On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, the State’s Attorney’s Office enjoyed being out in the community for National Night Out 2019 and meeting with the citizens of Charles County.
Trial in October 2018 murder underway
The trial of Janeal Jerome Thompson, a 27-year-old Bryans Road man accused of shooting his friend in the head as he slept in the front seat of a moving car, began Monday afternoon in Charles County Circuit Court before Judge Hayward James “Jay” West.
In her opening arguments, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman said Thompson had been in the company of three people the night of Oct. 27, 2018, including his girlfriend, 26-year-old Sarah DeFilippo of Clinton; the deceased, 22-year-old Ronaj Henderson of Bryans Road; and 26-year-old Steven Tyler Danielson of Indian Head. The four had been partying together, Freeman said, and at one point in the evening Thompson “put his hand on Sarah’s face.”
That alleged action didn’t sit well with Henderson, Freeman said, and when they returned to Thompson’s home that night he privately told her that she “deserved better.” DeFilippo went to sleep in the home while the three men fell asleep in the car in the early morning hours of Oct. 28.
DeFilippo told Thompson what Henderson had said, Freeman told the court. When they woke the next morning around 10:30 a.m., Freeman said, DeFilippo got in the car with the three men with Henderson still asleep in the front seat. While they were out getting food, gas and cigarettes, Thompson told DeFilippo, who was driving, to make a left turn on Livingston Road. That’s when Thompson allegedly shot Henderson in the back of the head, Freeman said.
“She looked to her right and sees the defendant holding a firearm to the head of Ronaj Henderson,” Freeman said, adding that it was immediately apparent he was dead from the gunshot. They picked up another individual, 50-year-old Eric Nolan Washington, who helped dispose of Henderson’s body about 200 feet into the woods in Nanjemoy, taking his shoes off his dead body before leaving.
Henderson was missing for eight days before the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was even aware something had transpired, Freeman said. His family had been searching for him to no avail before DeFilippo hit what Freeman called “a breaking point” and told her mother and sister what happened. DeFilippo’s aunt, a sheriff’s office corrections officer, talked to detectives and an investigation was soon underway.
Freeman said DeFilippo and Thompson were “together nonstop” between the time of the shooting and their apprehension in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 2. Police found them there through DeFilippo’s phone, and while she was being interviewed in custody offered to lead officers to the location of Henderson’s body in Nanjemoy, where the body was found behind a log.
“A gunshot to the head of a man who’s sleeping. That’s first-degree murder,” Freeman said.
Thompson’s defense attorney William Porter painted a starkly different picture of that night. For the purpose of simplicity, Porter said, he’d elected to refer to Henderson by his nickname “Psycho” throughout the course of the trial. The “cleaned up” version of events given by the prosecution wasn’t the full and accurate story, Porter contended, asking the jury to “not believe a word out of Sarah DeFilippo’s mouth.”
“She will sit and lie to you,” Porter said.
Porter said while Thompson is “not an angel,” he was not responsible for Henderson’s death. The night before his death, Porter said, all three men and DeFilippo were doing drugs together when a “heated exchange” took place between Henderson and DeFilippo over her not paying for any of the drugs they were using. Danielson also had a problem with Henderson, Porter told the court: In fact, he said, his client was the only one there that night who didn’t have some sort of issue with the man.
DeFilippo, Porter said, “is very manipulative and will tell anyone what they want to hear.”
“She manipulated the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to the point where she’s at home right now and Mr. Thompson is on trial,” Porter said. “… We’re not here for revenge or to give sympathy to anyone’s family. You’re here to give everyone in this court a fair trial.”
DeFilippo and Washington were both charged as accessories to Henderson’s first-degree murder and pleaded guilty in May and June respectively. Washington is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28 and DeFilippo on Aug. 13.
Danielson pleaded no contest to one charge of accessory after the fact earlier this month and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 12.
The trial is expected to continue through the week.
Originally Posted on The Maryland Independent:
Swann pleads to assault
Facing seven counts of attempted first-degree murder among 33 charges related to a July 2018 shooting, 25-year-old Marquis Deangelo Swann of Waldorf pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree assault before Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier on Monday.
The Maryland Independent reported last year that Swann was one of two men involved in the July 7, 2018, incident. According to charging documents, that day the shooter — who was later identified through surveillance footage as Swann — exited a 2006 Chevrolet Impala on Ell Lane and opened fire toward a group of people in a stairwell. One person was shot in the inner thigh and two more were struck in the buttocks.
Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies initially reviewed security footage to determine the license plate number on the Impala. They then found its owner, Swann’s co-defendant David Butler-Charles Jr., a 24-year-old Accokeek man. A search of the car when it was found the next day returned Butler-Charles’ phone, a stolen gun, ammunition and spent shell casings, according to the report. A search of the phone showed Butler-Charles had been trying to sell the gun, along with another, and that he’d also been trying to cut off communication with Swann.
Because Swann has a previous conviction for felony theft he legally is barred from owning a gun in Maryland.
Swann’s trial was due to begin Monday morning when he took the plea. Swann is represented by defense attorney Andre Mahasa. Assistant State’s Attorneys John Stackhouse and Andre Bruce are listed in online court records as having prosecuted the case.
Swann will be sentenced Oct. 9.
Originally Posted on The Maryland Independent:
Man Pleads Guilty to 3 Counts of First-Degree Assault for Shooting at Victims at Apartment Complex Breezeway
State v. Marquis Deangelo Swann, C-08-CR-18-000578
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, July 29, 2019, Marquis Deangelo Swann, 25 of Waldorf, entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court, in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier, to three counts of First-Degree Assault. Swann also admitted to a violation of probation for a prior conviction.
On July 7, 2018, officers responded to an apartment complex located in the 12100 block of Ell Lane in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found victims Dominique Yates and Jamar Campbell suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to PG Shock Trauma for their injuries. While on scene, officers also discovered that another victim, Darius Newman, was shot and injured; however, he left prior to their arrival. All three victims, fortunately, survived.
An investigation revealed that the victims were at a breezeway outside of the apartment complex before the shooting occurred. Two suspects, later determined to be Swann and co-defendant David Nicholas Butler-Charles, arrived at the location in a four-door 2006 Chevrolet Impala. Swann exited the vehicle with a gun and repeatedly fired his weapon towards the victims. He then re-entered the vehicle operated by Butler-Charles, and both men fled the area.
Surveillance footage at the apartment complex captured the incident, as well as the tag number of the Chevrolet Impala, leading officers to Butler-Charles. Swann was later developed as a suspect, which was corroborated by witness identification, as well as other evidence.
On June 28, 2019, co-defendant Butler-Charles entered a guilty plea to three counts of First-Degree Assault and Possession of a Regulated Firearm with a Prior Disqualifying Conviction. A sentencing date for Butler-Charles has been scheduled for July 31, 2019.
A sentencing date for Swann has been scheduled for October 9, 2019.
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Man gets probation for role in home invasion
For his limited role in the 2017 invasion and robbery of a Waldorf home, a Derwood man received five years of unsupervised probation in Charles County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
Jermel Andrico D’Aubrey Thomas, now 35, was 33 when he said he was invited by a family friend to what he thought was just a group hangout on Sept. 3, 2017. In court before Judge Amy J. Bragunier on Tuesday morning, Thomas said he was unaware of what was actually to transpire at the Elsa Court residence.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie, that evening three men who posed as U.S. Marshals knocked on the door of the home and told the victims they were there on official business. Once inside, the men forced the victims downstairs into the basement, where they were bound and assaulted. The men fled the home with stolen money, handguns and marijuana and also stole a car from the victims before absconding. Children were present in the home at the time of the attack but were unharmed.
Beattie told the court Thomas was originally identified as a suspect through the phone records of his co-defendant, 35-year-old Bernard Green of Upper Marlboro. The records showed Green had contacted Thomas during the same time frame as the attack, Beattie said, and the calls were determined to have been transmitted through a cell phone tower near the scene of the crime.
Thomas, Green and 35-year-old Michael Damion Coffer of Waldorf were indicted in May 2018. When Thomas was arrested, Beattie said, he was “very cooperative” and remained so throughout the process. Although he never had to testify against any of his co-defendants, Beattie said Thomas had indicated he was willing to do so, and the information he provided to the state was reliable and helped them identify the other men involved, 36-year-olds Danzie Lee Barron of Washington, D.C., and Dakevis Larry Maryland of Glen Burnie.
Thomas’ defense attorney, Steven Kupferberg, called his client’s decision to even drive to the scene that day “the worst case of a lack of judgment [Thomas] ever made.” Having realized his mistake, Kupferberg said, Thomas’ cooperation in the case proved “instrumental” toward getting justice for the victims. Kupferberg also said Thomas knew his cooperation could potentially put him and his family at risk but he chose to proceed regardless.
Speaking to Bragunier, Thomas said Tuesday he was “truly apologetic” for what had transpired that day, and said he has been “trying to do right ever since.”
Bragunier questioned his level of involvement. She asked Thomas if he knew what they were at the house for the invasion. Thomas replied that he “didn’t realize what was about to take place.” He said “certain suggestions” were made, and he immediately realized he’d been misled.
“Once I figured it out, I said ‘Nah, I’m out of here,” Thomas said. He’d driven to the scene alone, he explained, and so left by himself. Thomas never entered the home that night.
“I’m deeply sorry this ever happened,” Thomas said.
For his role, Thomas received a five-year sentence with all but a day suspended, and he received credit for the day he’d already served when he was arrested. Thomas will be on unsupervised probation for five years.
In December, Dakevis Maryland received 12 years in prison and five years of supervised probation for home invasion as well as 13 years of suspended time. Coffer pleaded to conspiracy to commit home invasion and received a 10-year sentence in December. Barron pleaded guilty to home invasion and was sentenced to 10 years in January.
Green will be sentenced on Sept. 11.
Originally Posted on The Maryland Independent:
Refined Diamonds’ Visit at the SAO
On Tuesday, July 23, 2019, young ladies with the Refined Diamonds group visited the SAO to get a better understanding of the work of the office and watch court cases. Read more
Man Sentenced 8 Years for Shooting at Fleeing Vehicle
State v. Damarco Rashord Hall, C-08-CR-18-000894
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Damarco Rashord Hall, 21 of Waldorf, to 18 years suspend all but 8 years for First-Degree Assault and Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun.
Hall previously entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges on May 31, 2019 in Charles County Circuit Court.
On August 15, 2018, officers responded to Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Waldorf to meet with a victim of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers made contact with victim Omar Catoe, who reported that an unknown suspect, later identified as Hall, shot at his vehicle multiple times on Slater Drive in Waldorf. Alexis Coates was in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
An investigation revealed that prior to the shooting, Catoe was operating a rental vehicle with Coates as his passenger. Catoe was dropping off Coates at a residence on Slater Drive when Hall approached the vehicle and attempted to open the front passenger door. In fear, Catoe accelerated the vehicle in reverse and began fleeing to the area of Poplar Hill Road. As Catoe was fleeing, Hall produced a gun and shot towards the vehicle at least twice, striking it once. Catoe was able to drop off Coates at a residence on Poplar Hill Road, then meet with officers at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church. Fortunately, no one was injured during the shooting.
Hall, who was previously in a relationship with Coates, was developed as a suspect during the course of the investigation and admitted to the shooting, stating that he and Coates were on bad terms during the time of the incident.
During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Pettersen told the judge that the victim was “really affected” by the incident. She furthered that the offense was “very serious. This could’ve gone very differently had the victims been struck.”
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Temple Hills man pleads guilty to armed robbery
A Temple Hills man pleaded guilty to armed robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime on Monday, the same day his trial was scheduled to start.
Raymund Antoine Bradford, 42, was arrested in November 2018 and charged with the March 21, 2018, robbery of Drive Up Liquors in Faulkner, according to charging documents written by Det. C. Gregory of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Bradford was arrested based on DNA present on evidence found at both the Faulkner crime scene and one in St. Mary’s County.
Around 2 p.m. the day of the crime, according to the statement of charges, the suspect, later identified as Bradford, entered the liquor store and approached the counter, where a clerk was on the phone. The suspect pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded he get behind the counter while cocking the weapon.
The suspect produced a backpack he began to fill with cigarettes, according to the report, and also emptied the contents of the cash register into it. While stealing the cigarettes, “the gun fired and a round struck [the victim] in the arm,” but the suspect continued taking the cigarettes.
While the suspect was occupied, the clerk retrieved a baseball bat. When the clerk confronted him, he “sprayed [the victim] in the face with a liquid substance,” at which point the report says the victim retreated to the office and locked the door and the suspect fled. As he did, the report states, “the suspect dropped a knife that was attached to a lanyard around his neck.”
Later that night, a witness contacted the sheriff’s office about the robbery earlier in the day, according to the report. The witness told officers she saw the suspect, who she described as a skinny man dressed in black, running across U.S. 301 approximately 10 minutes after the crime had occurred.
The witness also said that shortly thereafter, she was behind a silver Jaguar with Washington, D.C., tags on Charles Street. While stopped at a traffic light in the area of the Zekiah Swamp Run bridge, the witness said, the driver of the car tossed out a black knit hat, which they felt was “odd behavior.”
The following day, according to the report, Det. Riffle of the CCSO reviewed a bulletin from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office about a robbery that had occurred at the McKay’s grocery store in Charlotte Hall. The suspect in that case was dressed similarly to the man who had robbed the Faulkner store and had left a screwdriver behind.
Both the screwdriver and knife were collected to test for DNA, which returned a positive match for Bradford in September. The investigation showed he had been stopped in both counties while driving a silver Jaguar with D.C. registration, according to the report.
Bradford stole $912 worth of Newport cigarettes and $2,394 in cash, per the report.
Armed robbery carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, as does the use of a firearm charge. Bradford will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Originally Posted on The Maryland Independent:
Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Liquor Store
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 21st, 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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Charles County Crime Solvers’ Golf Tournament
On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, State’s Attorney Tony Covington and other members of the SAO were happy to support the Charles County Crime Solvers’ Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament.
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