2015–2021 Term Report

CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT
ALFRED CHESTNUT,
RANSOM WATKINS,
& ANDREW STEWART
KENNETH MCPHERSON
& ERIC SIMMONS
Ă In 2019, CIU exonerated five men. Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins,
and Andrew Stewart, were exonerated for the murder of a 14-year old
Baltimore teenager after 36 years in prison. Detectives targeted the three
men, all 16-year-old Black boys, using coaching and coercion of other
teenage witnesses to make their case.
VICTIM AND
WITNESS SERVICES
Ă Kenneth McPherson and Eric SimmonS, who are brothers, were wrongfully
incarcerated for nearly 25 years in prison for a murder they did not commit.
POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS VICTORIES
O V E R
11,200
VICTIMS AND WITNESSES
OF CRIME SERVED
797
SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE OFFERED
COUNSELING SESSION
286
VICTIMS AND WITNESSES
OF CRIME RELOCATED
In January 2019, the SAO launched the Together We Are
Stronger campaign which told authentic stories from the
perspective of family members directly impacted by crime
while highlighting the services available for victim and
witnesses of crime in Baltimore City. The campaign included
an overhaul of the SAO’s website, the launch of an on-line
app for citizens to track case information, billboards, and a
series of public service announcements.
Ă GTTF TAINTED CASES - In the pursuit of justice, the SAO and the Office of the Public Defender
filed joint motions to “throw out” cases tainted by the BPD’s Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF).
Vacatur legislation provided the SAO with the legal remedy to ask a judge to vacate those
convictions. By the end of 2019, nearly 650 motions to vacate were granted
Ă SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE COLLECTION KITS - Required that a sexual assault evidence
collection kit be submitted to a forensic laboratory for analysis and inform a victim who wishes
to remain anonymous that they may initiate a criminal complaint at a future time.
Ă GRACE’S LAW 2.0 - ELECTRONIC HARASSMENT AND BULLYING - Prohibited a person
from maliciously engaging in electronic communications, which can intimidate, harass or
cause serious physical or emotional distress to a minor.
Ă CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING SCREENING AND SERVICES ACT OF 2019 - Required a law
enforcement officer and social services agency who suspects a child that has been detained
is a victim of sex trafficking to notify a regional navigator.
VIOLENT OFFENDERS
Ă In 2019, the Felony Trial Division and Special
Victims Unit closed the term with 90 and 96
percent conviction rates respectively. This
year the SAO prosecuted the perpetrators in
Baltimore City including:
Ă A 75-year sentence for Keon Gray, a repeat
violent offender that took the life of 7-yearold
Taylor Hayes.
Ă A 65-year sentence for high-ranking Black
Guerilla Family gang affiliate, Roderick King,
who was convicted of attempted firstdegree
murder, first-degree assault, armed
carjacking, armed robbery, and use of a
firearm in a crime of violence.
Ă A 60-year sentence for Sean Malley for
home invasion, second-degree assault,
wearing a dangerous weapon openly with the
intent to injure, and conspiracy to commit a
home invasion.
Ă A 15 month sentence for former BPD
Officer Michael O’Sullivan for perjury
and misconduct in office after a three-day
sentencing hearing. During a Baltimore
City district court handgun case, O’Sullivan
conscientiously lied under oath resulting in
an innocent man’s wrongful conviction and
imprisonment.
Ă Life plus 40 years sentence for the killer of
18-month-old Zaray Gray, Francois Browne.
Browne was convicted of second degree
murder and child abuse resulting in death.
2015–2021 TERM REPORT
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