Former Safe Streets Worker Pleads Guilty to Possession of Illegal Handgun

Baltimore (Md.) September 15, 2026 - Today, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City announced that Former Safe Streets employee Donald Smothers was sentenced to five years without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. Smothers was on parole at the time of this offense and has prior convictions for Second-Degree Murder in 2006, Concealed Deadly Weapon in 2003, Handgun on Person and Robbery in 1998, Possession with Intent to Distribute in 1998, and Handgun on Person in 1996. Chief of the Firearm Drug Trafficking Unit Jennifer Brady prosecuted this case.

“Safe Streets workers are entrusted with an extraordinary level of responsibility. They work in our communities, interact with vulnerable individuals and, in many cases, are placed in positions where trust and credibility are essential. That is why I am deeply concerned when someone entrusted with that responsibility is arrested and convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, particularly when that individual has a prior conviction for Second-Degree Murder,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “People can change, and we believe in redemption, but redemption must be accompanied by accountability and a demonstrated commitment to leaving a life of crime behind. When taxpayers are funding these positions, the City has a responsibility to do its due diligence and ensure that those given this level of trust have truly turned their backs on their criminal careers. We must have a vetting process that protects the integrity of the Safe Streets program and, most importantly, the communities it is intended to serve.”

On April 8, 2026, at approximately 6:15 p.m., Baltimore Police were patrolling the 400 block of W. Mulberry Street when they observed a Land Rover SUV exiting the Marathon Gas station with an expired registration. Officers pulled over the vehicle, which was being driven by a man who identified himself as Lovely Lawler. The passenger identified himself as Donald Smothers and pointed behind himself to indicate that the driver was taking him to his nearby residence. Both men did not have valid driver’s licenses in their possession and were subsequently asked by police to step out of the vehicle. Officers observed a bulge under Mr. Smothers’ sweatshirt, and he appeared to be visibly nervous. Upon conducting a weapons pat-down, officers recovered a Black Smith & Wesson .40 handgun with one 9mm live cartridge in the chamber and 13 live 9mm rounds in the magazine from the Defendant's waistband. Officers also recovered a small baggy of suspected crack cocaine from the Defendant's pants pocket.