A Baltimore County Circuit Court judge has decided to proceed with the murder case against Rashard Mack, despite revelations that a police detective accessed his cellphone without a search warrant.
Detective Storm Sheckells, who has since been suspended with pay, was able to unlock Mack's iPhone by guessing the passcode, which was the suspect's date of birth. This action was taken on five separate occasions, as revealed during court proceedings.
Initially, prosecutors insisted that the police had not searched Mack's phone prior to obtaining a warrant. However, they later acknowledged that the search had indeed occurred.
On Wednesday, Judge Michael Finifter ruled that while approximately 5% of the data accessed from the phone could not be used as evidence in the trial, he would not dismiss the charges against Mack. He noted that there exists substantial independent evidence of the crime, including recorded admissions from Mack and evidence collected from the crime scene.
In his ruling, Judge Finifter stated that he believed the prosecutors acted in good faith throughout the investigation. Mack, 24, is currently being held without bail as he awaits trial for first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, Taejhiana Walker, 22, in her Parkville apartment on March 29, 2025.
Assistant Public Defender Maureen Apugo, representing Mack, criticized the detective's actions as a serious breach of conduct. Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger also expressed concern, stating that Sheckells misled the prosecution regarding the search of the cellphone.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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