Parent of Accused Juvenile Offender Charged for Attempting to Conceal Evidence

Baltimore, Md. (March 12, 2026) – Today, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced charges filed by criminal information against Defendant Yolanda Wilkes for allegedly concealing an assault committed by her daughter and two other co-defendants. She faces a maximum penalty of 11 years of incarceration if found guilty of all charges. An individual charged by criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial. Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Crowley and Kirstin Riddle will prosecute this case.

“Attempting to cover up a crime—especially when it involves the actions of a juvenile—only compounds the harm done and undermines the integrity of our justice system,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “When the people entrusted with guiding the next generation allegedly destroy evidence and attempt to evade accountability, it hinders law enforcement’s ability to deliver justice and ensure public safety. No one is above the law, and anyone who attempts to interfere with the course of justice will be held responsible for their actions.”

Following an investigation by police, three juveniles were charged for an alleged aggravated assault that occurred on February 15, 2026, at the 800 block of W. Lombard Street, which resulted in an officer discharging his weapon. During the course of that investigation, the mother of one of the arrested juveniles, Defendant Yolanda Wilkes, was interviewed by police.

"Attempting to cover up a violent crime like this hurts everyone: the young people who are shielded from accountability; the officers and prosecutors hindered from doing their jobs; and most importantly, the victims, who deserve justice,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. “This parent failed in their duty to their child and their community, and they should face the consequences for that.”

Ms. Wilkes stated that she was awakened a little after midnight on February 15, 2026, by her daughter’s friend, who brought her home. Her daughter was bleeding from her hand and told her mother that she messed up and thought she ‘caught a body.’ Her daughter stated that she hit a police officer and that her friend was driving and also made her drive. Her daughter stated that she was making a U-turn and that she hit parked cars. She also stated that the police shot at her. Ms. Wilkes mentioned that her daughter was wearing a yellow and black jacket during the incident, which she threw away because she could not get the blood stain off of it. Ms. Wilkes also stated that while she was doing laundry, she recovered a fired projectile from the coat. She said she gave that projectile to her daughter’s father, who was supposed to turn it over to the police.

Ms. Wilkes gave police photos that she captured of her daughter’s injured arm, as well as photos of the projectile and jacket. Detectives made several attempts to contact the juvenile’s father to recover the fired projectile. The father stated that he didn’t know what the police were referring to and was uncooperative. Officers went to the father’s address, but the location appeared to be a vacant home.

“This case is deeply troubling. Not only was a Baltimore police officer struck by a vehicle, but an adult is alleged to have attempted to conceal evidence and mislead investigators,” said the Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “Crimes involving juveniles are up this year, and without accountability we are putting lives at risk and destabilizing communities. Parents and guardians must play a critical role in addressing this behavior, and together we must ensure our young people are guided toward opportunities—not the criminal justice system.”

Ms. Wilkes stated that she put her daughter’s blood-stained coat in a blue dumpster in the church parking lot located at the rear of her home because she could not get the blood stain off of it. On February 18, 2026, officers responded to the church parking lot and found mail bearing the Defendant's name next to the dumpster, along with a broken tablet, indicating that someone had removed the jacket from the dumpster. They never recovered the coat.

Ms. Wilkes took her daughter to Sinai Hospital for treatment. At the hospital, Ms. Wilkes told medical staff that her daughter fell from a scooter.  

An individual charged by criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial.