A Baltimore County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a 21-year-old Towson University senior to 18 months of home detention and probation instead of slapping her with a prison sentence for a deadly red-light crash that killed a 32-year-old pharmacist and his dog as they were crossing a Towson crosswalk in November 2025.
Oluwajomiloju “JJ” Sekiteri, a resident of Owings Mills and a logistics specialist third class in the U.S. Navy Reserve, is also required to complete 170 hours of community service and pay over $3,700 in restitution for the horrific accident. Judge Ralph Sapia, who oversaw the case, ordered Sekiteri’s home detention, probation, and community service, along with the restitution, after sentencing Sekiteri for a charge of criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle.
She was also charged with several other traffic offenses, according to news reports about the accident. Sekiteri has also been banned from operating a motor vehicle for three years. The young woman was spared going to prison despite Maryland Criminal Law Code 2-210 allowing for someone found guilty of the charges she faced with up to three years in prison.
According to a report from Hoodline, the victim in the case, Jordan Sachs and his Australian shepherd mix, Archie, were hit by a 2014 Toyota Camry while they were crossing at Towsontown Boulevard West and Emerson Drive on November 12, 2025. Sachs, who obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2020 and was active in pharmacy outreach initiatives in the city of Baltimore during his studies, died the same day.
A resident rushed Archie to the animal hospital, but the dog passed away from his injuries. Assistant State’s Attorney Felise Kelly attempted to make the case that Sekiteri deserved to be sent to prison for at least 18 months at the Baltimore County Detention Center, citing the fact that Sachs had waited for the pedestrian walk signal before entering the crosswalk.
Kelly pointed out that Sekiteri was trying to beat a yellow light by speeding up as she got closer to the intersection. So what had Sekiteri in such a rush that day? In testimony she provided during her June bench trial, she was on her way to a hair appointment ahead of her 21st birthday when she thought she had enough time to speed through the yellow light before it turned red.
Lee Eidelberg, Sekiteri’s lawyer, requested the judge sentence his client to probation instead of jail, referring to the accident as an aberrational event, pointing out that Sekiteri had never even received a traffic ticket before the crash that night. Sekiteri told the court she could not undo what happened that night, but said she would honor Sachs’ memory.
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However, that statement did very little to provide Luisa Renzi, who was dating Sachs, with any comfort. Renzi said that her future with Sachs was cut short and stole from her on the night of the accident. Sekiteri was taken into custody by the Baltimore County Police Crash Team detectives on December 30, 2025, seven weeks after the accident.
Sekiteri did stay at the scene, surprisingly. The case also involved charges of negligent driving endangering life, speeding, failing to stop for a red light, and failing to control speed to avoid a collision. As part of her punishment, Sekiteri must split up her 170 hours of community service between Baltimore County Public Schools, Towson University, and the Baltimore Humane Society.
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