"This defendant is a repeat violent offender who took two lives in two days with clearly no regard for humanity or the law," Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said. "It is apparent to me that he should never be on the streets of our city again. My heart goes out to the families and community members impacted by these devastating acts of violence."
New Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates sees a lot of potential in this bill. For one, he said it would allow his office to gain additional attorneys to specifically prosecute witness intimidation.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said his office will conduct a new review of a federal investigation into a fire a year ago that killed three firefighters in a vacant West Baltimore rowhouse.
On day one in office, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said his legislative push included evening the sentencing maximums for misdemeanor gun offenses. Bates said if a defendant is between 18 and 20 years of age, the maximum sentence was five years, but for offenders over the age of 21, he said the max penalty was three years.
Weeks later, authorities announced charges against his cellmate, Gordon Staron, 34, who had been locked up since September after his arrest in the deadly stabbing of Keith Bell, 63, near a Baltimore bus stop. Jail officials have refused to answer questions about why Staron was housed with Gantt, a disabled man facing relatively minor charges.
The development came to light Friday morning during a routine Reception Court appearance for Gordon Staron, who is charged with murder in two cases: Gantt’s death and the fatal stabbing of 63-year-old Keith Bell in September.
"This case was deeply traumatic for everyone in the community and especially for the family of Evelyn Player, a matriarch of the neighborhood, who can never be replaced," Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said. "This plea allows the family to receive closure and process their grief, resulting in a lengthy sentence that will ensure this dangerous individual never returns to the streets of our city again."
Bates is lobbying state lawmakers to make the possession of an illegal firearm a five-year maximum offense across the board. He emphasized this is not a mandatory minimum sentence.
Marchers also included newly installed Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, City Council President Nick Mosby, state Sen. Antonio Hayes and state Del. Caylin Young.
