2 men are sentenced in attempted-murder case

Two Baltimore men pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted first-degree murder for their roles in an attack last year on Joplin Street in Southeast Baltimore, according to the city state's attorney's office.

Circuit Judge John M. Glynn sentenced Rodney Curtis, 32, of the 1600 block of Joplin St., to 40 years in prison - with all but 15 years suspended. Glynn also sentenced Darien Watson, 17, of the 6300 block of Danville Ave. to life in prison, suspending all but five years, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the victim of the attack saw Curtis and Watson punching a female neighbor. She went to the victim for help, and Curtis then produced a knife, threatening to kill the victim. Watson left and returned with a sawed-off shotgun, and the two men tried to get into the victim's house - eventually shooting the victim in the face, prosecutors said.