OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY

FOR

BALTIMORE CITY

 

208 THE CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. COURTHOUSE

 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND  21202

 

Patricia C. Jessamy                                                                                                                                                                   Phone 443-984-1121

   State’s Attorney

 

 

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  

 

For Information Contact:                       Margaret T. Burns

Chief, Communications & Governmental Affairs

Cell (443) 474-7479

Office (443) 984-1121

Or

Joseph Sviatko, Public Information Officer

Office (443) 984-1122 or Cell (410) 790-3248

                                                           

PRESS RELEASE

 

RONNIE LESTER SENTENCED TO 45-YEARS IN PRISON SUSPEND ALL BUT 35-YEARS FOLLOWING FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND USE OF A HANDGUN IN A CRIME OF VIOLENCE CONVICTION

 

Baltimore, MD – April 3, 2008 – Judge Wanda K. Heard sentenced Ronnie Lester, 19, of the 1300 block of Glyndon Avenue, today to 25-years in prison for first-degree assault, 20-years in prison suspend all but 10-years for use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and three-years probation.  Judge Heard ordered that the sentences run consecutively for a total of 45-years in prison suspending all but 35-years. 

 

A Baltimore City jury convicted Lester March 10, 2008.

 

At approximately 8:50PM on May 24, 2007 officers observed three individuals on dirt bikes traveling south in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.  As the officers drove up to the individuals, one of the bikes stalled.  The officers exited their vehicle and approached the individual on the stalled bike.  As they did this, Lester returned on his bike, allowed the other individual on to the back of bike, and fired two shots at the officers before speeding off.  The officers gave chase with assistance from Foxtrot.  The chase exceeded speeds of 40mph, often going the wrong way down city streets, before the Lester was apprehended when he had to stop his bike due to a gathering of people in the street around a deadly house fire at 1903 Cecil Ave.  Officers recovered a .32 caliber pistol that Lester threw off the Maryland Avenue Bridge.  

 

            Assistant State’s Attorney Brandis Marsh prosecuted this case.

 

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