BALTIMORE — Ivan Bates, the Baltimore City State's Attorney, has publicly acknowledged that his office made a mistake in the sentencing of Kendrick Harrison, a 26-year-old convicted gun offender.
During a recent court appearance, Harrison was sentenced following his conviction on a gun charge. The incident leading to his arrest occurred on January 23, 2023, when officers discovered a loaded handgun in his vehicle in a high-crime area of west Baltimore.
Tyrone Powers, a former FBI agent and law enforcement expert, was present at the sentencing and expressed concern over the prosecutor's recommendation, especially considering Harrison's prior gun conviction. Powers noted that the judge ultimately sentenced Harrison to three years, suspending all but one year, along with probation.
Harrison's criminal history includes a 2019 arrest for possessing a loaded firearm during a traffic stop just a mile from his most recent arrest. In that case, the judge had previously suspended a significant portion of a three-year sentence, placing Harrison on supervised probation.
Powers criticized the leniency of the recent sentencing, stating that Harrison should have faced stricter penalties given his status as a repeat offender.
In response to these concerns, State's Attorney Bates acknowledged the oversight, attributing the misstep to a new prosecutor who had not properly consulted with a supervisor before making the plea offer. Bates emphasized the importance of learning from this error and announced plans for additional training within his office.
“We should have filed enhanced penalties,” Bates stated, expressing his commitment to addressing gun violence in the city. The office plans to implement new protocols to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).
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