Press Releases

State v. Miguel Angel Santana, K17-497

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Thursday, August 2, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Miguel Angel Santana, 28 of Waldorf, to Life plus 105 years for the First-Degree Murder of Thomas Tibbs, 4 counts of Attempted Murder, 5 counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime, 9 counts of Reckless Endangerment, and three weapons charges.

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018, a Charles County jury, after a 6-day trial, convicted Santana of the above listed charges.

On March 23, 2016, officers responded to the 2500 block of Gittings Court in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered two victims, Thomas Tibbs and Kemo Key, suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for their injuries; however, Tibbs succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that earlier in the day, Santana’s co-defendant, Rashaad Jovonni Brawner, was involved in a verbal altercation with Key at a gas station.  After leaving, Brawner picked up Santana and drove to a neighborhood looking for Key. When they found Key, Brawner confronted him and a physical confrontation ensued. Brawner attempted to retreat to the driver’s seat of his vehicle; however, several men who were at the residence attempted to pull Brawner out. Santana, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, began shooting at the men while still inside of the vehicle. The men fled. Thomas Tibbs, who was standing nearby but not involved in the fight, was struck with bullets from Santana’s gun in the chest and arm.  Key was also shot, suffering a non-life threatening wound to the buttocks. Brawner and Santana then fled the area in the vehicle.

Witnesses identified Brawner as the driver of the vehicle. Brawner later identified Santana as the shooter.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Francis J. Granados addressed the Court, “This was such a senseless murder. [The defendant] inflicted this grievous loss on [Tibbs’] family. – No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child. Particularly, no parent should have to suffer the loss of a child essentially out there on his doorstep. – The evidence shows a cold-blooded murder. [The defendant] told Rashaad to get out of the way and let out a hailstorm of gunfire. He made the decision he was going to shoot and he was going to kill. He killed [Tibbs]; he tried to kill 4 other people and endangered the good family across the street. – [Tibbs] was a good man. He was an upstanding citizen and working to better himself. The defendant killed him for absolutely no reason.”

State v. Bryan Javier Aquice, C-08-CR-17-000054

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Friday, July 27, 2018, Judge William R. Greer, Jr., sentenced Bryan Javier Aquice, 25, to a sentence of Life plus 50 years for the murder of Michael Beers and other related charges.

The Court imposed a sentence of Life for the murder of Mr. Beers and two 25 year sentences for the first degree assaults of Cheryl Krehling and Edward Glaze, Jr. All of the sentences are to run consecutively. Aquice was convicted by a Charles County jury on April 13, 2018 after 5 days of trial.

At that trial, some of the evidence the jury heard was the following: On January 12, 2016, officers responded to the 11500 block of Terrace Drive in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. While on the scene, officers found Michael Beers with multiple gunshot wounds to his body, as well as bruises and abrasions. Beers was pronounced dead on scene.

An investigation revealed that two masked men, one armed with a gun, arrived at the house earlier that evening in attempt to rob Beers. Upon entrance to the residence, the masked men discovered victim Edward Glaze, Jr., then physically assaulted him and demanded him to enter a room occupied by Beers and co-defendant Rena Crandell. Krehling, the owner of the residence, was also forced to enter the room with a gun to her head.

While in the room, a struggle ensued between Beers, Glaze, and both masked men. During the struggle, a ski-mask was removed from one of the men, revealing his face. Beers was shot multiple times at close range by the masked suspect during the struggle. The masked suspect was also shot during the struggle. The other occupants of the room were able to escape or remain unharmed. After shooting Beers, the two suspects, as well as Crandell, fled the scene together.

The ski mask that fell off during the struggle was sent to the Maryland State Police laboratory. Results from a DNA analysis of the mask were consistent with co-defendant Reigel Paul Wamack being present during the attempted robbery and murder. Wamack also fit the homeowner’s description of the unmasked man.

Aquice was identified as the masked shooter by Wamack’s testimony, which was corroborated by cell phone records, as well as medical records indicating Aquice went to the hospital within 12 hours of the murder to be treated for his injury.

During his argument that the Court should impose a life sentence, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse, emphasizing the horror of this crime, told the judge that the Defendant, during a home-invasion robbery, shot Beers in the leg to compel him to give up the money they wanted.  He and his co-defendant physically fought with the victim and then the defendant executed the man by shooting him at point blank range in the head.  He also emphasized that Aquice could have stopped at any time – instead he killed a father of three in the most violent way imaginable.  The defendant, by his malicious, premeditated action, has earned and deserves a life sentence.

Covington, commenting on the Court’s sentence said, “I have long believed that anyone found guilty by a jury of First Degree Murder should forfeit his right to walk around this planet as a free man.  The Court’s sentence ensures this convicted murderer will be behind bars for the rest of his days. That is how it should be – that is justice.”

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State v. Charles Leon Thompson, Jr., K17-240

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Friday, June 29, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Charles Leon Thompson, Jr., 34 of Waldorf, to 40 years in prison for Armed Robbery and Use of a Handgun During the Commission of a Crime of Violence.

On February 4, 2017, officers responded to the Beer 4 U Bar located in the 2100 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered several victims suffering from various injuries, including Emmanuel Perkins who sustained head injuries from an earlier assault and Miaquita Gray who suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body. Gray was later pronounced deceased as a result of her injuries.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a few moments prior to the shooting, Perkins was physically assaulted and robbed by three suspects in the bathroom of Beer 4 U. After the assault, Perkins and his girlfriend, Gray, exited the bar and stood in the parking lot of the establishment. The three suspects also exited the establishment. One of the suspects brandished a gun and began firing at Perkins and Gray, fatally striking Gray. Two other victims were struck but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

Video surveillance and witness testimony identified co-defendant Anthony Deangelo Wilkins as being involved in the armed robbery and shooting. A further investigation revealed Wilkins as the shooter and identified Charles Leon Thompson, Jr. as an accomplice to the shooting and the armed robbery in the bathroom.

Thompson entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges in Charles County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West on December 4, 2017.

While commenting on the imposed sentence, Covington said, “The sentence laid down by the Court was fair and reasonable given the senseless killing of an innocent bystander in this case. Incapacitating violent robbers and murderers by jailing them, is the only truly proven way of reducing violent crime on our streets. This sentence takes a dangerous person off the streets for a significant time period. That is a good thing.”

On Friday, June 15, 2018 the State’s Attorney’s Office for Charles County (SAO) held its fourth annual awards dinner. The purpose of this event is to recognize the contributions of the dedicated men and women of the State’s Attorney’s Office.  Also, the State’s Attorney recognizes members of partner agencies for their contribution to the SAO’s twofold mission of punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent.  This year the State’s Attorney also presented awards for Community Service and Community Vigilance to citizens of the County.

Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office Support Staff of the Year Award:

Alexandra Posey

Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office Assistant State’s Attorney of the Year Award:  Francis Granados

The Community Service Award:  Terrence Byrd received the Community Service Award for his diligent efforts to make a positive impact in the lives of youth in our county through team sports. Through the Westlake Youth Athletic Organization, Mr. Byrd has helped countless youths develop discipline and teamwork that helps prepare them for life.

The Bald Eagle Force Award: Given to a team of people who worked tirelessly to bring Carlos Bell, a predatory child abuser, to justice.  Those team members were:

Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah K. Freeman

Maryland State Police Sergeant William Jenkins,

Charles County Sheriff Officers:

Detective/Master Sergeant Timothy Miner, Detective/Sergeant Andrew Schwab, Detective Kristen Clark, Detective Jeffery Feldman, Detective Charles Garner, Detective Christina Gilroy, Detective George Higgs, Detective John Long, Corporal Patrick Mann, Detective Ryan Smith, PFC. Amy Upshaw, Detective Edward Webster, Detective Rochelle Williams

Charles County Department of Social Services Child Protective Services agents:

Chelsea Glover and Kara Finamore

Detective of the Year Award:

Detective Elizabeth Clark of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

Patrolman of the Year Award

Pfc. Samuel Hooper of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office

State’s Attorney Tony Covington said he was “[V]ery pleased to recognize individuals that have done so much to further the mission of this office.  Presenting these awards is the least we can do to show our appreciation for their dedication and hard work.  Prosecutors and police, and those folks that support their efforts, simply don’t get enough recognition. That is what tonight is all about.”

State v. Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, K17-130

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, 44 of La Plata, to 48 years in prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Sexual Offense in the Second Degree, and Sexual Offense in the Third Degree.

Covington, commenting on the Crutchfield’s sentence said, “The Court’s sentence means this predator is going to a place where he belongs, a place where he can’t abuse little girls, a place where he hopefully will stay for the rest of his natural life.”

On January 13, 2017, Detective Kristen Gross with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and a social worker from the Department of Social Services met with the victim, who was under the age of 14, at her school after receiving a mandated report of sexual abuse. During the meeting, the victim confirmed she was sexually assaulted by Crutchfield.

An investigation revealed that on November 25, 2016, Crutchfield sent the victim a text message asking to cuddle with her. After sending the message, Crutchfield entered the victim’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her. The victim’s account of the abuse was corroborated by text messages sent to her cellular device by Crutchfield. The text messages go back in time to April 2016 when the Defendant started to groom the victim.

The victim later reported the incident to a friend, who encouraged the victim to notify a teacher at her school. The victim did so.

A further investigation revealed there were times prior to November 25, 2016 in which the Defendant had inappropriate contact with the victim in her bedroom.  Each time the Defendant apologized to the victim.

On February 27, 2018, a Charles County jury convicted Crutchfield of the above listed charges after a two day trial.

In 1999, Crutchfield pled guilty and was convicted of Child Abuse in Montgomery County, Maryland.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the judge, “He honed in on this victim. She didn’t have a father figure in her life; he knew that. He took advantage of that need and vulnerability. — I ask that the court take into consideration his prior child sexual abuse conviction, Dr. Grant’s assessment and his likelihood to re-offend.”

Before sentencing Crutchfield to 48 years, Judge West told the Defendant, “You have two offenses of the same nature where the victims are both people who trusted you. Both victims were 12. I don’t want to take the chance of another 12-year-old being victimized in this way. This is alarming and a serious problem. This is a 12-year-old looking for a father figure and you exploited your position of trust. The planning, the predatorial nature, the prior child sex offense…the level of harm is excessive. This is an above the guidelines case…for sure.”