Paone

An Anne Arundel Circuit judge ruled yesterday that two youths charged in the shooting of an Annapolis taxi driver during a robbery attempt last March should be tried in juvenile court.Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr. ruled that the two 15-year-old Annapolis boys should be tried in juvenile court rather than in Circuit Court.Both youths had been charged with attempted murder in the March 28 shooting of Stewart Owens Cole, 44, of 1600 block of Dorsey Road, Hanover.The alleged trigger man in the offense, James E. Smith, 17, of the first block of Bens Drive, remains charged as an adult with first-degree attempted murder.

An 18-year-old Shady Side man told an Anne Arundel Circuit judge yesterday that he will not contest an attempted murder charge in connection with a drug deal gone sour.Daniel R. Brown of the 5200 block of Nick Road entered an Alford plea to attempted murder and handgun charges in the shooting of 27-year-old David Green of the 5900 block of Swamp Circle Road, Deale, who now must use a wheelchair and can barely speak.An Alford plea means Brown is not admitting guilt but acknowledges the state would have sufficient evidence to convict him if the case went to trial.

A 19-year-old Severn man admitted in Anne Arundel Circuit Court yesterday that he supplied the pistol that killed one of his neighbors during a fight in April.Paul Eugene Turner of the 8600 block of Pioneer Drive pleaded guilty to illegally carrying a handgun and reckless endangerment in connection with the shooting of Robert Lee Hall Jr., 21, in the 1800 block of Richfield Drive.Turner could be imprisoned for up to eight years when he is sentenced May 11 by Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr.Assistant State's Attorney Fred Paone said he agreed to accept the guilty plea based on testimony from witnesses two months ago in the murder trial of Raymond Sommerville, 21, Turner's co-defendant.

An 18-year-old Annapolis man pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday in Anne Arundel Circuit Court for fatally shooting a man in July near where the victim's brother, a popular basketball star in the Annapolis area, was slain four years before.Richard Sterling Crowner of the 1800 block of Bowman Court entered an Alford plea to the July 12 shooting death of Sylvester Green, 30, of the 100 block of Eastport Terrace in Annapolis. The plea was made to Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr.An Alford plea means the defendant is not admitting guilt, but acknowledges that the prosecution would have sufficient evidence to win a conviction if the case were tried.

An Anne Arundel Circuit Court jury convicted a former Meade High School basketball player of second-degree murder yesterday for shooting a 21-year-old Severn man after a pickup game.Raymond Sommerville, 20, of Arnold, who played guard for Meade in the 1990-1991 season, was convicted in the April 7 shooting death of Robert Lee Hall.Judge Eugene M. Lerner revoked Sommerville's $20,000 bond and set sentencing for March 1.According to testimony, Sommerville and Mr. Hall got into a fistfight after a pickup basketball game in Severn.

The attorney for a former Meade High School basketball star admitted to an Anne Arundel Circuit Court jury yesterday that his client had killed a 21-year-old man after a fistfight at a Severn playground last April.But the real issue, Assistant Public Defender Paul Hazelhurst said, was whether the shooting had been provoked.Raymond Sommerville, 20, who played guard for Meade High in the 1990-91 season and helped them record an 18-6 season, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Robert Lee Hall Jr., 21, of the 1800 block of Richfield Drive, Severn.

Two brothers from Glen Burnie pleaded guilty in Anne Arundel Circuit Court yesterday for beating up two men in a fight during a party last summer.Michael Joseph Utz, 19, and Kurt Russell Utz, 21, both of the 100 block of Highland Road pleaded guilty to battery in connection with an Aug. 7 brawl that left one victim with serious head injuries and another with a badly cut leg.Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr. set sentencing for Feb. 25.Assistant State's Attorney Fred...

A 35-year-old Glen Burnie man, arrested after his wife identified him for police as their suspect in a carjacking last July, pleaded guilty in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court yesterday to charges stemming from the incident.Scott Joseph Weber of the 400 block of Marley Station Road pleaded guilty to armed robbery, driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license.Weber is in the county Detention Center awaiting sentencing, which Judge Raymond G. Thieme Jr. scheduled for Feb. 14. He could face a maximum penalty of 24 years in prison.

A 12-year-old boy admitted to an Anne Arundel Circuit Court judge yesterday that he shot a playmate in the face last summer -- using a handgun he found under a dresser while searching for a water pistol.The boy, whose feet barely touched the floor as he sat at the defense table, was found delinquent of reckless endangerment and carrying a handgun. He could be incarcerated at youth facilities until he turns 21, said Assistant State's Attorney Fred Paone.The boy is to be sentenced Dec. 8 by Judge Martin A. Wolff.

A man charged with attempted murder for shooting two Annapolis youths went free yesterday after a prosecutor acknowledged that he took too long to bring the case to trial.Damien A. Day, 18, of the 800 block of Brooke Court, Annapolis, was released yesterday after pleading guilty to assault as part of a plea agreement negotiated between his attorney and Assistant State's Attorney Fred Paone.The binding agreement was reached after Day's attorney, Deputy Public Defender James McCarthy, notified Mr. Paone just before trial that he had been awaiting trial more than 180 days, the maximum under Maryland law.Circuit Judge Eugene M. Lerner, who was required to order Day's release as part of the attorney's binding agreement, said he was accepting it "very, very reluctantly."