Before sentencing a young man to life in prison Wednesday, Baltimore Judge John Themelis seemed genuinely upset with the state of crime in the city.
“Violence involving young people has literally forced the people of Baltimore City to be confined to their homes as much as possible,” Themelis said.
The judge then imposed a life sentence upon a 21-year-old man convicted of attempting to kill a witness in his brother?s murder trail.
A jury found Myron Gladney guilty of shooting childhood friend Stephen Arrington ? the state?s main witness in a murder case against Gladney?s brother ? in the back in 2005.
Arrington was scheduled to testify against Gladney?s brother, Anthony, 22, who was acquitted of first-degree murder in 2005 in the killing of Brian Griffin, 38.
The witness was standing at a bus stop on the 3400 block of The Alameda at 2:18 p.m. on April 6, 2005 ? the day before he was scheduled to testify ? when Gladney drove up and told him, “Don?t go to court,” according to charging documents.
About 30 minutes later, Gladney returned, chased Arrington with a gun and shot at him eight times, striking him once in the back, prosecutor Lisa Phelps said.
But Wednesday, Gladney told the judge he had nothing to do with Arrington?s shooting.
“A life wasn?t took and I don?t think my life should be taken,” Gladney said. “I?m sorry to hear what happened to him, but I wasn?t involved in it.”
Defense attorney Catherine Flynn told Themelis the young man portrayed in this crime is not the Myron Gladney she knows.
“Mr. Gladney is actually quite delightful,” Flynn said. “He is polite, pleasant. … He really is a kind and gentle young man.”
But the judge ultimately agreed with Phelps, who called for a life sentence.
“Myron Gladney has no respect for anyone but himself,” Phelps said. “He should not be living in society.”
