MSNBC News
http://www.msnbc.com/local/WRC/A1425028.asp
 
Stokes Expected To Avoid Prison Time
December 17, 2002
 
BALTIMORE, - The attorney for a Baltimore man who was found not guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of a priest has apparently negotiated a deal that will keep him out of jail for committing handgun violations.

Dontee Stokes 12-16-02

Dontee Stokes (pictured, left) has apparently agreed to serve 18 months of house arrest and three years of probation for the violations. Any deal will not be finalized until a hearing is held on the matter on Feb. 14.

The agreement canceled a planned hearing Tuesday to determine if Stokes was criminally responsible for three handgun violations. Brown had planned to argue that Stokes wasn't criminally responsible for the shooting because he suffered from a "mental disorder" as a result of alleged sexual abuse by the Rev. Maurice Blackwell.

Brown said Tuesday he wanted to avoid the possibility of Stokes being found mentally incompetent. If that happens, Stokes would be put under the care of the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for an indefinite period.

"If he was put under the Department of Health, that could go on forever," said Brown. "We'd rather get something finite and be done with it."

Brown also said he wanted to avoid the possibility of the jury finding Stokes criminally responsible for the gun violations, which would allow the judge to send him to jail.

Stokes was accused of shooting Blackwell in May. Blackwell was injured in the hip and hand. Stokes' attorneys said that their client was upset over alleged abuse by the priest.

Late Monday afternoon, the jury in the case found Stokes not guilty of all but three weapons charges.

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