Juvenile crime arrests have increased by 146% compared to last year, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. In 2023, there were 66 arrests for serious crimes involving minors in Baltimore City. So far in 2024, there have been 163 arrests.
Instead, Eldridge credits the work of Baltimore's new state's attorney Ivan Bates combined with the "Al Capone Style" of prosecution by U.S. Attorney Erek Barron.
According to Bates’ Office, in November, 103 cases were charged by the juvenile division; 33 of those were special, which means the juvenile facing charges was detained in some way; 70 cases were stack cases, which means the juvenile was not detained.
According to the prosecution, the shooting occurred on the 600 block of North Robertson Street. Moulden was allegedly walking his dog in his backyard when the victim approached and spoke to him. When the victim turned to leave, Moulden allegedly called the victim back and fired. The prosecution described the severity of the victim’s paralysis and eye injury before asking Judge Schiffer to give Moulden a lengthier sentence than suggested by charge guidelines.
Gordon Staron, of Abingdon, said nothing when given the opportunity to address Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy. He also refused to communicate with his own defense attorney throughout the case, the attorney said, citing his client’s silence while arguing that Staron has severe mental health problems and should have been found incompetent to stand trial.
Barron's office collaborates with other agencies by looking for patterns and trends, he said. One of the biggest efforts last November was Operation Tornado Alley. Along with Baltimore City police, Barron's office focused on a violent gang. The investigation grew to include Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates, federal agents and Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County police. It led to dozens of arrests and the takedown of four criminal organizations. Officers confiscated weapons and drugs.
“I think unfortunately, the way the criminal justice system really works, we looked at the numbers and I'm looking at the numbers, we realized over a three-year period that GVRS, they've served 201 people,” Bates said, meaning 201 people have been provided services. “I can tell you 200 people is not enough to make that substantial change.”
Three more men were sentenced to decades in prison this week for their roles in the fatal shooting of an Israeli man who was visiting Baltimore for a family wedding in May 2021, according to Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates.
“I’m not very impressed with the mayor's report,” said Vatz. “Its true homicides are going down but I attribute that mainly to the work of Ivan Bates”.
