Press Releases

Arthur Christopher Edelen, K16-1112

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on November 14, 2017, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Arthur Christopher Edelen, 54 of White Plains, to 42 months in prison for the killing of Ernest Young III.

On March 24, 2016, troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to the intersection of Maryland Route 5 and Roosevelt Place in Hughesville for the report of a two vehicle collision involving a passenger van and a motorcycle. Upon arrival, troopers discovered Young, who was operating a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, had possible life-threatening injuries as a result of the collision. Young, a husband and father of two, was subsequently transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

On scene, troopers observed Edelen, who was operating a Honda Odyssey van, slow with his movements and stumbling. Troopers also detected an odor of alcohol coming from Edelen’s breath, as well as observed he had bloodshot and glassy eyes. A breath test was later conducted and Edelen’s blood alcohol content was registered at .11.  In Maryland, it is presumed that a person is under the influence of alcohol if their breath test result is higher than ,08.

An investigation into the collision revealed that Edelen, who was initially traveling northbound Route 5, attempted to cross the southbound lanes of Route 5 from a crossover to enter Roosevelt Place, but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Young, who was already traveling southbound Route 5, collided into the passenger side of the Honda Oddysey van that Edelen was operating.

Edelen did not sustain major injuries as a result of the collision and was arrested at the scene. Edelen was previously charged with Driving While Impaired in 2009 in St Mary’s County.  He received a suspended sentence and probation.

Covington, commenting on Edelen’s sentence, said “I won’t complain about Edelen’s sentence.  Judge West imposed a sentence consistent with what other Judges are doing throughout Maryland.  In fact, his sentence was a little higher than most which, to me, is a good sign.”  Covington, however, went on to criticize how drunk drivers are treated in the Criminal Justice System as a whole. “My criticism continues to be that in our society and our court system as a whole, we do not view drunk driving as the very selfish and criminal act that it is. Our penalties- a ten year maximum sentence- for killing someone while drunk driving is ridiculously light and provides little, if any, deterrence. Drunk driving, especially in this day of mass transit, Uber, Lyft, etc., is absolutely preventable. Unfortunately, our legislators haven’t provided significant maximum sentences or any mandatory minimum sentences for judges to impose. Also, because of how our society still appeases drunk drivers, judges throughout the state do not impose behavior-changing sentences for simple DUIs nor for DUIs that result in death. We need to wake up to the fact that there are almost as many drunk driving deaths in this country as there are murders every year. In Maryland alone, somebody is killed by a drunk driver every other day. It should be unacceptable to everyone that a family here in this state has to grieve every other day and figure out how to go on without a loved one. Drunk driving deaths are preventable and the Criminal Justice System is positioned to have the most impact on decreasing these totally unnecessary deaths.”

La Plata, MD – Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, Maryland, in conjunction with Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry and Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill, advises that on Friday, October 20, 2017, the Grand Jury for Charles County returned a 206 count indictment for Carlos Deangelo Bell of Waldorf. This third indictment against Bell includes the previous allegations found in two prior indictments filed on June 30, 2017 and July 28, 2017, as well as charges for additional victims uncovered during the ongoing investigation.

The 206 count indictment covers 28 identified alleged victims and 14 unidentified alleged victims. The time frame of the alleged conduct spans approximately 2 years from May of 2015 through June of 2017. The ages of the alleged victims at the time the offenses were committed range from 11 years old to 17 years old.

In open Court today, Bell was served with this latest indictment and served with the State’s notice that, if he is convicted of certain crimes alleged in the indictment, the State will be seeking a life sentence. Bell is still being held without bond. Trial on these charges is scheduled for January 8, 2018.

At this time, the State is not aware of any alleged victim having tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Previous reporting to the contrary made by certain media outlets was inaccurate.

The investigation into Carlos Bell’s activities is still ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office continues the effort to identify any and all alleged victims in this matter. The State’s Attorney’s Office strongly encourages parents/guardians to speak with any child that may have had contact with Carlos Bell and immediately report any relevant information to the Sheriff’s Office.

Child Sex Abuser Pleads Guilty

State v. Clyde Douglas Parks, Jr., C-08-CR-17-000004

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, former District Heights Police Officer Clyde Douglas Parks, Jr., 48 of Waldorf, entered a guilty plea in front of Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier to the Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

On May 24, 2017, the Charles County Department of Social Services received a mandatory report of child sexual abuse involving Parks.  The report was then screened by Child Protective Services and sent to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for investigation.

Detectives from the CCSO made contact with the victim who revealed that over the course of approximately two years she was repeatedly abused by Parks.  The abuse included Parks showing the victim pornographic material and Parks engaging in repeated sexual acts with the victim. The abuse began when the victim was approximately 8 years old and continued for approximately two years.  The abuse came to light some 10 years later when the victim was interviewed in May of 2017.  During the course of the investigation, Parks admitted to the sexual contact as described by the victim.

The maximum sentence for Child Sexual Abuse is 25 years incarceration.  A sentencing hearing is set for January 10, 2018.

Shooter Gets 58 Years in Prison

Accomplices Also Sentenced

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Tyreq Kaylin Tilghman and his three co-defendants for their respective roles in the murder of Mason Atkins and the assault of Nicholas Brennan during an event that occurred on Mona Farm Place in La Plata on September 25, 2016.

Tyreq Kaylin Tilghman, 19 of Waldorf, was sentenced to 58 years in prison for the Second Degree Murder of Mason Atkins, the Unlawful Use of a Firearm in a crime of violence, and the First Degree Assault of Nicholas Eric Brennan.

Kevin Averell Jones, 19 of Waldorf, was sentenced to 7 years for the Second Degree Assault of Nicholas Brennan. Talivah Laraih Salahuddin and Shanya Imari Milstead, also sentenced for the Second Degree Assault of Brennan, were both sentenced to a 10 year period of incarceration with all of the time suspended except for the time they had served prior to sentencing.  Both Salahuddin and Milstead were placed on unsupervised probation.

In the early morning of September 25, 2016, officers responded to 10400 block of Popes Creek Road for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found two teenaged victims, Mason Atkins and Nicholas Brennan, suffering from gunshot wounds. Atkins, who suffered a gunshot wound to both his neck and finger, was rendered first aid and CPR by officers, but was pronounced deceased at the scene. Brennan, who ultimately survived his injuries, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was flown to a hospital for treatment.

An investigation into the murder revealed that the victims showed up to a bonfire party on Mona Farm Place uninvited and were turned away. The victims, who were unfamiliar with the area, left the location of the party, drove a short distance, then stopped their vehicle on side of the road to decide what to do next. Tilghman, a passenger in a different vehicle, also arrived uninvited to the party on Mona Farm Place and was subsequently turned away along with the other occupants of the vehicle he was travelling in. The vehicle Tilghman was travelling in passed the victims’ parked vehicle.  At that time, a verbal confrontation between the occupants of each vehicle occurred. As a result of this argument, Salahuddin, Jones and Tilghman got out of their vehicle and approached the victims’ vehicle. Once at the victims’ vehicle, Jones began punching Mason Atkins through the open passenger side window.  Jones also tried to pull Atkins, who was still seated in the vehicle, out of the vehicle through the window. At that point, Atkins, in effort to defend himself, pepper sprayed Jones. Tilghman, who was also hit by the pepper spray, then used a handgun to shoot multiple times into the vehicle, killing Atkins and injuring Brennan. After the shooting, Tilghman and his accomplices returned to their vehicle and Milstead, who had remained in the vehicle, drove away.    Brennan, who was suffering from a gunshot to the chest, also drove away in effort to get to a safe location and call emergency personnel while simultaneously rendering aid to Atkins.

The defendants were ultimately identified through good police work. As part of the investigation, a CCSO detective identified the closest gas station on the probable escape route of the defendants, assuming that the defendants would need to treat the effects of being pepper sprayed. The Detective’s instincts were proven correct as he recovered a video from that gas station. The video shows the defendants pull into the gas station, park at one of the pumps and Salahuddin entering the gas station and purchasing water. Salahuddin then takes the purchased water to the car where Tilghman and Jones can be seen using the water to rinse out their eyes. This video was the key piece of evidence that lead to the identification of the defendants.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse told the judge, “Tilghman took his brother’s gun out of a safe, then took the gun to a party, then gets out of a car with the gun, then kills somebody and almost kills somebody else. He made the choice to fire that gun at point blank range into a defenseless Mason Atkins. Tilghman needs to be held accountable for the life he senselessly took and that means spending as much of his life in jail as the statutes allows.”

Stackhouse, in recommending a sentence for Jones, told the Court that, “This murder does not occur without Kevin Jones assaulting Mason as he sat in his car essentially unable to defend himself. And the resulting level of harm that Jones begot is off the charts. Because of Jones’ actions, the parents of Mason Atkins had to do something that no parent should ever have to do – bury their child. Kids should outlive their parents, not the other way around. Your sentence, your Honor, should not be limited by the guidelines.  Jones earned and deserves a sentence more than that.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman, in commenting on Milstead’s and Salahuddin’s role in this murder said, “No one argues that these two young women went out that night to kill somebody. But you have to make good choices in life.  They didn’t that night.  Had they made better choices perhaps Mason Atkins might still be here.  We will never know.  But their present predicament should be a lesson for everyone, especially young folks, that they need to think about the consequences of their actions and see beyond the moment directly in front of them.”

Sentence Summary

State v. Tyreq Kaylin Tilghman, K16-1009:  Overall Sentence 58 Years

Count 1, Second Degree Murder, 25 years

Count 5, First Degree Assault of Nicholas Brennan, 18 years

Count 6, Use of Handgun in Crime of Violence, 15 years

All sentences to run consecutively

State v. Kevin Averell Jones, K16-998

Count 7, Second Degree Assault of Nicholas Brennan, 7 years

State v. Talivah Laraih Salahuddin, K16-1003        

Count 7, Second Degree Assault of Nicholas Brennan, 10 years suspend all but 126 days, credit 126 days served, 1 year unsupervised probation

State v. Shanya Imari Milstead, K16-999

Count 7, Second Degree Assault of Nicholas Brennan, 10 years suspend all but 21 days, credit 21 days served, 3 years unsupervised probation

State’s Attorney Hosts Opioid Abuse Awareness Event
Gives Out 200 Book Bags to Students

State’s Attorney Tony Covington, Deputy State’s Attorney Karen Piper Mitchell, and Executive Assistant Kristen Williams pass out information to fight drug abuse, book bags and other giveaways to students and parents.

On September 16, Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County hosted an Opioid Abuse Awareness fundraising event at the Southern Maryland Blue Crab’s game. As part of the event, the State’s Attorney’s Office, in partnership with Charles County Emergency Medical Services, had an opioid drop-off center for community members to drop off their unwanted and unneeded prescription medications, as well as receive educational resources to combat opioid abuse.

Over 200 students attending the event received a free Under Armour book bag from the State’s Attorney’s Office. Students also received Chick-fil-A La Plata cards for free meals. Both adults and youth received wristbands to raise awareness about opioid abuse, as well as brochures with more information about opioid abuse, prevention and treatment. During the event, over 75 students signed a pledge to make good decisions and stay away from drugs and alcohol – 9 of the children walked the field with State’s Attorney Covington as he addressed the Regency Furniture Stadium crowd about opioid abuse.

Proceeds from the tickets purchased through the fundraiser will be donated to a drug addictions treatment program.

Covington commented on the evening saying “This was a great event for our community. We were able to reach a number of people – especially kids – and let them know this opioid abuse really is an epidemic. Thousands are dying. That isn’t exaggerated hype – it is real. I hope parents understand the need to educate their kids that painkillers, even though prescribed by a doctor, are still dangerous and can lead to deadly consequences. Also, I can’t say enough about G.S. Proctor and Associates, Terrence Byrd of Under Armour, Chick-fil-A La Plata, Charles County Emergency Medical Services and, of course, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for their great support of this important community awareness event.”

Drug Dealer Guilty of Manslaughter Gets Maximum Sentence

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, Samantha Nicole Thomas, 34 of Waldorf, who sold the drugs to Christopher Wade that ultimately killed him, entered a guilty plea to Manslaughter. Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier accepted the guilty plea and then sentenced Thomas to the maximum penalty for manslaughter, 10 years in prison.

On October 31, 2015, officers responded to the 2700 block of Sprague Drive in Waldorf for the report of a subject not breathing. Upon arrival, officers found the victim Christopher Wade unresponsive and lying on the bathroom floor. After unsuccessful attempts by emergency services personnel to revive him, Mr. Wade was pronounced deceased. Near the victim’s body, Officers recovered paraphernalia consistent with heroin use.

An investigation revealed that approximately three hours before his death, Thomas sold the victim a quantity of what she said, and the victim believed, was heroin. The toxicology report from the victim’s autopsy, however, revealed that fentanyl –a narcotic much more powerful than heroin– was actually the narcotic that caused Wade’s death. During an interview with officers, Thomas admitted that she routinely went to Baltimore to purchase the narcotics that she resold and that she was aware the substances she sold may not have been heroin. Experts indicate that someone ingesting fentanyl that they believed was heroin would have a very high likelihood of overdosing because an amount of fentanyl is so much more powerful than the same amount of heroin.

In modern Charles County history, Thomas is the first narcotics dealer to be convicted of Manslaughter for providing drugs that led to an overdose fatality. During the proceeding, Assistant State’s Attorney John A. Stackhouse said, “This County, like the rest of the country, is in crisis regarding opioid abuse. There are overdoses every single day in Charles County. And with all those overdoses, unfortunately, more than a few are fatal. This plea and sentence hopefully sends the message to the community and makes a difference for at least one person.”

Covington commented, “I hope drug dealers – especially those pushing the unbelievably addictive and deadly opioids like Fentanyl and Heroin — understand that we are going to hold them accountable not only for dealing drugs but also for the deaths we can link to their dealing. Lives are being lost, families ruined because in part these dealers want to make an easy buck off someone else’s misery. That’s not right. So I am giving dealers fair warning. If we have the evidence, we are coming for them relentlessly and without mercy.”

Former Police Officer Sentenced to Life plus 50 Years

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, visiting Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Erik H. Nyce sentenced Richard Travess Conway, 28 of Waldorf, to an overall sentence of Life plus 50 years in prison for the murder of Robert Mange, conspiring and attempting to murder Krystal Mange, and the reckless endangerment of 4 others. Conway, a Prince George’s County police officer at the time of the crimes, conspired with and assisted his mother, Caroline Conway.

            At 5:45 PM on May 20, 2015, officers responded to the McDonalds at Mall Circle in Waldorf for a shooting. Once on the scene, officers found two adult victims, Robert Mange, 25 of Smithfield, VA, and his pregnant wife Krystal Mange, now 26, of Smithfield, VA, with gunshot wounds. Robert Mange was pronounced dead at the scene. Krystal Mange — who was 7 months pregnant at the time –was critically injured but survived. Her unborn child also survived. During her medical treatment on the scene, Krystal Mange told police that Caroline Conway, the mother of Richard Conway, Krystal’s ex-boyfriend and father of her 2 children, shot her and her husband.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that the victims were involved in an ongoing heated child custody battle with Richard Conway. On the day of the shooting, Richard Conway dropped his mother off near the McDonalds so she could execute the plan to kill Krystal Mange. Robert and Krystal Mange were sitting in their vehicle in the McDonalds parking lot, which was the Court ordered location for the visitation exchange of the children, when Caroline Conway jumped into the back seat. She had a gun in her hand and demanded that Robert and Krystal hand over their cellphones so that they were not able to call for help. Caroline Conway then forced Krystal Mange to call Richard Conway and tell him that the meeting time and location for the children’s exchange would be changed to 7:30 PM in La Plata. Fearing for himself, his wife and his unborn child, Robert Mange tried to disarm Caroline Conway at which point Caroline opened fire. Both Robert and Krystal fled the car. Robert fell to the ground by the driver side door. Caroline followed Robert out of the vehicle, stood over him and shot him three more times. Caroline Conway then circled around the car looking for Krystal. Caroline Conway found Krystal hiding on the other side of the car, shot her twice, then fled the scene.

As she was leaving the scene, Caroline called Richard and told him where to pick her up. Richard picked her up on Old Washington Road and drove her directly to the home of family acquaintances. While at that residence, Caroline admitted to the shooting. She changed her clothing and cleaned up in the bathroom. Witnesses at the residence reported that Richard placed the murder weapon, which was issued to him by the PGPD, in a plastic trash bag along with the clothing Caroline took off. Conway’s service weapon nor Caroline’s clothes have ever been recovered. The witness accounts were corroborated by home video surveillance.

At approximately 7:30 PM, in an attempt to create an alibi, Richard Conway called and texted Krystal Mange’s phone. He left messages each time asking where she was. This was done at 7:30 PM because Krystal Mange, at Carolyn’s orders, had called Richard and told him that they were changing the location and time to 7:30 PM. At the time of these phone calls Richard knew that Krystal had been shot and there would be no exchange.

The Conways then returned to their home where police had already set up a perimeter and both were detained.

State’s Attorney Tony Covington in commenting on an appropriate sentence, said, “The State is asking for a life sentence. During this custody case, Richard Conway repeatedly threatened to kill Krystal Mange. His mother also threatened to kill her if she tried to gain custody of the children. After the many lies they told to wrest custody from Krystal didn’t work, they conspired, planned and carried out this heinous crime. They killed Robert and almost killed Krystal– not to even mention her unborn child. That deserves a life sentence.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Francis J. Granados told the Court at sentencing that, “This crime could not have happened without the defendant. That was his gun, his children, and him driving around that afternoon. Despite his lies, he knew exactly what his mother was going to do. He exploited the trust the community placed in him to use his weapon responsibly. He used it to commit a murder. Richard Conway represents a continued threat, not to the public, but to Krystal Mange and her family. We ask that you never let that happen again.”

The judge, agreeing with Granados, stated, “I’m satisfied that a sentence above guidelines is appropriate. There was, in my view, significant evidence of planning of which the jury could determine its verdict. The plan to murder the mother of your children and her husband, and the amount of effort that went into the plan, makes the nature of this conduct especially vicious and heinous.”

CONVICTED

• Second degree Murder of Robert Mange
• Use of a Firearm in Murder of Robert Mange
• Attempted First Degree Murder of Krystal Mange
• Use of Firearm in the Attempted Murder of Krystal Mange
• Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder of Krystal Mange
• First Degree Assault of Krystal Mange
• Use of Firearm in the First Degree Assault of Krystal Mange
• Reckless Endangerment of Michael Hinchy, Joseph Rice, Niy’Airee Brown, and Nisere Brown

SENTENCE

Life plus 50 years

Woman Gets Life Without Parole

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Monday, May 8, 2017, visiting Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Steven I. Platt sentenced Caroline Marie Conway, 53 of Waldorf, to Life without the possibility of Parole plus 60 years for the First Degree Murder of Robert Mange, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder of Robert Mange, Unlawful Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the Murder of Robert Mange , Attempted First Degree Murder of Krystal Mange, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder of Krystal Mange, Unlawful use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the Attempted Murder of Krystal Mange, First Degree Assault of Krystal Mange, Unlawful use of a Firearm in the Commission of a crime of violence related to the First Degree Assault of Krystal Mange, and Reckless Endangerment of four other individuals.

Conway was sentenced for the terror she caused at the Rock-n-Roll McDonalds on May 20, 2015. On that date, officers responded to the McDonalds at Mall Circle in Waldorf for a shooting. Once on the scene, officers found two adult victims, Robert Mange, 25 of Smithfield, VA, and his pregnant wife Krystal Mange, 24 of Smithfield, VA, with gunshot wounds. Robert Mange was pronounced dead at the scene. Krystal Mange, though critically injured, survived. Her unborn child also survived. During her medical treatment on the scene, Krystal Mange told police that Caroline Conway shot and killed her husband and shot her.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that the victims were involved in an ongoing heated child custody battle with former Prince George’s County Police Officer, Richard Conway, the son of Caroline Conway. On the day of the shooting, Robert and Krystal Mange were waiting in the McDonalds parking lot to exchange children with Richard Conway when Caroline Conway jumped into the vehicle. She had a gun in her hand and demanded that Robert and Krystal hand over their cellphones so that they were not able to call for help. Caroline Conway also forced Krystal Mange to call her son, Richard Conway and tell him that the meeting time and location for the children’s exchange would be changed. Fearing for himself, his wife and his unborn child, Robert Mange tried to disarm Caroline Conway at which point Caroline opened fire. Both Robert and Krystal fled the car. Robert fell to the ground by the driver side door. Caroline followed Robert out of the vehicle, stood over him and shot him three more times. Caroline then circled around the car looking for Krystal. Caroline found Krystal hiding on the other side of the car and shot her twice.

In addition to shooting both victims, she shot into at least two occupied vehicles that were in the McDonalds drive through line. While fleeing the scene, Conway changed her clothing appearance and later on disposed of the clothes and weapon used during the murder. She was later apprehended by officers at her home.

At sentencing Assistant State’s Attorney Francis J. Granados told the judge, “The defendant will continue to pose a danger to society, especially when it comes to her family. She poses a distinct threat to Krystal Mange. Someone who has no remorse and cannot acknowledge what they did was wrong cannot be rehabilitated. She thought about, planned, and executed the murder and attempted murder. Someone like that has no place in our society. Life without parole is the only sentence that does justice for Robert and Krystal Mange.”

State’s Attorney Tony Covington added, “One thing we certainly can’t condone in society is the actions we saw here. She wasn’t getting her way and she had her solution. Her solution did not work so she did the ultimate. Her and her son planned it and carried it out too. We hope the court incarcerates this person and keeps her away from trying to complete the job.”

Judge Platt told Conway during sentencing before imposing a life without parole sentence, “Your obsession continues and it is unclear at best whether any treatment can eliminate, let alone mitigate, it. The evidence is what it is. I don’t believe you didn’t know what you were doing. The obsession makes you dangerous.”

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Friday, May 5, 2017, a Charles County jury convicted Deavan Quindel Jefferson, 20, of Second Degree Murder of Reuel Laparis Hicks, Jr., Unlawful Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the Murder of Reuel Laparis Hicks, Jr., Possession of a Regulated Firearm under the age of 21, and the Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun Upon Their Person.

On October 26, 2016, officers responded to the AMC Loews Movie Theater located at the 11100 block of Mall Circle in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found one victim, Reuel Laparis Hicks, Jr., 18 of Waldorf, with a single gunshot wound to his head. The victim was flown to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that Jefferson and the victim, who were acquaintances, first made contact at the area mall where Jefferson solicited the victim for marijuana. Jefferson and the victim then walked to a secluded area of the movie theater parking lot to complete the drug transaction. During the transaction, Jefferson and the victim got into a brief argument when Jefferson suddenly produced a handgun, shot the victim, and then fled the scene.
Two witnesses of the shooting were able to give a detailed description of the shooter to officers. Jefferson was apprehended that night.

A sentencing date has been set for July 10, 2017. Jefferson faces 55 years.

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, April 27, 2017, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Rodrigueze Lavon Nowlin, Jr., 22, to 25 years suspend all but 18 months for 3 counts of First Degree Assault and 18 months for the Possession of an Assault Rifle, which will run concurrent to the First Degree Assault charge. Nowlin was also sentenced to 10 years suspend all but 18 months for 2 counts of Second Degree Assault and 18 months for Reckless Endangerment, which will run consecutive to the First Degree Assault and Possession of an Assault Rifle charges. Nowlin was sentenced to a total of 3 years.

On April 9, 2016, an officer stationed in the 2000 block of Nantucket Drive in Waldorf was frantically approached by a person who reported seeing Nowlin carrying a AR-15 rifle towards a nearby recreation center. The officer subsequently responded to the location and witnessed Nowlin walking in the parking lot of the recreation center towards a side door with a rifle. The officer confronted Nowlin and was able to apprehend him on the scene without shots being fired.

An investigation revealed that Nowlin was attending his girlfriend’s baby shower at the recreational center when he was assaulted by an adult male guest. In response to the minor assault, Nowlin went outside to retrieve a AR-15 from his vehicle. Guests attending the baby shower witnessed Nowlin walking back to the center with the rifle and locked the doors to prevent entrance. After being unable to enter the interior door, he started walking towards the side entrance but was startled by the police officer’s quick arrival and attempted to hide himself and conceal the rifle he was carrying. The semi-automatic AR-15 was loaded with 27 rounds, was ready to fire and was reported stolen from North Carolina.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah K. Freeman, before making a recommendation to the Court, noted that the defendant’s Maryland Sentencing Guidelines were 4 years to 9 years. The guidelines are a sentencing guide for judges and generally signal what an appropriate sentence would be for a particular defendant given the defendant’s crime he is being sentenced for and his criminal history. Freeman recommended a 10 year sentence explaining that the terror this defendant produced warranted a sentence above or at the top of the defendant’s guidelines.

Covington commented that, “But for the timely arrival of Deputy McCue, Waldorf very well would have been the center of the national media’s universe because of this AR-15 toting defendant and the carnage he planned to create. His intent to harm everyone in that rec center was clear. They certainly felt terrorized and he should be severely punished for his inexcusable actions.”