Man rejects plea offer, heads to 5th trial in 2015 killing

BALTIMORE (AP) — A man who has been tried four times in the shooting death of a Baltimore security guard is headed to a fifth trial after rejecting a plea offer.

Keith Davis Jr. rejected the offer at a hearing Tuesday, The Baltimore Sun reported. Prosecutors offered a term of 50 years in prison with all but 15 suspended in exchange for his plea for the 2015 killing of Kevin Jones and a jailhouse fight last year.

Davis was given a chance to submit Alford pleas, which allow a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging there is enough evidence to convict, according to Davis’ public defender, Deborah Katz Levi. A spokeswoman for the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

Two of Davis’ trials ended in mistrials. He was convicted in two other trials, but both convictions were overturned.

Davis’ case has been the focus of social justice advocates in the city who fault State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby for continuing to prosecute Davis, who maintains his innocence.

Davis’ fifth trial is scheduled for May.