Annapolis man who shot at youths, hurting 4, sentenced to probation

An Annapolis man who argued his actions were self-defense after police say he shot two kids was sentenced to probation before judgment after pleading guilty to a reckless endangerment charge.

Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Stacy W. McCormack granted John Sherman Estep III the probationary sentence Tuesday morning, when he was scheduled to face trial on two counts of reckless endangerment for a February incident where he fired 22 rounds at juveniles he said were attempting to break into his home.

The Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office called the sentence too light in a statement.

On the evening of Feb. 12, Estep called police reporting that a group of juveniles was banging on the door of his Obery Court home and making verbal threats. He armed himself when they later returned, he told police, and he fired shots at a boy’s leg when the teen forcefully entered his home.

Then, he left the residence and continued to fire what he described as “warning shots” as he went to his vehicle, dispersing the crowd, charging papers say.

When officers arrived, police found a 10-year-old girl shot in the back, and a 14-year-old boy with two gunshot wounds to his leg.

Estep, 41, turned himself in following the shooting.

A state’s attorney’s office spokesperson referred questions about the children’s current condition to their families. The children’s parents did not return requests for comment this week.

A fundraiser for the 10-year-old girl’s medical and moving expenses said she suffered serious injuries to her back and stomach, and was back with her family after surgery and a week in the hospital. The 14-year-old boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and spoke with investigators following the shooting, police wrote in charging papers.

Estep was charged initially with two counts each of first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment, and was later released.

He was indicted on the two reckless endangerment charges in March, and later requested a trial.

State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said in a statement that McCormack offered Estep the sentence if he pleaded guilty, and that the prosecution, headed by Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Neubauer, did not agree to the sentence.

“While Mr. Estep had a right to defend himself, he didn’t have the right to recklessly fire 22 shots into a crowd,” Leitess said. “He shot an innocent 10-year-old girl.”

Estep was placed on two years of supervised probation. During his probationary term, he must notify the court before obtaining any weapons, and may not have contact with the victims or their families, according to court records.