(Baltimore, MD) -- A former Baltimore Safe Streets employee has been sentenced to five years in prison without parole after pleading guilty to illegal firearm possession.
Prosecutors say Donald Smothers was arrested during an April traffic stop in West Baltimore after officers recovered a loaded handgun.
Authorities say Smothers was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his criminal record, and State's Attorney Ivan Bates says the case raises concerns about trust and accountability in violence-intervention programs.
“People can change, and we believe in redemption, but redemption must be accompanied by accountability and a demonstrated commitment to leaving a life of crime behind. When taxpayers are funding these positions, the City has a responsibility to do its due diligence and ensure that those given this level of trust have truly turned their backs on their criminal careers. We must have a vetting process that protects the integrity of the Safe Streets program and, most importantly, the communities it is intended to serve," said Bates.
24/7 News Source contributed to this report.