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Health & Fitness

Charles Village Court Watch

Markell Shelton Jones plead guilty yesterday to the first degree murder of Freddie Jones Jr. and to a handgun violation. He is to be sentenced formally July 2.

Stephen Gewirtz, Neighbor
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On October 31, 2011, Markell Shelton Jones murdered Freddie Jones Jr. (no relation) in an attempted armed robbery at Yau Brothers Chinese carryout at 2901 Greenmount Avenue.  Selection of a jury was scheduled to begin yesterday morning.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend then, but I learned this morning from the clerk of Judge M. Brooke Murdock that Markell Jones had plead guilty yesterday to first degree murder and to use of a firearm in a violent felony.  For the murder, his sentence is to be at most life with all but 50 years suspended and 5 years probation upon release.  For the firearms charge, his concurrent sentence is to be 5 years without the possibility of parole.  Judge Murdock will recommend that Jones be placed in a youth program.  Disposition (formal sentencing and victim impact statements) is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2.

 

Here is a link to a press release from the Office of State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein:

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

http://www.stattorney.org/northern/394-5-14-13-jones-pleads-guilty-to-mu...

 

Find out what's happening in North Baltimorefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

My comment on this case is that it is one huge tragedy.  Freddie Jones Jr. is dead because of a senseless act of violence on the part of Markell Jones, and nothing will undo that tragedy.  Markell Jones, who was 17 at the time of the murder, has basically thrown most of his life away because he used a handgun.  The sentence seems to me to be fair.  If there were some way to know that Markell Jones would not do something equally stupid again, a shorter sentence might make sense, but there is no way to know that.  We have to be protected from him.  If he serves the entire sentence, he will be 67 when he gets out, and he still will be under the supervision of a probation agent for five more years.



In reception court yesterday, two cases that I am following were postponed, and I thank Doug Armstrong for attending in my stead.


James Cureton is charged with the murder of Tanise Ervin on March 12, 2011 on Gorsuch Avenue in Better Waverly.  He is also charged with the attempted murder of two others.  His trial was postponed to Friday, May 24 at 11 in room 420 Courthouse West.  Note that this is a fairly short postponement, indicating that the case may soon come to trial.


Nelson Bernard Clifford is charged with a home invasion rape on November 10, 2011 in the 3700 block of Greenmount Avenue and with another home invasion rape on November 13, 2011 in Reservoir Hill.  In each instance, he faces multiple counts of rape and sex offenses as well as first degree burglary.  According to news reports in the Sun, he was identified from DNA.  In addition, he is charged with failure to register as a sex offender (based on an earlier conviction for a second degree sex offense) and with an attempted home invasion rape on December 3, 2011.  His proceedings were postponed to Thursday, July 11 at 9:30 in room 203 Courthouse West, which is the courtroom of Judge Marcus Shar.  According to Doug, it was stated in reception court that Clifford was in part 20 (Judge Shar), possibly for a motions hearing, and all cases were postponed as just noted.  I think that this means that at least some part of the charges facing Clifford will be tried before Judge Shar.


Steve

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