Ivan Bates will personally prosecute a murder case, the Baltimore City state’s attorney announced Friday.While it’s not unheard of for a jurisdiction’s top prosecutor to litigate a criminal case, it is rare in Baltimore.”I want everybody to recognize the reason I entered my appearance is because, at the end of the day, we have to do things differently in Baltimore City,” Bates said.Bates officially signed on to prosecute the Harford County man who’s accused of killing his disabled Central Booking cellmate in October 2022.Gordon Staron, 34, was charged with first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault in the strangulation of Javarick Gantt.According to court documents obtained by 11 News, surveillance video and a witness pointed to Staron as the suspect. Staron was being held on charges of killing another man the month before.Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla will prosecute the case in which Staron was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal stabbing of Keith Bell, 64, at a bus stop on East Monument Street.Police said they have CCTV video, DNA evidence and a pair of bloody latex gloves as part of the evidence in the case.”Here, you have a suspect with who’s been alleged to have committed two murders, two separate murders — one an older adult and one on a vulnerable adult,” Bates said.Though Bates — a former defense attorney — is only prosecuting the killing of Gantt, he emphasized his office has asked for life without the possibility of parole in both cases.”We felt, as an office, that this individual should not be back on the streets if proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Bates said. “I want the criminal element to know that I’m surely on the other side, and I’m here to hold you accountable. And, my job is to protect the citizens of Baltimore City.”Bates declined to answer when asked whether Staron is a suspect in any other criminal investigations, but he did say Staron’s public defender has asked for a mental competency evaluation.”Obviously, those require some mental health evaluations,” LaPolla said.The evaluations will take place at the state’s Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, Bates said.Staron remains held at the North Branch Correctional Institution. His next court hearing in both cases is scheduled for March 15.
Ivan Bates will personally prosecute a murder case, the Baltimore City state’s attorney announced Friday.
While it’s not unheard of for a jurisdiction’s top prosecutor to litigate a criminal case, it is rare in Baltimore.
“I want everybody to recognize the reason I entered my appearance is because, at the end of the day, we have to do things differently in Baltimore City,” Bates said.
Bates officially signed on to prosecute the Harford County man who’s accused of killing his disabled Central Booking cellmate in October 2022.
Gordon Staron, 34, was charged with first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault in the strangulation of Javarick Gantt.
According to court documents obtained by 11 News, surveillance video and a witness pointed to Staron as the suspect. Staron was being held on charges of killing another man the month before.
Assistant State’s Attorney Tonya LaPolla will prosecute the case in which Staron was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal stabbing of Keith Bell, 64, at a bus stop on East Monument Street.
Police said they have CCTV video, DNA evidence and a pair of bloody latex gloves as part of the evidence in the case.
“Here, you have a suspect with who’s been alleged to have committed two murders, two separate murders — one an older adult and one on a vulnerable adult,” Bates said.
Though Bates — a former defense attorney — is only prosecuting the killing of Gantt, he emphasized his office has asked for life without the possibility of parole in both cases.
“We felt, as an office, that this individual should not be back on the streets if proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” Bates said. “I want the criminal element to know that I’m surely on the other side, and I’m here to hold you accountable. And, my job is to protect the citizens of Baltimore City.”
Bates declined to answer when asked whether Staron is a suspect in any other criminal investigations, but he did say Staron’s public defender has asked for a mental competency evaluation.
“Obviously, those require some mental health evaluations,” LaPolla said.
The evaluations will take place at the state’s Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, Bates said.
Staron remains held at the North Branch Correctional Institution. His next court hearing in both cases is scheduled for March 15.
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