Press Releases

State v. Raymund Antoine Bradford, C-08-CR-18-000884

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, July 8, 2019, Raymund Antoine Bradford, 42, entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court, in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier, to Armed Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence.

On March 21, 2018, officers responded to Drive In Liquors in Faulkner for the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers made contact with store owner Pargat Mand, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. Mand was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

An investigation revealed that during the afternoon hours of March 21^st, Bradford entered Drive In Liquors with a bookbag and a gun pointed towards Mand. Both Mand and Bradford walked behind the sales counter, where Bradford began placing money and cigarettes into the bookbag. During this process, Bradford’s gun fired, and a bullet struck Mand in the arm. Bradford initially continued to put cigarettes in the bookbag, but then approached Mand and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. Mand was then able to retreat to an office in the store and close the door. Bradford fled the scene soon afterward but dropped a knife in front of the store.

During the course of the investigation, the knife was submitted for DNA analysis, which identified Bradford as the suspect.

A sentencing date has been set for September 26, 2019. Bradford faces 40 years in prison.

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State v. Dominic Xavier Daniel, K17-487

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Dominic Xavier Daniel, 26 of Waldorf, to life in prison for the First-Degree Murder of Samuel Gemeny, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence in relation to the murder of Samuel Gemeny, and the First-Degree Assault of Allison Hofman.

Daniel previously entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges on February 25, 2019 in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier.

On May 16, 2017, officers responded to an apartment complex located in the 3400 block of Promenade Place in Waldorf for the report of a home invasion and shooting. Upon arrival, officers found victim Gemeny suffering with a gunshot wound to his neck. Officers also made contact with victim Hofman, who was suffering with non-life-threatening injuries. Gemeny was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An investigation revealed that during the evening hours of May 16, 2017, the victims were inside of their apartment when Hofman heard knocking at the front door. Hofman looked through the peephole of the door but did not see anyone outside of the apartment. In an effort to see if someone had knocked and walked away, she opened the front door. At that time, Daniel, as well as co-defendants Morgan Tyrone Rich, Jr. and Dominique Ariel Grant, forced entry into the apartment. None of the suspects concealed their faces and Hofman immediately recognized Daniel and Grant as acquaintances of her and Gemeny.

Daniel, who briefly lived at the apartment prior to the incident, wielded an assault rifle and pointed it directly at Hofman, demanding to know where a mattress was that he had while living in the apartment. He also demanded to know the whereabouts of Gemeny. Rich and Grant demanded money. Gemeny, who was in the master bedroom during the initial confrontation, approached the suspects undetected and hit Daniel in the back of the head with an iPad. Daniel then turned toward Gemeny and shot him at close range. Following the shooting, the suspects fled the area with three other co-defendants.

During the incident, Rich grabbed Hofman by her throat and slammed her into a counter, which caused injury to her back.
At Daniel’s sentencing, State’s Attorney Constance Kopelman addressed the Court, “This crime is so senseless. It cannot be tolerated. The only sentence that makes sense is life. – [The defendant’s actions] caused a fear that is never going to leave [Hofman]. People should be able to feel safe in their own homes. She had to see her boyfriend’s life taken in front of her. – The defendant robbed the victim [of his future] because he was angry over a bed, a bong, and $80.”

Also on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, co-defendant Rich, 29 of Waldorf, entered a guilty plea in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West to the Felony Murder of Samuel Gemeny, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence in relation to the murder of Samuel Gemeny, and the First-Degree Assault of Allison Hofman. Immediately following his plea, he was sentenced to life suspend all but 40 years in prison.

On June 5, 2018, co-defendant Grant entered a guilty plea to Felony Murder in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West. A sentencing date for Grant has been scheduled for August 28, 2019.

The remaining co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2019. Two of the co-defendants have entered a guilty plea to Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Burglary; the remaining co-defendant entered a guilty plea to Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion.

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LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, a Charles County jury, after a 7-day trial, convicted Nicholas Jabbar Williams, 22 of Waldorf, of Second-Degree Murder of Cameron Townsend and related gun charges.

During the evening hours of December 14, 2017, officers responded to the 1000 block of Spruce Street in Waldorf after receiving several reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered victim Cameron Townsend lying unresponsive on the side of the road in front of a residence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. A witness close to the scene of the incident reported seeing someone standing over the deceased before leaving and observed a dark-colored passenger car speed away from the area of the deceased after hearing the gunshots.

An investigation revealed that earlier that day, Williams picked up Townsend and two other men in his black Hyundai Accent and traveled with them to Prince George’s County and Washington, D.C. before returning to Charles County. Around 8 p.m., Williams dropped two of the men off at one of their residences in Waldorf; however, Townsend remained in the front passenger seat of Williams’ vehicle. Williams then drove Townsend to a separate neighborhood in Waldorf, where approximately 20 minutes after dropping off the other men, Williams shot Townsend seven times while he was in his vehicle, dragged his body out of the vehicle, and left it on the side of the road before fleeing the scene.

Two days later, officers executed a search and seizure warrant at Williams’ residence and in his vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a shell casing in Williams’ car matching shell casings found at the scene of the incident, as well as a bullet that was lodged in the car door. Blood was also found inside of the vehicle matching Townsend’s DNA. Additionally, a shoe found inside of Williams’ residence was discovered to have Townsend’s blood DNA on the bottom.

Williams will be sentenced in September.  He faces up to 47 years in prison.

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State v. Jeremy James Chenette, C-08-CR-17-000317

 LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, June 17, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Jeremy James Chenette, 33 of Indian Head, to 16 years in prison, and an additional 84 years of suspended time, for 4 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

On May 15, 2018, Chenette entered a guilty plea to the above listed charges in Charles County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier.

On September 9, 2017, the juvenile victim and an adult relative went to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in Waldorf to report Chenette for sexual abuse. The victim told officers that Chenette sexually assaulted him multiple times over the course of a few months.

An investigation revealed that Chenette repeatedly performed oral sex on the victim, as well as engaged in other sexual acts with him. The victim eventually reported the abuse to his mother; however, authorities were not contacted immediately. After the victim’s mother and other relatives confronted Chenette, the abuse ended. The victim was 14 years old at the time of the assaults; Chenette was 31.

During the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate a video depicting the victim receiving oral sex from Chenette on Chenette’s cell phone. Chenette also admitted to sexually assaulting the victim.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Constance B. Kopelman, asking for a 30-year sentence, told the judge, “When you look at the devastating effect it had on the victim, this cannot be excused. [The defendant did] multiple acts that the victim cannot forget. There was a grooming pattern. He took advantage of the victim. He knew it was wrong. – It’s shocking, it’s horrible, and he should receive a serious penalty.”

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State v. Deangelo Hemsley, K16-497

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, June 14, 2019, after a two-part, bifurcated trial, a Charles County jury found Deangelo Hemsley, 42 of Waldorf, criminally responsible for the First-Degree Murder of John Yates, Home Invasion, First-Degree Assault, Second-Degree Assault, Kidnapping, and False Imprisonment.

Hemsley was previously convicted of the aforementioned charges on June 12, 2019 by members of the jury. After establishing his guilt, jurors then found that Hemsley was criminally responsible for committing the acts in a separate proceeding, despite his plea of not criminally responsible.

On April 23, 2016, officers responded to the 12800 block of Yates Place in La Plata for the report of a person with a weapon. When officers arrived, they located victim John Yates suffering from several stab wounds to his upper body. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers also found Hemsley, Yates’ son-in-law, attempting to escape the area; however, he was apprehended that night.

An investigation revealed that during the evening hours of April 23rd, Hemsley made entry into Yates’ residence yielding a knife and bar. Yates’ family was present at the time and did not expect Hemsley’s arrival. After entrance, Hemsley demanded to know where his daughter, who was inside of the residence, was located. Hemsley then asked for the location of Yates, who was in a lower level. Within seconds of receiving Yates’ location from a family member, Hemsley went to Yates and immediately began attacking him with the knife, stabbing him multiple times and causing deep lacerations in the face and neck area. Hemsley’s then 12 year-old-daughter and a 15-year-old juvenile were present during parts of the attack.

After stabbing Yates, Hemsley grabbed his daughter’s hand and put her in his vehicle. Thankfully, she was able to escape through a window and run to safety back inside of the residence, barricading herself in a room with a dresser.

A DNA analysis conducted on the knife used in the assault revealed that it contained both Hemsley’s and Yates’ DNA. Hemsley also had Yates’ blood still on his clothing while being apprehended.

A sentencing date has been set for September 5, 2019.

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State v. Delontre James Austin, C-08-CR-18-000315

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, May 9, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Delontre James Austin, 23, to 15 years in prison and an additional 5 years of suspended time for Second Degree Child Abuse and Neglect of a Minor. Upon release, Austin will be on supervised probation for a period of 5 years.

On January 15, 2019, Austin entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges in Charles County Circuit Court.

On March 28, 2018, officers responded to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. after receiving a report of suspected abuse of a 5-month-old victim. Upon arrival, officers learned that the baby was being treated for life-threatening injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, and suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, swelling, and bruising. Thankfully, the victim survived, however, with severe, lasting injuries. Officers also made contact with Austin in the hospital and the mother of the child. During their communications, Austin eventually told officers that he tossed the baby in a pack ‘n play.

An investigation revealed that during the morning hours of March 27, 2018, Austin was alone with the victim and another child. Austin was awakened to the victim crying. When the victim continued crying, Austin became frustrated and reportedly tossed the victim to the bottom of her pack ‘n play. Austin did not call for help and eventually went to work when the mother of the victim returned home. A call was later placed to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for concern over the condition of the victim. EMS then responded to the 4100 block of Falcon Place in Waldorf and transported the victim to the hospital.

Austin was apprehended on March 29, 2018, following a court hearing.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman addressed the Court, “This is an above guidelines case. There is no excuse for the amount of force; there is no excuse for the amount of injury to a 5-month-old child because [she] was crying, and the defendant should definitely be sentenced accordingly.”

Before sentencing Austin above guidelines, Judge Bragunier told him, “I know it’s not easy to live with yourself. I do agree that you are not a public safety threat, but only to an innocent 5-month-old baby who was annoying you and crying. You snapped. The injuries [the victim] endured were caused by anger [and] force beyond comprehension.”

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State v. Ijaaz Butler, C-08-CR-18-000353

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, April 29, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Ijaaz Butler, 26, to 12 years in prison for Home Invasion and Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion. The sentence imposed today in Charles County Circuit Court will run consecutive to a 12-year sentence previously imposed for a similar crime in Calvert County, for a total of 24 years in prison.

On October 10, 2018, Butler entered a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges.

On March 19, 2018, officers responded to the 2800 block of Homette Place in Waldorf for the report of a home invasion. Upon arrival, officers spoke with victim Melissa Lewis, who had visible injuries. Lewis stated that two male suspects forced entry into her home, assaulted her, and demanded money.

A further investigation revealed that Lewis received a large sum of money prior to the home invasion. On the day of the incident, the victim was asleep on a couch in her home when Butler and the other male suspect, who the victim later identified as co-defendant William Gary Edwards, entered with their faces partially covered. Butler and Edwards physically assaulted the victim and asked her where the money was located; however, the victim refused to reveal where it was. The victim’s three young children were also present inside of the residence. While ransacking the home, Butler banged on the door of the children’s rooms while the victim was being held down by Edwards.

After a few minutes inside the residence, Butler and Edwards dragged the victim outside to search her vehicle. While outside, they assaulted the victim – to include dousing her with gasoline – until she was unconscious. Butler and Edwards then fled in a getaway vehicle operated by co-defendant Brandy Lynn Deluca.

Shortly after leaving, Deluca hit a mailbox and was stopped by an officer for a traffic violation. It was discovered during the stop that the occupants of the vehicle were involved in the home invasion. All three suspects, including Butler, were subsequently apprehended.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John A. Stackhouse, asking for the maximum consecutive sentence, told the judge that he hopes the victim “can feel safe again in her own home with her kids” after the terrifying incident.

On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, co-defendant Brandy Deluca was sentenced by Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West to 7 years in prison.

On Thursday, February 21, 2019, co-defendant William Gary Edwards was also sentenced by Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West to 10 years in prison, consecutive to a 2-year sentence previously imposed for a similar crime in Calvert County, for a total of 12 years in prison.

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State v. Ja’ron Anthony Bowen, C-08-CR-18-000111

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, April 25, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Ja’ron Anthony Bowen, 20 of Indian Head, to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised probation for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, 3 counts of Robbery, and Theft Less Than $100. Bowen also faces 40 years back up time for the aforementioned charges.

On August 20, 2018, Bowen entered a guilty plea to the above charges in Charles County Circuit Court.

On January 23, 2018, officers responded to Subway located in the 4600 block of Indian Head Highway in Indian Head for the report of an armed robbery. When officers arrived at the scene, an employee reported that the suspect jumped over the counter armed with a knife and demanded to have the money in the cash register. The suspect left the business after retrieving the money.

That same day, officers received another report of an armed robbery at Westlake Dash In, located in the 2000 block of Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf. When officers arrived, an employee stated that the suspect was armed with a knife, walked behind the cashier’s counter, and removed money from the register. During the robbery, one of the employees was cut in the face and another employee was cut on the hand.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect matched the size and description of a suspect from previous robberies of Dollar General on January 20, 2018, and Goodies on January 21, 2018, both located in Indian Head.

Bowen was developed as a suspect and was identified in a photographic line up by an employee from one of the robberies.

A search and seizure warrant was conducted at Bowen’s residence, revealing evidence related to the robberies. Bowen also confessed to robbing the four businesses.

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State v. Keith Allan Krikstan, C-08-CR-18-000694

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, after five days of trial, a Charles County jury convicted Keith Allan Krikstan, 31 of Waldorf, of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

On January 11, 2018, a detective with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office met with the then 12-year-old victim, who stated that she had been in communication with Krikstan, her substitute teacher at John Hanson Middle School, through Snapchat, Facetime, and text message. She further stated that during those communications, Krikstan showed her part of his genitalia and asked her to send him inappropriate pictures.

An investigation revealed that from October 2017 through January 2018, Krikstan developed an inappropriate relationship with the victim and on multiple occasions requested and received pictures of the victim’s private areas. Krikstan, being the victim’s substitute teacher, on one occasion held the victim back after class to talk about the status of their relationship. He then gave her a pass so that she could enter her next class late.

A classmate of the victim learned the nature of the relationship and notified a school resource officer at the school.

Cell phone downloads from both the victim’s and defendant’s phones corroborated the inappropriate nature of their relationship. Krikstan also admitted to communicating with the victim through text and social media, as well as deleting messages.

During closing argument, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the jury, “[the defendant] took advantage of [the victim] for his own benefit. He knows this is wrong, yet he [continued] because his needs were more important [to him] than doing what’s right.”

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State v. Armando Quispe Rodriguez, C-08-CR-18-000289

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on April 15, 2019, Armando Quispe Rodriguez, 46 of Bryans Road, entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court, in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier, to the Attempted First-Degree Murder of Keyia Rodriguez.

On March 23, 2018, officers responded to a residence in the 2500 block of Archway Lane in Bryans Road for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers made contact with defendant Rodriguez, who had several lacerations on both of his hands, in front of the residence. During a search of the residence, officers discovered the victim incoherent and bound to the basement stairs, with several stab wounds to her upper body. The victim had a pool of blood around her and the walls of the basement were also covered with blood. Officers located handcuffs near the victim as well. Due to the grave nature of her injuries, the victim was transported to an area trauma center for treatment. Fortunately, she survived.

An investigation revealed that the victim was asleep the morning of March 23rd when Rodriguez began hitting and stabbing her. She struggled with him and tried to escape, however, was unable. Rodriguez then handcuffed the victim to a railing in the basement and bound the victim’s ankles. Rodriguez continuously assaulted and threatened the victim over an extended duration of time. In addition to hitting the victim and stabbing her, Rodriguez put a plastic bag over her face, as well as put a belt around her neck in order to suffocate her. He eventually called 911 and unlocked the handcuffs but kept the victim’s ankles bound.

During the horrific ordeal, the victim was stabbed approximately 23 times.

Rodriguez told officers that it was a domestic situation and admitted that he was responsible for the victim’s injuries. He also told officers where the knife used to stab the victim could be located.
Sentencing is set for August 8, 2019 before Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier. Rodriguez faces Life in prison.

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