Bates had promised a tough stance on illegal firearms, stating, "If you're a felon and you have an illegal gun, we're going to invoke mandatory minimums. We're going to be very very tough on illegal handguns...people will go to jail."
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said the city is seeing significant progress in reducing violent crime but acknowledged that quality-of-life offenses remain a major challenge. Speaking with WBAL’s Bryan Nehman and C4, Bates pointed to a steep drop in homicides compared to three years ago.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates announced his Homicide Unit successfully secured several convictions and sentences this week for various offenses.
A Windsor Mill man was sentenced to life in prison after shooting and killing his girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter last summer in East Baltimore. Court records show Omar Passmore, who turned 29 earlier this month, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder and a firearm offense.
The guests included Ivan Bates, Jamie Dykes, Rich Gibson, and Haven Shoemaker, and they discussed incoming DJS Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino, programming for juveniles, and what the scope of the juvenile crime problem is in Maryland.
In a statement, Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates called the killing “exceedingly cruel and brutal” and said he hopes the life sentence “brings a measure of justice for the senseless and tragic loss” of Barney.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates has been unanimously elected to preside over the Maryland State’s Attorneys' Association (MSAA), as announced at their annual conference in Ocean City. Taking the reins from Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson, Bates is slated to put in two years at the helm, with the possibility of extending his leadership for one more term. While the baton has been passed, new plans are being set for the journey ahead.
The prosecution asked Judge Taylor for a sentence of life in prison, suspending all but 30 years. They argued the harsh sentence would serve as a “deterrent, a punishment and a message” to Evans.
Bates’ quiet toughness is the reason that Baltimore has enjoyed whatever downturn in homicides and other violent crimes has occurred despite Mayor Brandon Scott and his team taking credit, as the improvement correlates perfectly with Bates’ assumption of office and communication of his new seriousness in prosecuting crime.
