A Baltimore County Circuit Court judge sentenced a 21-year-old Towson University senior to 18 months of home detention and probation on Monday, sparing her jail time for a red-light crash that killed a 32-year-old pharmacist and his dog as they crossed a Towson crosswalk last November. Oluwajomiloju “JJ” Sekiteri, an Owings Mills resident and logistics specialist third class in the U.S. Navy Reserve, must also complete 170 hours of community service and pay more than $3,700 in restitution.
Judge Ralph Sapia ordered the home detention, probation, community service, and restitution after sentencing Sekiteri for criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle and several related traffic offenses, according to The Baltimore Banner. Sekiteri was also barred from driving for three years. She was spared jail time despite Maryland Criminal Law Code § 2-210 allowing for up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine for a first offense of criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle, according to the Maryland General Assembly.
Jordan Sachs and his Australian shepherd mix, Archie, were struck by a 2014 Toyota Camry while crossing at Towsontown Boulevard West and Emerson Drive on November 12, 2025, the Banner's reporting shows. Sachs, who earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2020 and had participated in community pharmacy outreach initiatives in Baltimore during his studies, died that day. A nearby resident rushed Archie to an animal hospital, but the dog also died from his injuries, according to Daily Voice.
Prosecutors Sought Jail Time, Citing Victim's Compliance
Assistant State's Attorney Felise Kelly argued for 18 months of active incarceration at the Baltimore County Detention Center, emphasizing that Sachs had waited for the pedestrian walk signal before entering the crosswalk. Kelly said Sekiteri, by contrast, tried to beat a yellow light as she approached the intersection. Sekiteri testified during her June bench trial that she was driving to a hair appointment ahead of her upcoming 21st birthday when she saw the yellow light and believed she had enough time to pass through before the signal turned red.
Sekiteri's attorney, Lee Eidelberg, requested probation instead of jail, calling the crash an aberrational event and noting that Sekiteri had never received a traffic ticket before that night. Sekiteri told the court she could not undo what happened and would honor Sachs's memory. Luisa Renzi, who was in a relationship with Sachs, said her future with him was taken from her that night.
Investigation Timeline and Charges
Baltimore County Police Crash Team detectives arrested Sekiteri on December 30, 2025, seven weeks after the collision, during which time she remained at the scene, per a report from Daily Voice. The case also involved negligent driving endangering life, speeding, failing to stop for a red light, and failing to control speed to avoid a collision, in addition to the manslaughter charge, the same outlet's coverage of the trial shows.
As part of her sentence, Sekiteri must divide her 170 hours of community service between Baltimore County Public Schools, Towson University, and the Baltimore Humane Society.
A Corridor Long Flagged for Pedestrian Danger
Towsontown Boulevard was selected in 2025 for a Smart Growth America “Community Connectors” grant project aimed at deploying quick-build safety measures along the corridor, which has historically routed fast-moving traffic through surrounding Towson neighborhoods, according to Smart Growth America. The project addresses pedestrian-safety concerns along the corridor.
Pedestrians made up 30.1% of all traffic fatalities in the Baltimore region in 2024 despite being involved in only 2.7% of total motor vehicle crashes, according to data compiled by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Statewide, Maryland traffic fatalities dropped 18% in 2025 to 480 total deaths, according to a report from WBAL-TV.
