Salisbury Man Sentenced to 95 Years for Attempted Murder
SALISBURY, Md. – A Salisbury man has been sentenced to 95 years in prison for attempted first degree murder and witness intimidation.
On Monday, Sept. 29, 37-year-old Tre Wallace was sentenced in the Wicomico County Circuit Court for a litany of charges following a four-day jury trial in March of this year. Judge S. James Sarbanes sentenced Wallace to life, suspending all but 95 years. Upon release, Wallace will be placed on five years of supervised probation.
According to the Salisbury Police Department (SPD), Wallace stalked his estranged girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Joseph Bena, and plotted to shoot him for over a month. The plan culminated on Nov. 20, 2023, when he enlisted a family member, identified as James Washington Bryant, to drive him to his estranged girlfriend’s home in a vehicle he believed she would not recognize. As he drove past the home, Wallace opened fire on the couple. The victim’s boyfriend then pursued Wallace’s fleeing car in a high-speed chase that stretched for approximately five miles through Salisbury, during which the occupants of the two cars exchanged gunfire.
Following SPD’s investigation, Wallace was charged, but subsequently engaged in a multifaceted effort to tamper with and threaten the State’s witnesses in an attempt to obstruct justice.
Others charged in this case include Bena, who plead guilty to one count of reckless endangerment from a car and was sentenced to 290 days in jail. Additionally, Bryant plead guilty to one count of first degree assault. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 10 years suspended, and five years of supervised probation upon his release.
“This sentence reflects our community’s intolerance for violent, calculated acts meant to destroy lives and instill fear,” said State’s Attorney (SA) Dykes in a statement. “Our Office remains firmly committed to holding offenders accountable to ensure that justice is done. Public safety is—and will continue to be—our highest priority.”
SA Dykes also complimented the members of the Salisbury Police Department for their work and diligence in the investigation, specifically thanking Detective D. Fairman for his hard work and persistence in this case.
