Latest news with #IvanBates
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Former Baltimore teacher found guilty on child sex abuse charges, could face 55 years in prison
A former Baltimore City school teacher was found guilty on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. Mustafa Pitts, a former teacher at Reach! Partnership School, faces a sentence of up to 55 years in prison for two counts of child sex abuse. His sentencing will be on October 16. "This case represents one of the most devastating breaches of trust imaginable, the exploitation and abuse of a child," said Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates. "My office will always seek justice and advocate for the most vulnerable victims in Baltimore. I am grateful to the jury for holding this heinous perpetrator accountable, and commend ASA Gilbert for her tireless work in securing justice for the victim and their family." Police said a sexual assault was reported on Feb. 3, 2024, at a home at the 100 block of W. 27th Street. A witness told officers that Pitts had sexually assaulted an underage victim that morning between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. The victim stated to the officer that Pitts told her to come to his room and take her clothes off before assaulting her, according to police. She reported that Pitts had been assaulting her for the past five years. Three gym teachers in Baltimore County were recently arrested on charges of sex crimes against students. Earlier this month, police said 28-year-old Jordan Adams, a teacher at Northwest Academy in Pikesville, is facing charges for allegedly touching students inappropriately. Police said the alleged incidents happened at the school. Police said 40-year-old Sean Brooks, a gym teacher at Perry Hall High School, allegedly sexually assaulted a student on school property. According to the school, Brooks has worked at Perry Hall High School since 2017. School leaders said he is on administrative leave and is barred from Baltimore County Public Schools property. "Ensuring a safe learning environment for our students is our top priority," Perry Hall Principal Abbey Campbell said in a letter to families. On June 2, Baltimore County police said a middle school physical education teacher was arrested on charges of sexually abusing children. Roger Myers, 61, allegedly abused students at Deep Creek Middle School in Essex. The school said Myers was placed on administrative leave in January. "These charges are deeply troubling," Deep Creek Middle School principal Laura Kelly said in a letter to families. "BCPS holds its employees to a high standard of character, and this alleged behavior is abhorrent and completely unacceptable." Myers has been employed with the Baltimore County Public Schools since 1996 and has been employed at Deep Creek Middle School since July 2024.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Dozens taken to hospital after suspected mass overdose in Baltimore
At least 25 people have been taken to hospital in West Baltimore following suspected drug officials from the region's fire department, the BBC's US partner CBS News said five people were admitted in a critical condition with others in a serious incident, which took place near a road intersection in the Penn North area of the city on Thursday morning, led to the Maryland Department of Transportation closing a nearby subway station while roads were also Chief James Wallace told reporters that emergency services on the scene were directed to multiple people suspected of overdosing by members of the public. He said people were found along two intersecting avenues as well as on the subway platforms and along alleyways following the initial response at around 09:20 local time (14:20 BST), according to have not named any substance they believe to have been Police posted on X on Thursday that they, and fire services, were at the road intersection "in reference to multiple individuals experiencing overdose symptoms".The police service asked people to avoid the area as multiple streets had been blocked off and buses rerouted. The city's state attorney, Ivan Bates, said the incident "serves as a powerful reminder of our city's ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic".He added that his office will support emergency services and the health department in their work to find out what Governor Wes Moore also said on Thursday his team were coordinating with state agencies, city officials and first responders."I'm grateful to those who quickly alerted us about this situation, and those who are providing support to the community," Mr Moore an update from the city's mayor, Brandon Scott, issued advice for residents who use drugs; including to never use alone and to carry Naloxone or Narcan - both of which can be collected for free from the city's health department.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Wrongly convicted of murder, Baltimore man receives $2.85M and an apology
A man who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit has been awarded $2.85 million — and a heartfelt apology — by state officials. 'There are no words to express how deeply sorry we are for what was taken from you and for the failure of our justice system,' Lt. Gov. Aruna K. Miller said Wednesday while presiding over a Maryland Board of Public Works meeting. 'While no amount of money can erase the injustice you faced or the time that was stolen from you, I hope that this action by this board provides meaningful support, healing and comfort as you step into the next chapter of your life.' The board approved a payment of $2,748,795 to Langhorne for wrongful confinement under the Walter Lomax Act plus $4,692.50 in attorneys' fees, according to public records. In addition, he was awarded $99,720 in housing benefits. Langhorne was convicted in February, 1996 and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 24-year-old Laurence A. Jones in the 1400 block of Bank Street. He was 23 when he was arrested and spent the next 9,870 days behind bars, Miller said. He steadfastly maintained his innocence and in 2019, asked the state to review his case. Five years later, Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates moved to vacate his conviction, citing conflicting witness testimonies, a trial witness who recanted, and the failure of former prosecutors to disclose information about other potential suspects. Miller said that during a meeting in her office, Langhorne told her that he had been 'traumatized' twice: first for being incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit, and then when he was abruptly released from prison and thrust into a new life for which he was wholly unprepared. 'I've been home for almost six months and in that time I've suffered greatly,' Langhorne told the board. 'There's not a lot of resources for people in our situation. We come home different from people who are generally released. We're just let out. They give you $22 a month. There's no savings. There's no credit. Of course, you want to go home. You don't want to stay in just because you have no resources. You decide you'll figure it out.' He succeeded, but it wasn't easy. For instance, he has diabetes and told the board he 'went through every resource I could think of just to get medical insurance. Had I not had a friend in that field, I probably still wouldn't have it.' But Langhorne said he is focusing his anger on the individuals who harmed him rather than against society at large. 'I am angry at those who violated their trust as public servants,' he said. 'They went above and beyond to ruin a man's life, a father's life, just to obtain a conviction. But to be angry overall serves no purpose. That's something you have to let go.' And for him, part of that process involves speaking out about the pressures exonerees are facing. 'I need the public to understand that it's not just about being released,' he said. 'I know of people who were exonerated for crimes they didn't commit who came home and found themselves in such a dire situation that now they're back in prison for crimes they actually did commit. 'That in itself is a travesty. It is a double loss.' Have a news tip? Contact Mary Carole McCauley at mmccauley@ 1410332-6704 and
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Former top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby says she hit rock bottom after convictions, lashes out at Ivan Bates
Former top Baltimore City prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, who is now free from home detention, is not holding back and said she hit "rock bottom" following her federal convictions. She recently spoke to the Native Land Podcast. "They tried to break me on so many different levels and make an example out of me for what I stood for," Mosby said. "It had absolutely nothing to do with anything that I did wrong. I withdrew my own retirement savings that I put away every two weeks to buy property. That was the extent of what I was accused of. And having to fight the federal government was really difficult. I lost everything. I lost my marriage. I lost my career. I lost my house. I lost my car. It was my home. It was a lot, and so many folks I thought would be there were not." Mosby said it was one of the lowest points in her life. "I've learned lessons at rock bottom that peaks of mountaintops will never teach you. It required me to hit rock bottom, for me to lose everything, for me to open my eyes and to get back to myself," Mosby said. Convicted of two counts of perjury and one count of making false statements on a mortgage application, Mosby remains on supervised release. "Right now, I'm technically a felon," she said, "So, a felon—as a felon—you know in this country, if you're not Donald Trump with 34 felonies running for president, you are a second-class citizen." Criticizing State's Attorney Ivan Bates Mosby revealed that State's Attorney Ivan Bates, who replaced her, filed a formal complaint for her handling of the Adnan Syed case. Syed, now out of prison, long maintained his innocence in the killing of Hae Min Lee and garnered national attention through the Serial podcast. Bates previously said Mosby's motion to vacate the sentence "contains false and misleading statements." "Ivan Bates, the newly elected state's attorney, has used this opportunity to try and hurt me," Mosby told Native Land Pod. "He filed an attorney grievance against me on one particular case, despite the thousands of cases that I oversaw, that I didn't personally investigate. Really shucking and jiving. You know. We've got those folks who tap dance and hold the water for the status quo. And that's essentially what's being done." While Bates' spokesman said he couldn't comment on the Syed case, he did refer WJZ to a past statement, "While some have criticized our office for moving beyond the policies of the previous administration, the progress we've made in reducing homicides in Baltimore tells a different story—one grounded in results, not rhetoric. By repealing ineffective non-prosecution policies, we've empowered our police officers to re-engage fully in the mission of public safety—not only as law enforcers, but as violence interrupters working proactively in our communities." Mosby told the podcast, "The newly-elected state's attorney is playing politics, just like Trump. Unfortunately, he took advantage of the fact that I had this bogus investigation and looming criminal case hanging over me. He had previously run against me and lost, but this time around, he won. And he ran on a platform of pretty much reversing everything that I had done in my office, progressive-related. And he did just that." Florida homes Mosby also spoke about the Florida vacation homes at the center of her criminal case. "I had to sell one for attorneys' fees, and one is pending this appeal. The government is trying to take it," the former city state's attorney revealed. Mosby's appeal Mosby is still hopeful her criminal conviction will be overturned as part of that appeal. "The government was attempting to take my house and to take my law license before the appeal was exhausted, and the Supreme Court in Maryland basically said you cannot do that, so it's been a constant struggle and a battle that we won temporarily until this appeal is ultimately decided," Mosby said. The current appeal is before the Fourth Circuit. Mosby said a decision could be handed down at any time. She tried to get a pardon from President Biden before he left office, but was unsuccessful.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- CBS News
Man fatally shot in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood
A man was killed in a shooting early Tuesday in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood, according to city police. Officers responded to the 1500 block of Thames Street around 2:48 a.m. after hearing gunfire, police said. The responding officers found a 21-year-old man on the scene who was suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police. While on the scene Thursday morning, WJZ watched police inspect a car that had bullet holes in the windshield. The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call Baltimore Police at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup. Crime rate continues to drop in Baltimore The deadly shooting comes as Baltimore continues to see a drop in homicide and violent crime rates. There were 37 reported victims of gun violence in Fells Point in the past 12 months, compared to 58 reported in 2022, according to WJZ's Gun Violence Tracker. Data from the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office shows a nearly 62% drop in homicides between 2022 and 2025. "While some have criticized our office for moving beyond the policies of the previous administration, the progress we've made in reducing homicides in Baltimore tells a different story," State's Attorney Ivan Bates said when sharing the data. On July 1, Baltimore Police shared a mid-year report showing a 22% drop in homicides, with 88 reported in 2024, compared to 68 in 2025. Police data also shows a 19% drop in non-fatal shootings in the past year, with 204 in 2024 compared to 164 in 2025. According to the department's report, 120 suspects were arrested for homicides and non-fatal shootings in the first half of 2025. "Our work is far from over," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement. "68 lives lost to violence is 68 too many. While we acknowledge the historic lows we are experiencing, we must simultaneously acknowledge that there is much more work to do, and our success makes me commit even further to doing it."
