&S BAKERY • LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH • LEADERS FOR TOM 

BALTIMORE • MARCHING ELITE • MARYLAND NEW DIRECTIONS • MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (MTA) • MAYO 

• MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY • MOVABLE FEASTS • MILE • NO BOUNDARIES COALITION • NORTHEAST COMMU 

DEFENDER • OLIVE GARDEN • PATRICE SANDERS OF FOX 45 NEWS • PARTY MARTY • RADIO ONE • ROBYN MURPHY • RONDELL S 

• THE FOOD PROJECT • THE MOVEMENT TEAM • THE LAW OFFICE OF JAMES L. RHODES • THE PRETTY GIRL TIARA LANIECE • TH 

THERAPY • ULTIMATE STAFFING SERVICES • ULYSSES MILLER • UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF LAW • VERNON KELSON • 


• JUNIOR STATE’S ATTORNEY • 

IOFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR BALT MORE CITY 

299 

JUNIOR STATE’S 

ATTORNEY PARTICIPANTS 

JSA successes also include those who are now eligible 

95% 

HIGH SCHOOL 

GRADUATION 

RATE 

33% 

OF CURRENT COLLEGE 

STUDENTS ARE 

PURSUING A DEGREE 

IN A CRIMINAL 

JUSTICE RELATED 

FIELD OF STUDY 

23% 

WORKING 

67% 

ARE IN 

COLLEGE 

95% 

ARE EITHER IN 

COLLEGE OR 

ON A CAREER 

TRACK 

5% 

IN THE US 

MILITARY 

QUATICS • BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT • BALTIMORE CITY’S MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SUCCESS 

RE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT • BALTIMORE CITY RECREATION AND PARKS • BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS • BALTIMORE CITY 

RAMS YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM • BALTIMORE TEACHER’S UNION • BALTIMORE WAR MEMORIAL • BLACKOUT ENTERTAINMENT 

AROLINE CENTER • CATERING YOUR WAY • CATHOLIC CHARITIES • CENTER FOR URBAN FAMILIES • CAREFIRST BLUECROSS 

LEGE KOHORTS OF STUDENTS (CLICKS) • CLOVERDALE BASKETBALL COURTS • COLDSTREAM, HOMESTEAD, MONTEBELLO 

BLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES • DIGITAL HARBOR FOUNDATION • DISTRICT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY • DJ 

RLESS DANCE EMPIRE • FRANCISCAN CENTER OF BALTIMORE • FUN CITY • GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA • GOODWILL OF THE 

ORROW YOUTH CENTER • KIDZ INC. • LIL BLACK • LIVE BENEVOLENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES • LIVING CLASSROOMS 

R BERNARD C. “JACK” YOUNG • MAYOR BRANDON M. SCOTT • MICHAEL BATTLE AND RESTORING INNER CITY HOPE (R.I.C.H.) 

NITY RELATIONS COUNCIL • OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT • OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE • OFFICE OF PUBLIC 

TREET • SANTA LUKE OF MONDAWMIN MALL • SHAKE AND BAKE FAMILY FUN CENTER • TAMAR INC. • THE ABELL FOUNDATION 

E START UP NEST • THE T. ROWE PRICE FOUNDATION • THE WARNOCK FOUNDATION • TOTAL HEALTH CARE • TOTAL SPEECH 

WALK BY FAITH MINISTRIES • WEIS MARKETS • WELLS FARGO • Y OF CENTRAL MARYLAND • YEAR UP • ZION BAPTIST CHURCH 


42ANGLE-RI

OUR 

STORIES 

When innocent people are convicted, the impact on 

the wrongfully convicted, their families, victims, and the 

community is catastrophic. Having a State's Attorney 

who recognizes the importance of this problem will not 

only help prevent wrongful convictions, but it will help 

restore the community trust that wrongful convictions 

have irreparably damaged. We're thrilled to continue 

our partnership to address these problems and 

encouraged that the State's Attorney has partnered 

with Healing Justice, the only organization that exists 

to address the collective harms to exonerees, 

victims-survivors, and their families. 

Shawn Armbrust 

Executive Director 

Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project 

In a year that has shown us the importance of equity, 

both as it relates to the coronavirus and the incidences 

of police violence, we are pleased to see that the state's 

attorney's office for Baltimore City under the leadership 

of State's Attorney Mosby has been responsive to the 

community's needs and to calls for equity. 

Rev. Kobi Little 

Baltimore NAACP President 

We have a lot of seniors in this 

community, and a lot of families. 

Good people. Hardworking people. 

But these are scary times. It’s nice to 

have someone who will come to our 

meetings and let us know what we 

need to be mindful of 

Eunice Peacock 

Berea Community 

resident 

My growth over the past year has 

been everything but easy. Gaining 

many experiences in leadership 

as well as discovering my passion for 

myself and my community’s success has 

all been journey. I’ll soon be going to 

college and plan to take my leadership, 

intelligence, and things I’ve have done 

in my city with me. I wouldn’t have been 

able to accomplish such great things 

without support from the [Junior State’s 

Attorney] program other organizations 

and individuals who believed in me. 

Jima Chester 

Junior State’s Attorney Class of 2019 

I’m very appreciative of the State’s Attorney’s Office. 

Our community liaison has participated in many of 

our community crime prevention efforts including 

participating in passing out wanted posters throughout 

the community. Reinstating the community liaison 

program has been a great asset to our community. 

Marvin “Doc” Cheatham 

President of the Matthew Henson 

Community Association 

43ANGLE-RI Our stories

We can’t take on mass incarceration without dismantling 

every part of its architecture. Part of how we got here 

is by building barriers to release even for the most 

deserving people who have served many decades and 

demonstrated their remorse and change. We applaud 

this effort to recognize the important role that State’s 

Attorneys must play to correct ongoing injustices and to 

invest in restorative approaches for our communities. 

Sonia Kumar 

Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Maryland 

Jahmaine and I are very grateful for 

the [Junior State’s Attorney] Program. 

As a parent I am proud of him and what the 

program has taught him. . . it helped to keep 

him focused and engaged towards his goal 

of being a detective in the future. Jahmaine 

says the mock trials also helped him in his 

US History class. Thank you to each and 

every member of the SAO for the Junior 

State’s Attorney Program. 

Lorraine Adams 

Junior State’s Attorney Parent 

I’m glad Ms. Mosby brought back the community 

liaison program. In prior State’s Attorneys 

administrations we felt like nobody was listening 

or cared about what was happening around here. 

Now, we know that we’re not alone. 

John L. Crew, Jr 

President, Ashburton Area Association 

The fact that we saw drops in 911 calls and recidivism 

for low-level offenses shows us that communities are 

less impacted by these offenses than one might assume. 

The trend is different for other offenses during that time 

period. The policy is therefore making a positive impact 

on communities. By working with researchers, Mrs. 

Mosby has shown that she wants to approach these 

issues holistically, analyzing the data, and not making 

decisions in a vacuum. 

Susan Sherman 

Johns Hopkins University Professor 

The efforts made by the State’s Attorney Office 

to connect with the public are a prime example 

of what ‘transparency’ and ‘openness’ look like 

in their infancy...Ms. Mosby and her team are 

definitely on the right track. 

Kathy Christian 

Member of the Greater Greenmount 

Community Association 


44ANGLE-RI

45ANGLE-RI Our stories


46ANGLE-RI

we are in the 

JUSTICE 

BUSINESS

OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY 

FOR BALTIMORE CITY 

120 E. Baltimore St., 9 th Floor 

Baltimore, MD 21202 

443.984.6000 

mail@stattorney.org 

Stay Connected 

/BaltimoreCitySAO 

/BaltimoreSAO 

/BaltimoreSAO

2015–2021 Term Report

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