6 years added to man's sentence for leaving baby in path of officers

BALTIMORE - A 36-year-old man was sentenced last week to nearly seven additional years in prison. The additional time came after testimony that he placed his baby in the path of police officers entering his home.

Donte Smith was already sentenced to 15 years for the same incident as a result of a probation violation.

Investigators say on January 7, 2011 they attempted to enter his home and his child was left in the entry way as he ran out of the back door.

Prior to placing the child in the path of the officers, investigators say Smith was going in and out of his home, selling drugs to people in their cars while holding the child.

Police found marijuana on the top of the baby’s stroller and a Hi Point semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun loaded with seven rounds, one in the chamber, hidden in a floor vent.

Once they caught up with Smith, they say they found two vials of cocaine in his possession.

On October 22, 2012, a Baltimore jury convicted Smith of possessing marijuana and a handgun, despite being barred by law as a consequence of a previous felony two conviction. Two months later, on December 20, 2012, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Timothy Doory sentenced him to six years, eight months, and four days in prison.