A Baltimore judge has ordered 28-year-old Omar Williams held without bail after prosecutors said a January argument over marijuana in Charles Village escalated into a possible gunshot and a frightened girlfriend running from the scene.
Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Middleton on Tuesday refused to grant Williams any form of release, keeping him in custody while he awaits trial on charges tied to the Jan. 17 incident.
According to charging documents, the dispute began when Williams accused his girlfriend of swapping his marijuana for a weaker strain. Investigators say Williams then chased her, grabbed her, and took her phone. In the middle of the struggle, the woman told police she heard a loud “bang” and saw Williams tuck a small firearm into his waistband.
Responding officers reported that the victim appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and gave inconsistent accounts of what happened. Investigators also noted that a surveillance camera near the scene did not capture a clear enough angle to show whether a gun was actually brandished or fired, and no shell casings were recovered.
Williams is facing two counts of second-degree assault and three gun offenses. His attorney, Alex Benedict Leikus, argued that the lack of ballistic evidence undercuts the most serious allegations and asked the court to release Williams on bail with home detention, according to Baltimore Witness.
How Maryland Law Handles Lockups Before Trial
Under Maryland’s pretrial rules, a judge can order someone held without bail after finding probable cause if there is clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect a specific person or the public.
Maryland Rules (Rule 4-216) and related Criminal Procedure statutes tell judges to weigh several factors when deciding whether to release someone. Those include the nature of the offense, the strength of the evidence, the prosecution’s recommendation, and the level of danger the accused may pose to any victim or to the community.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Middleton sided with the prosecution, which argued that Williams posed a danger to the alleged victim and should stay behind bars. Defense counsel stressed that the woman was found without visible injuries and highlighted the missing ballistic proof. The judge, however, placed her findings on the record and denied bail, with Williams now set to receive a trial date during a reception court hearing on April 27, as reported by Baltimore Witness.
What’s Next In The Case
The April 27 reception court appearance will lock in the next formal trial date and give both sides a chance to argue over what evidence should come in at trial. Until then, Williams remains in jail while prosecutors build their case and the defense continues to push back on the allegations.
