A 23-year-old man from Silver Spring, Maryland, recently entered an Alford plea in county circuit court. He was initially charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and attempted first- and second-degree murder, in addition to gun charges. His plea, which only admitted to second-degree murder and the use of a handgun in a violent crime, allowed him to maintain his innocence but conceded that prosecutors could have convicted him. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

The alleged crime involved a botched drug deal that took place outside the Marley Station shopping mall near the food court. According to police, the man met with two other men -- one of whom was from Snow Hill, Maryland -- on March 29, 2011. Allegedly, the 23-year-old got into the vehicle where the other two men were waiting and exchanged drugs for cash.

Reports indicate that he was selling the duo around 10 ounces of cocaine with a street value of $10,000.

After exiting the vehicle, police claim the 23-year-old man opened the back passenger door of the vehicle and fired at one of the men several times, hitting him in the chest twice.

The individual who was shot was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center after being taken from the scene to a Dunkin' Donuts down Ritchie Highway..

Police had found his car, which had been left at the mall after the shooting. A spent shell casing, a small amount of cocaine and blood droplets were discovered at the scene.

A state police investigator allegedly found a stash of 127 grams of cocaine worth approximately $14,000 in the vehicle. The presiding judge sentenced the man from Snow Hill to 30 years but suspended the majority of them, shortening his sentence to five years as well.

Sometimes a plea deal, such as an Alford plea, is preferable to letting a trial go all the way to a verdict if the prosecution has enough evidence to convict. A criminal defense attorney can offer needed advice on whether or not to accept one.

Source: The Capital, "Man gets five years for Marley Station shooting," Heather Rawlyk, Jan. 24, 2012