The strategic plan, which Bates said is the first in the history of the State’s Attorney’s Office, focuses on improving services for victims and witnesses of crime, whose cooperation is vital to successfully prosecuting cases, and strengthening training for prosecutors.
From here on out, Bates said, his office would look at bringing charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which carries a fine of up to $2,500 and a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Bates said he will seek to hold parents and guardians accountable who do not prevent or report delinquencies or reach out for further help to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
"As the weather warms up and illegal dirt bike usage increases, we need to explore every option to curb these activities," said police Commissioner Richard Worley. "It is a nuisance, disruptive to our neighborhoods and detrimental to our residents' quality of life. To businesses who are knowingly aiding these dirt bike riders: You are adding fuel to the fire and will be cited."
I have been an admirer of Bates since 2022 when I asked and secured him to speak to my political persuasion class. I had had a wide array of admirable and diverse politicians and political partisans speak in my class over more than four decades of teaching including Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., then-soon-to-be Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Gov. Larry Hogan, Judge Catherine Curran O’Malley (husband Martin O’Malley did not come, but he would have been quite welcome), state Sen. Jim Brochin, Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Del. Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun sports columnist Mike Preston and several others. They were all politicians (save Preston) whom I revered ethically, all well-prepared and all who had served admirably in my opinion.
Represented by defense attorney, Bradley MacFee, Malone was also found guilty of firearm use in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle and discharging firearms.
“A cold case is still very much fresh in the hearts and minds of the victim’s family. My main job as State’s Attorney is holding offenders accountable, bringing closure for those impacted, and ensuring justice for Baltimore, the victims, and their loved ones,” Bates said. “It is critically important that we utilize the latest investigative techniques and technology to put fresh eyes on once-forgotten crimes in an effort to bring closure to those who were impacted while sending the message to offenders that their malicious acts will not go unaddressed. I sincerely appreciate all the tireless work by Senior ASA Kurt Bjorklund, BPD, the FBI, and ATF, and I am especially thankful for the continued support of the Metropolitan Police Department.”
Both investigations were the result of work by the Maryland Attorney General’s organized crime unit and Baltimore Police’s Group Violence Unit, a part of the city’s group violence reduction strategy. The police unit is focused on targets police suspect are behind significant levels of the city’s gun violence, including retaliatory shootings. Other partners included local DEA officials, a Maryland State Police task force and the city State’s Attorney’s Office.
“Well those aren't generally the offenses that law enforcement witness this age group committing,” Galeano said. "We know for a fact that individuals in this age group have been stealing cars. They've been breaking into businesses, they've been breaking into homes, they've been committing assaults of various degrees.”
“The current reality of juvenile intake is that youth who are committing criminal offenses, including auto theft and carjacking, are being released into the community almost immediately before being adequately evaluated for necessary services and rehabilitative resources,” the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office said in an emailed statement Friday. “Commonsense changes like these can help improve youth recidivism, which has led to many frustrations among city residents.”
