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James Weems Jr. Exposed As A Predator

Former correctional officer Shanteari Weems ran a daycare in Owings, Maryland. Her husband of five years, retired Baltimore police officer James Weems Junior, helped her with the business. He drove a van and would pick up kids and drop them off.

They seemed to have a successful relationship and a growing venture, but things went south in July 2022.

A 10-year-old girl that Shanteari cared for told her parents that James was violating her. The parents went to the authorities, and Shanteari’s daycare was shut down so police could investigate.

Shanteari’s husband denied the allegations, and she believed him. But when she talked to the victim’s mother, Shanteari knew the allegations were true.

She was enraged that the man she loved and trusted the most had been doing despicable things to an innocent child.

On July 21st, 2022, she texted a business partner, “I’m going to kill him and then myself,” and then she went to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC, to confront James.

When the smoke cleared, James had been shot twice and was on his way to the hospital.

Shanteari, on the other hand, was arrested and taken to the police station, where she revealed she “snapped.”

Five days after James was shot, the 57-year-old was arrested for violating at least four children at the daycare.

Shanteari Gets Sent To Prison

News of the shooting and James’ subsequent arrest quickly went viral, with most people supporting Shanteari’s actions and saying she should be released.

Unfortunately for Shanteari, she wasn’t given a get-out-of-jail-free card. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and a weapons charge. The prosecution recommended she serve 2 years in prison.

When she was sentenced in July 2023, the judge gave her four years in prison and two years of supervised release.The sentenced shocked Shanteari, the prosecutors, and the defense.

Her attorney would say afterward that she would have gone to trial if she had known the sentence would be so long.

James Weems Junior’s Trial

Fast forward to October 2024, James and Shanteari were divorced, and James went on trial for his crimes against one of his victims.

His ex-wife testified against him, as did the victim, who was 10 when she was violated. The girl claimed that James would show her inappropriate media on his phone.

James’s attorney claimed he was innocent and that the girl accessed his phone on her own.

James’ defense team failed to create reasonable doubt, and he was convicted of six charges for his acts against her.

James was scheduled to be sentenced on January 8th, 2025, but the hearing was delayed. When he returned to court on April 14th, 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison.

Additional Charges

People reported in April 2025 that 20 additional charges are on the table related to the other victims. Now that he has a life sentence, it is possible those cases won’t move forward.