"We recognize the ongoing initiatives within the Baltimore Police Department aimed at enhancing accountability and restoring public confidence, particularly the improved collaboration with our office on internal investigations," Bates noted. "That progress is significant, and it is crucial that accountability remains a fundamental principle in addressing any instances of misconduct."
The sentence, imposed on 38-year-old Cassandra McRae, was announced Wednesday by the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. A judge ordered McRae to serve 140 years of the sentence, with the first 25 years being without the possibility of parole, said a statement issued by the State's Attorney, Ivan Bates.
“Police officers are entrusted with tremendous authority and a responsibility to uphold the law,” Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said in a statement. “When that authority is abused, through excessive force, false statements, or misconduct in office, it undermines public trust and threatens the integrity of our justice system.”
Oct. 2 — Impersonating a police officer: Justin Cheeks was convicted of impersonating a police officer after he and another person falsely identified themselves as officers responding to a burglary call. Cheeks was sentenced to two years, with all but 56 days already served suspended.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates explained that a 2022 Maryland law prevents his office from prosecuting a 12-year-old driver who allegedly caused a fatal crash on Sept. 30 at the intersection of North Dukeland Street and West North Avenue in Northwest Baltimore.
Shea Green pleaded guilty Sept. 29 in Baltimore City Circuit Court to theft scheme and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office.
Baltimore is in the midst of a historic decline in violent crime. This turnaround has notably coincided with the election of State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, who sat down with The Baltimore Sun Editorial Board on Monday to discuss the philosophy guiding his tenure. For years, the city’s prosecutorial strategy swung between extremes: the punitive “broken windows” era on one side, and on the other, the permissive approach of former State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who pulled back on prosecuting low level offenses. Bates has rejected that binary. Instead, he has carved out a middle path that blends accountability with empathy, a balance he argues reflects the will of Baltimore residents. As he put it, “You can be tough, but you gotta show the people you love them.”
Baltimore City has launched an online data dashboard, becoming the third jurisdiction in Maryland to adopt this reporting system after Montgomery and Frederick counties. "The public deserves access to meaningful information about how the criminal justice system operates and how our office is truly performing," Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said.
Baltimore City has launched an online data dashboard, becoming the third jurisdiction in Maryland to adopt this reporting system after Montgomery and Frederick counties. "The public deserves access to meaningful information about how the criminal justice system operates and how our office is truly performing," Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said.
