News

State v. Ryan Lamont Bell, C-08-CR-21-000325

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, December 19, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Ryan Lamont Bell, 38, of La Plata, to 35 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit the First-Degree Murder of Leon Nathaniel Inabinett, Jr. and the Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. Bell will be on supervised probation for 5 years upon release.

Bell pled guilty to the aforementioned charges on November 14, 2022.

On June 20, 2021, officers responded to the Bryans Road Firehouse in the 3000 block of Livingston Road in Bryans Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered victim Inabinett suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway inside the firehouse. The victim was transported to a local hospital but, unfortunately, was pronounced deceased as a result of his injuries.

An investigation revealed that the victim attended a birthday party at the firehouse before the incident. Bell’s co-defendant, Jahad Karim Frierson, had an issue with the victim due to a prior incident. After learning the victim’s location, Frierson contacted Bell to help confront the victim. Frierson and Bell rode to the firehouse together and hid in bushes waiting for the victim to come out. At the end of the party, the victim was carrying a tray of cookies to put in a vehicle in the rear parking lot. Frierson and Bell approached the victim while he was outside. Frierson brandished a handgun given to him by Bell, struck the victim and then shot him several times. After the shooting was over, both Frierson and Bell fled in the same vehicle. The victim was able to make it inside the firehouse to try to get help but collapsed in the hallway.

An ankle monitor that Bell was wearing for a separate incident indicated that Bell’s location was at the firehouse at the time of the murder. Cell phone records also place Bell and Frierson in the area at the time of the murder. Surveillance video depicts the two confronting the victim and running away.

The handgun used to kill the victim was located in Bell’s vehicle. Bell reported to investigators that he took the gun after the murder and cleaned it.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Constance Kopelman told the judge that the victim was “loved by so many people” and Bell and Frierson “took him away from all of his family, all of his friends, all of the people that he wanted to make a positive impact on.” She furthered that this was a “senseless act against an innocent man. – He had no idea he was about to be ambushed. They confronted an unsuspecting young man with cookies. It could only end in violence and the defendant understood that. It really doesn’t get more senseless than that. His life was senselessly snuffed out over nothing. He didn’t deserve it. He walked out with cookies and ended up being brutally murdered by Bell and Frierson.”

Before sentencing Bell, the Honorable Judge West stated, “Leon was a lot of things to a lot of people; very few people are inspirational. When people like that vanish from the community, the loss is felt more than what can be described here.” He furthered, “the loss is tremendous. The circumstances are extreme, harsh, and brutal.”
 
Sentence

Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder
• 100 years with all but 35 years suspended

Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
• 20 years with all but 5 years suspended
• Concurrent

5 Years of Supervised Probation

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State v. Vincent Anthony Fisher, II, C-08-CR-22-000544

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, December 19, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Vincent Anthony Fisher, II, 49, to 104 years in prison for two counts of First-Degree Arson and the Second-Degree Murders of Rashawn Cline and Dashawn Cline.
Fisher was found guilty of the aforementioned charges by a Charles County jury on September 27, 2024.

On March 31, 2022, officers and fire department personnel responded to a townhome in Waldorf for the report of a residential house fire. Upon arrival, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Fisher was located outside of the residence with injuries from an assault that took place before the fire. After extinguishing the fire, fire department personnel located two deceased victims, later identified as 27-year-old Rashawn Cline and her eighteen-month-old daughter, Dashawn Cline, in an upstairs bedroom.

An investigation revealed that Fisher, who lived at the residence, was involved in a physical altercation with two other males, one being another resident of the house, before the fire started. The altercation began inside the residence but continued outside after Fisher jumped out of his second-story window. When the altercation was over, Fisher remained at the house with the victims while the other males left. Soon after the males left, Fisher intentionally started a fire on a mattress located in the living room of the residence before going outside. The fire extended to the remaining rooms of the first floor and upstairs to the second floor, where the victims were located. The fire completely destroyed the residence.

Video footage from a neighbor’s house captured Fisher walking toward the home before the fire started.

Two lighters were discovered in Fisher’s pants when he was apprehended. During the course of the investigation, it was also found that Fisher had Phencyclidine (PCP) in his system during the incident.

Before the incident, Fisher was told by another resident that he could no longer live at the townhome due to his drug use. Fisher started the fire on the last night he could stay at the residence.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie told the judge, “There is an old adage that no parent should have to bury their child, but this is worse than that.” Speaking of the arson, he stated, “Whenever one takes those types of actions, the consequences that can flow from that can be unimaginable. – It’s selfish, pointless, and, unfortunately, the results are unimaginable.” He also stated that “we’ll never know who [the 18-month-old victim] would’ve become. The reason we will never know is because of the actions of Mr. Fisher. There is no worse First-Degree Arson than one that results in the death of two people and the complete loss of the structure.”

Before sentencing Fisher to 104 years in prison, the Honorable Judge West stated, “The level of chaos created that night, extremely high, off the charts. – It seems to me that in some respects the defendant preyed upon the kindness of a family. He was being put out and he should’ve just left. This is one of the most serious cases I can imagine. Beautiful child, beautiful family. Gone. The level of loss, you can’t describe it.”

 
Sentence

Count 1
• Second-Degree Murder of Rashawn Cline
• 32 years

Count 2
• Second-Degree Murder of Dashawn Cline
• 32 years
• Consecutive

Count 3
• First-Degree Arson (of victims’ residence)
• 25 years
• Consecutive

Count 4
• First-Degree Arson (of neighboring house)
• 15 years
• Consecutive

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State v. Jahad Karim Frierson, C-08-CR-21-000327

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 9-day trial, convicted Jahad Karim Frierson, 27, of Waldorf, of the Second-Degree Murder of Leon Nathaniel Inabinett, Jr.

On June 20, 2021, officers responded to the Bryans Road Firehouse in the 3000 block of Livingston Road in Bryans Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered victim Inabinett suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway inside the firehouse. The victim was transported to a local hospital but, unfortunately, was pronounced deceased as a result of his injuries.

An investigation revealed that the victim attended a birthday party at the firehouse before the incident. Frierson had an issue with the victim due to a prior incident. After learning the victim’s location, Frierson contacted co-defendant Ryan Lamont Bell to help confront the victim. Frierson and Bell rode to the firehouse together and hid in bushes waiting for the victim to come out. At the end of the party, the victim was carrying a tray of cookies to put in a vehicle in the rear parking lot. Frierson and Bell approached the victim while he was outside. Frierson brandished a handgun given to him by Bell, struck the victim and then shot him several times. After the shooting was over, both Frierson and Bell fled in the same vehicle. The victim was able to make it inside the firehouse to try to get help but collapsed in the hallway.

An ankle monitor that Bell was wearing for a separate incident indicated that Bell’s location was at the firehouse at the time of the murder. Cell phone records also place Bell and Frierson in the area at the time of the murder. Surveillance video depicts the two confronting the victim and running away.

The handgun used to kill the victim was located in Bell’s vehicle. Bell reported to investigators that he took the gun after the murder and cleaned it.

On November 14, 2022, co-defendant Bell entered a guilty plea for Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. His sentencing date is December 19, 2024.

A sentencing date for Frierson is scheduled for February 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. He faces 40 years in prison.

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LA PLATA, MD— The State’s Attorney’s Office for Charles County (SAO) is returning with its fourth year of the “Drive Sober” initiative to spread awareness of the grave dangers of driving impaired and help the public take preventative measures. The “Drive Sober” initiative will run during the holiday season – November 25, 2024, through January 1, 2025 – which is one of the deadliest times on the roadways due to drunk driving.

As in prior years, the SAO remains committed to offering the community safe rides home through rideshare. On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (Thanksgiving Eve) from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursday, November 28, 2024, drivers 21+ years of age can download the Uber app and use the SAO’s code for up to $15 off a ride in Charles County to prevent impaired driving. The code will be available on our official Drive Sober webpage (www.ccsao.us/DriveSober). For the first time, the SAO will also offer an Uber code on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on January 1, 2025.  Limited quantities are available.

The SAO will continue to distribute rideshare gift cards, nonalcoholic drink vouchers, and keychain breathalyzers throughout the initiative.

The SAO will also display a new billboard featuring State’s Attorney Tony Covington imploring motorists to “Drive Sober. Make it home for the holidays.”

Further information on where to pick up the “Drive Sober” materials, the effects of impaired driving, and more can be found on the SAO’s website, www.ccsao.us/DriveSober.

State v. George Christopher Floyd, C-08-CR-24-000006

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, November 14, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced George Christopher Floyd, 44, of Waldorf, to 25 years in prison for the Second-Degree Murder of Triston Treshaun Irvin, as well as related charges. Floyd will be on supervised probation for five years upon release.

On June 27, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 4-day trial, and approximately 2.5 hours of deliberation, convicted Floyd of Second-Degree Murder, as well as related charges.

On October 8, 2023, officers responded to a residence in Waldorf for the report of a subject not breathing. When officers arrived, they located the 18-year-old victim unresponsive on a bathroom floor. Officers also made contact with Floyd, the victim’s stepfather. Floyd reported to officers that he put the victim in an arm-bar neck restraint because the victim was trying to run away. The victim ultimately became unresponsive as a result of the strangulation. Emergency Medical Services rendered aid to the victim and then transported him to the hospital for further treatment. However, he, unfortunately, died as a result of the strangulation.

An investigation revealed that Floyd, the victim’s mother, and the victim had a verbal disagreement the night before the murder but went to bed peacefully. Floyd entered the victim’s bedroom at approximately 4:50 a.m. the next morning and demanded that the victim clean his room. Shortly after, Floyd began to strangle the victim. The victim’s mother entered the bedroom after hearing the commotion, then requested three of the victim’s friends, who were sleeping over, and his younger teenage brother to help defuse the situation.

Floyd ordered the young men to help him restrain the victim and pray over him. At one point, Floyd ordered one of the victim’s friends to get olive oil, which Floyd then used to put a cross on the victim’s forehead. However, Floyd kept strangling the victim with an arm-bar for approximately 15-20 minutes while the victim was lying on the floor. During this time, the victim was not moving or talking, but Floyd continued to hold his arm around the victim’s neck. When Floyd got up and saw that the victim was not responsive, he and the other young men attempted to render aid but did not immediately call emergency personnel. When the victim remained unresponsive for approximately 5-10 minutes, Floyd called 911.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse told the judge, “This was a horrific way to die. This is a prolonged suffering that this 18-year-old had to go through. It’s just terrible. This is the worst depraved heart murder that [we’ve] seen.” He also stated that the victim was “an 18-year-old college kid, a church-going young man who lost his life.” The incident “happened in his own room, where he is supposed to be safe. His friends had to see it, including his little brother, it’s horrible. It’s hard to wrap your mind around how terrible that is. If this case doesn’t garner 40 years, I don’t know what would.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Kate Edmands furthered that the victim “was just the type of man that we want in this community.” She stated that the “real tragedy is that he will never get to be a father, a husband. He will no longer get to be a big brother. A son. The community is safe if Mr. Floyd is locked up.”

Before sentencing Floyd, the Honorable Judge Greer told him, “The tragic loss of life is a direct result of the decisions you made.” He furthered that due to Floyd’s lack of remorse and responsibility, “it still appears that you are a danger to the public.”
 
Sentence

Count 1
• Second-Degree Murder
• 40 years with all but 25 years suspended

Count 4
• False Imprisonment
• 20 years with all suspended
• Consecutive to Count 1

Count 5
• Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault
• 20 years with all suspended
• Concurrent to Count 4
• Consecutive to Count 1

Count 6
• Conspiracy to Commit False Imprisonment
• 20 years with all suspended
• Concurrent to Counts 4 and 5
• Consecutive to Count 1

5 years of supervised probation

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State v. Damion Anqwan Wilson, C-08-CR-24-000094

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, November 1, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Damion Anqwan Wilson, 42, of La Plata, to 20 years in prison for First-Degree Assault, Possession of a Firearm with a Felony Conviction, and Possession of Cocaine.

On August 21, 2024, Wilson pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charges.

On January 17, 2024, officers responded to the Dash In located in the 600 block of Charles Street in La Plata after being waved down by the victim. An investigation revealed that Wilson and the victim, who were unknown to each other, made contact while at the Dash In. At some point during the interaction, Wilson brandished a firearm, pointed it at the victim, then walked away. The victim called the police after the incident and reported to officers what Wilson looked like.

Officers located Wilson near the gas station. Wilson began to flee from officers, who then gave chase on foot. Wilson dropped his weapon while trying to escape. After a struggle, officers were able to apprehend Wilson.  

In September 2022, Wilson was paroled after serving time for the second-degree murder of Gayle A. Cooke. Cooke worked at the State’s Attorney’s Office for Charles County as a Victim Witness Coordinator. Cooke was shot and killed in 2000 by Wilson during a domestic dispute that Wilson was having with Cooke’s daughter.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse told the judge, “I’ve been doing this job for a very long time; there are some cases that pop up and are very concerning. This is one of those cases.” He furthered that Wilson did not take “responsibility for the horrible crime he did in 2000.” Instead, “he comes out of prison and points a gun at somebody else.” He stated that this incident is “about as serious as you can get” when coupled with someone on parole for murder and requested an above-guideline sentence to “protect the community.”

Before sentencing Wilson, the Honorable Judge West stated that this is “the type of case that shows, at its very best, the level of poor decision-making in spite of a past record. It’s astonishing. The decision-making, type of offense, and the history give great concern.”

Sentence

Count 1

• First-Degree Assault
  • 15 years

Count 4

• Possession of Firearm with a Felony Conviction
  • 5 years
  • Consecutive to Count 1

Count 10

• Possession of Cocaine
  • 1 year
  • Concurrent to Count 1

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State v. Antoine Jamel Bailey, C-08-CR-23-000916

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, October 25, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Brown sentenced Antoine Jamel Bailey, 21, to 8 years in prison for two counts of Armed Robbery. Upon release, Bailey will be on supervised probation for five years.

On October 17, 2024, Bailey pled guilty to the aforementioned charges.

On September 11, 2023, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Bank of America located in the 3200 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery.

An investigation revealed that a female victim went to the bank’s ATM to withdraw money. As she was walking back to her vehicle, she saw the suspect, later determined to be Bailey, walk toward her; however, she thought he was going to the ATM.  When the victim got into her vehicle, Bailey pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her brother, who was located on the passenger side of the vehicle. The brother’s window was rolled down halfway.

Bailey demanded that the two victims give him all their belongings. The female victim gave Bailey her purse, keys to her vehicle, and cell phone. Her brother gave Bailey his cell phone. Bailey then fled the area.

On September 19, 2023, officers in Prince George’s County apprehended Bailey during an armed robbery at another Bank of America. Bailey matched the description of the suspect of the armed robbery that occurred in Charles County on September 11, 2023, and his DNA was located on the exterior of the victim’s vehicle. Cell phone records also placed Bailey in the area during the robbery on September 11, 2023.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie told the judge, “This crime was exceptionally violent and targeted innocent citizens going about their lives.”  He furthered that, “This is an extremely serious case to the State.”

Sentence

Count 1

• Armed Robbery
  • 20 years suspend all but 8 years

Count 6

• Armed Robbery
  • 10 years with all suspended
  • Concurrent to Count 1

5 years of supervised probation

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State v. Katravien Tyrieus Vercher, C-08-CR-23-000463

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 3-day trial, convicted Katravien Tyrieus Vercher, 25, of Waldorf, of five counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Third-Degree Sexual Offense.

On March 22, 2023, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Waldorf for the report of child sexual abuse. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the juvenile victims’ mother. The mother reported that Vercher sexually abused three of her children over the course of three years.  

An investigation revealed that Vercher moved in with the victims and their mother at their Waldorf residence in 2020. Vercher began abusing the victims within a few months of moving in. The victims were 5, 6, and 10 years old when the incidents first began. In the first incident, Vercher asked the 10-year-old victim if she wanted to play a game, and she responded yes. Vercher then began making sexual advances toward the victim. The sexual contact with the 10-year-old victim continued repeatedly over the course of three years and progressed in nature. He also came up with a code phrase to use with the victim when they were around other people, indicating he wanted sexual contact.

Vercher engaged in sexual acts with the other two minor victims as well. On one occasion, the two youngest victims were present during the sexual act at the same time.

One of the victims eventually reported the abuse to their mother, who then called the police.

During the course of the investigation, Vercher admitted to making comments about the 10-year-old victim’s appearance and being attracted to what she was wearing. He also admitted to slapping her buttocks.

A sentencing date for Vercher has been set for December 16, 2024. He faces 115 years in prison.

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State v. Vincent Anthony Fisher, II, C-08-CR-22-000544

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, September 27, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 10-day trial, convicted Vincent Anthony Fisher, II, 49, of two counts of First-Degree Arson and two counts of Second-Degree Murder of Rashawn Cline and Dashawn Cline.  

On March 31, 2022, officers and fire department personnel responded to a townhome in Waldorf for the report of a residential house fire. Upon arrival, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Fisher was located outside of the residence and was suffering from injuries from an assault that took place before the fire. After extinguishing the fire, fire department personnel located two deceased victims, later identified as 27-year-old Rashawn Cline and her eighteen-month-old daughter, Dashawn Cline, in an upstairs bedroom.

An investigation revealed that Fisher, who lived at the residence, was involved in a physical altercation with two other males, one being another resident of the house, before the fire started. The altercation began inside the residence but continued outside after Fisher jumped out of his second-story window. When the altercation was over, Fisher remained at the house with the victims while the other males left. Soon after the males left, Fisher intentionally started a fire on a mattress located in the living room of the residence before going outside.  The fire extended to the remaining rooms of the first floor and upstairs to the second floor, where the victims were located. The fire completely destroyed the residence.

Video footage from a neighbor’s house captured Fisher walking toward the home before the fire started.

Two lighters were discovered in Fisher’s pants when he was apprehended. During the course of the investigation, it was also found that Fisher had Phencyclidine (PCP) in his system during the incident.

Before the incident, Fisher was told by another resident that he could no longer live at the townhome due to his drug use. Fisher started the fire on the last night he could stay at the residence.    

A sentencing date for Fisher has been set for December 19, 2024. He faces up to 140 years in prison.

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State v. Pio Arnoldo Flores, C-08-CR-23-000929

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, August 29, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Brown sentenced Pio Arnoldo Flores, 56, of Bryantown, to 12 years in prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Flores will be on supervised probation for five years upon release from prison. Flores will also have to register as a Tier III sex offender after his release and comply with lifetime sexual offender supervision conditions.

On April 16, 2024, Flores pled guilty to the aforementioned charge.

On November 14, 2023, officers with Charles County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the then 16-year-old victim after receiving a report from the Department of Human Services alleging child sexual abuse. The victim reported that Flores began assaulting her in April 2020 when she was 13 years old. An investigation revealed that Flores began touching the victim inappropriately, which eventually progressed to sexual acts with the victim. The last incident was on October 29, 2023.

Flores knew the victim since she was an infant.

At sentencing, the Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to the case told the judge that Flores committed “the worst of the worst acts that constitute Sex Abuse of a Minor.” She also stated that “the psychological scars will affect this young lady for the rest of her life.”

 
Sentence
Count 1: Sex Abuse of a Minor
• 20 years with all but 12 years suspended
• Five years of supervised probation

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