Ronald Derrick McConnell was found innocent of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder by a Howard County Circuit Court jury late Thursday night.

After a trial that began March 24 and included testimony of gang-related ties, the jury returned its verdict about 10:15 p.m. Thursday after two days of deliberations. It also found McConnell innocent of three counts of first-degree assault and three counts of attempted armed robbery.

But McConnell, 21, of no fixed address, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm, the state's attorney's office said Friday morning.

Judge Lenore Gelfman set McConnell’s sentencing for May 29. McConnell remains in the custody of the Howard County Department of Corrections pending sentencing, according to a spokesman for the state's attorney's office.

He faces up to 25 years in prison, a state's attorney's office spokesman said.

McConnell had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jason Batts, of Long Reach. Batts, 23, was shot to death May 17, 2008, in the parking lot of an Oakland Mills apartment complex.

Spencer Gordon, McConnell’s attorney, said after the trial that while prosecutors and police amassed a tremendous amount of evidence to get a murder conviction, his client’s involvement in the killing was peripheral.

“I had a guy who really didn’t kill anyone,” Gordon said. “Whatever his involvement it was before the crime.

“It somehow bothered me that he could go to prison for the rest of his life for what he did.”

Gordon added that despite all the evidence, the prosecution’s case had fundamental flaws.

“There was such a sense of urgency on their part that they exuded a sense of desperation," Gordon said of the prosecutors. “They huffed and they puffed but they couldn’t blow their house down.”

Prosecutors declined to comment, through a spokesman.

In closing arguments on Wednesday, prosecution and defense attorneys argued over whether McConnell planned and helped execute a gangland slaying in Columbia in May 2008 or whether he was an innocent bystander in a robbery organized by others. The case went to the jury on Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McGuinn told jurors Wednesday that McConnell, a member of the Bloods gang, brought in Lamont Johnson to deal with Elijah Jackson, 23, of Columbia, who McConnell believed had informed on him in a separate case. Johnson, 24, of Owings Mills, was a member of the Bounty Hunters— a subset of the Bloods gang that enforces the gang’s rules— McGuinn said.
 
“You can’t start a fire without a spark, and this man started it,” she said, referring to McConnell.

But Gordon argued that the plan was initiated by Johnson, who was looking for somebody to rob in order to get bail money. Johnson made the first call to McConnell on the day of the shooting and subsequently organized the robbery, Gordon said.
 
“He didn’t call Lamont Johnson; Lamont Johnson called him,” Gordon said of McConnell.
 
Police have identified Johnson as the trigger man in the shooting. His first-degree murder trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 7.

The murder trial of a third man police say was involved in the killing, 18-year-old Daymar Wimbish, is scheduled to begin May 11.

Earlier in McConnell’s trial, which began March 24, McConnell testified that he did not order the robbery or shooting.

He did admit to sawing off the shotgun used in the shooting and taping up a broken piece of the gun, and to being in repeated contact with Johnson on the day of the shooting.

“I participated in taping the shotgun up, yes ma’am,” McConnell told McGuinn during cross-examination Tuesday.
 
Prosecutors have argued throughout the trial that McConnell organized the group that shot Batts and that Elijah Jackson, 23, of Columbia, was the intended target because he had cooperated with police against McConnell in a separate case. They say Batts was mistakenly shot and that the killing was a gangland slaying gone awry.

Under cross-examination Tuesday, McConnell also told McGuinn that informers known as “snitches” were unacceptable to the members of the Bloods gang to which he belonged.

Also on Tuesday, Jackson took the stand and denied that he had informed on McConnell in a separate case. He accused prosecutors of slandering him by calling him an informer.
 
Jackson testified that he and McConnell got into a fight at a Columbia bar days before the shooting because McConnell had called him a snitch. “I hit him,” Jackson said.

Jackson also described a phone call following the fight in which he said he ended his friendship with McConnell.  He confessed to being confused and emotional at the news that Batts— whom he described as his best friend— was killed.
 
“I knew it wasn’t supposed to be my friend who was supposed to be killed,” he said.
 
Under cross-examination by Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Broten, Jackson said he believed he was the intended target of the shooting.

This story has been updated.

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user comments (11)

user givemeabreak says...

"McConnell, 21, of no fixed address, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, illegal possession a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm, the state's attorney's office said." One less thug on the loose for a while. Enjoy prison, you've earned it!

Posted 11:16 AM, 04.03.09 | Permalink

user citizentaxpayerjane says...

But didn't McConnell admit to conspiracy to murder? He said he "taped" the gun, whatever that is.

Posted 11:51 AM, 04.03.09 | Permalink

user cerpherjoe says...

Ok, so let's see here ... Lamont Johnson calls McConnell: "Hey, you know anybody I can rob? I need to make bail" Right. We'll at least McConnell's got a fixed address for awhile anyway.

Posted 1:27 PM, 04.03.09 | Permalink

user snowflake says...

Don't be mad that he was found not guilty by 12 law abiding citizens, it will be ok, and yes he may have been found guilty on the other charges, however, he did NOT murder anyone, until you know what actually happened you should not speak in reference to a situation, you just look STUPID!!!!

Posted 3:40 PM, 04.03.09 | Permalink

user givemeabreak says...

Sure, we are the stupid ones. This coming from a person who hangs around convicts and gang members. I find it funny that you feel vindicated by the fact that he wasn't convicted of murder. He is still a convicted armed robber who will be put in a cage, which is exactly where he belongs. I'm not mad at all. As a matter of fact, I am beaming that "J-Rock" will not be roaming our streets any time soon. Defend him all you want, it speaks volumes about your character. btw, I hope "J-Rock" looks good in an orange jump suit, because that will be all he will be wearing for a long time.

Posted 4:27 PM, 04.03.09 | Permalink

user snowflake says...

We will see...

Posted 11:43 AM, 04.06.09 | Permalink

user givemeabreak says...

We will see what? He is a convict, correct? I just took at his record on the MD Judiciary Case Search website, and he has prior convictions for assault, CDS, and weapons violations. With a record like his, he is certainly going to serve time for this conviction. That is unless he "snitches" to get a reduced sentence. I can't figure out who is worse, you or "J-Rock" the convict? I mean, J-Rock is a lifetime criminal, so his part in this robbery isn't surprising. What is your excuse? You defend this animal like he is some innocent victim. He is garbage and so are those that support him. I am so glad that he is going to jail.

Posted 12:10 PM, 04.06.09 | Permalink

user givemeuraddress1 says...

everything u r saying is going by what u hear from other people or lying reporters but i was in the court room everyday of this trial and if you was there u would have known that he was not guilty of murder or had anything to do with it. mcconnell was not a goodie 2 shoe at all but who is?? how is ur record since u want to search everyone else...r u the police?? lol its funny that u think this young man is a animal when u know nothing about him..that just shows UR character.he is a human being that oviously the jury thought was innocent of murder PIG!

Posted 11:27 PM, 04.21.09 | Permalink

user givemeabreak says...

Ah, ghetto trash defending ghetto trash, got to love it! Apparently, the jury did feel that he had something to do with the robbery, hence the armed robbery conviction. I am a "goodie 2 shoe," as I've never been arrested at all. My record is spotless, and you don't need to be a cop to search someone's criminal record you moron. All you need is a computer that is hooked up to the internet. I know nothing about him? False, I know that he was convicted or armed robbery and is a ghetto gang member. Go back to the ghetto.

Posted 12:36 PM, 05.01.09 | Permalink

user independent says...

Obviously people are angry. Taking action with that anger to change things for the better nets everyone a positive. Making someone who's apparently already down feel lower with name calling (an attack which reflects badly on you both) nets everyone a loss.

Posted 1:23 PM, 05.01.09 | Permalink

user givemeuraddress1 says...

i never been arrested my self either and im far from "GHETTO" thank you. you must not know but i am a college GRADUATED (top of my class) so lets not try to judge me and you dont even know me.you are right he was charged with other crimes BUT like independent said bring some one else down by calling them name are not good..and i do apologize for lowering myself to your level...i do think you should find something better to do with your life than searching people backrounds..its pathetic!

Posted 12:07 AM, 05.16.09 | Permalink