Kandes No Comments

Murder Co-Defendant Sentenced

State v. Rena Cassandra Crandell, K16-368    

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 Rena Cassandra Crandell, 25, to 15 years in prison and an additional 20 years suspended time for the First Degree Burglary of Michael Beers and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.

On April 12, 2017, pursuant to a plea agreement, Crandell plead guilty to the charges for which she was sentenced. The agreement included that Crandell, if called as a witness, would testify truthfully in any of her co-defendants’ cases.

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 an attempt to rob Beers. Upon entrance to the residence, the masked men discovered victim Edward Glaze, Jr. asleep in the living room, then physically assaulted him and demanded him to enter a room occupied by Beers and Crandell. The owner of the residence was also forced to enter the room.

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. Prior to the struggle, Crandell walked out of the room without incident. Edward Glaze escaped during the struggle by jumping through a closed window in the bedroom. The owner of the residence remained in the bedroom throughout the incident but was unharmed. After shooting Beers, the two suspects fled the scene.

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.

The investigation also revealed that Crandell conspired with her co-defendants to rob Beers. In a statement to police that allowed the police solve the murder, Crandell admitted her role in the crime. Crandell indicated she was an acquaintance of the victim and that she was dropped off at the house by her co-defendants earlier that night. She had sex with Beers and waited for him to go to sleep. Once he did fall asleep, Crandell unlocked the front door for her co-defendants;   that is how the co-defendants entered the residence. Crandell rode back to Baltimore with her co-defendants after the murder. At the trial of one of her co-defendants, Crandell did testify to her role in the crime.

Kandes No Comments

Man Found Guilty of Murdering Bystander

State v. Antonio Ka-Juan Owens, C-08-CR-17-000011

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, a Charles County jury, after a 6 day trial and 1 day of deliberations, convicted Antonio Ka-Juan Owens, 22, of First Degree Murder of Lydell Wood, Unlawful Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence related to the Murder of Lydell Wood, and related charges.

On January 6, 2016, officers responded to the 2600 block of Rooks Head Place in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found one victim, Lydell Wood, with a single gunshot wound in his back. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that an acquaintance of Wood got into a confrontation with co-defendant Miguel Santana earlier that day while Wood and other men were present. The acquaintance brandished a handgun and shot at Santana. Wood had no involvement in the shooting. Santana fled the area unharmed and contacted Owens to help him retaliate.

Santana and Owens canvassed the area in search of the group of men present at the earlier shooting. When Wood was spotted, Santana and Owens exited the vehicle and confronted Wood, who ran away after both men brandished guns. Santana and Owens gave chase and fired several gunshots, striking Wood in the back as he attempted to find safety and enter a house in the neighborhood.

Owens was later identified as one of the shooters by witness testimony as well as other extensive corroborating evidence.

A sentencing date has been set for July 10, 2018. Owens faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Kandes No Comments

Repeat Sexual Offender Sentenced to 48 Years in Prison

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.”

Kandes No Comments

State’s attorney urges students to think about consequences of actions

Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington is speaking to high school students, urging them to think about where they want their path in life to lead.

“Your life is determined by your choices. Every choice has consequences,” Covington (D) told students. “These consequences are going to determine your future.”

Covington has brought his media presentation “Think About It” to two middle and three high schools this school year. Last week, Covington spoke with seniors and juniors at Westlake High School. On Monday he spoke to Westlake freshmen and sophomores.

“You need to decide right now, with the freedom to choose your own life comes a lot of responsibility to make sure you lead a successful life,” Covington told students.

Covington said that as a young man, he didn’t focus on his grades until an injury kept him away from an athletic scholarship. He went from a 2.0 GPA to a 4.0 in college before joining the United States Air Force, where he served as an intelligence officer.

Covington was elected state’s attorney in 2010, becoming the first African-American state’s attorney in the history of Charles County. He faces no challengers in seeking a third term this year.

Covington told students they don’t have to be wealthy to live a successful life.

“You take care of yourself, you take care of your family, that is a life well lived, and successful,” Covington said.

He also encouraged students to maximize their positive characteristics and strengths.

“Please understand that you were put on this planet for a reason. You are a unique gift. I know I am. I’m Tony Covington and I am a unique gift. I’ve got things I can do, and so does each and every one of you, because I’m no different from any one of you,” Covington told students. “And part of your reason here on Earth is to inspire others, whether it’s a brother, sister, father, mother, someone you meet in the hospital, that’s part of your job.”

Covington urged students to take good advice from people, advising students to avoid drugs and alcohol.

“I guarantee that if you wake up one day, and you see bars, and you’re on the inside of those bars, it is because of drugs or alcohol, one way or another,” Covington said. “People use drugs or alcohol to feel better about something instead of dealing with their reality.”

Westlake Principal Michael Meiser said he felt it was important to get Covington’s message out to students.

“His message and the things he has seen and dealt with in his profession are some things that you guys hopefully will never have to deal with,” Meiser told students. “But he has a great message about how to make wise decisions and how to handle difficult challenges and how he’s overcame those in his life.”

 

Originally Posted on Maryland Independent:

http://www.somdnews.com/independent/news/local/state-s-attorney-urges-students-to-think-about-consequences-of/article_d68eb448-84ae-5d7d-beeb-3e1752b4c540.html

Kandes No Comments

Waldorf man sentenced 8 years for armed robbery

A 20-year-old Waldorf man accused of armed robbery was sentenced to eight years in prison in Charles County Circuit Court Monday.

Dominic Isiah Marks-Wiggins was sentenced to a total of eight years incarceration by Circuit Court Judge H. Jay West after he pleaded guilty to robbery and violation of probation.

On June 8, 2017, around 11:15 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 2800 block of Homette Place in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery.

 On scene, police spoke with on of the two victims who said that he and his friend were walking to a friend’s house when two individual’s approached them with a gun and a knife, demanding marijuana and money.

One victim said that one individual had a gun to his head and the other had a knife to his friend’s stomach. The victims told police that they gave the suspects two iPhones and marijuana. The suspects then fled the scene on foot, according to charging documents.

Malik Yorubs Chambers-Thomas, 22, of Brandywine and Marks-Wiggins were both arrested and charged with charged with armed robbery, robbery, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and theft. In 2017, a judge set both men’s bail at $50,000.

On Jan. 8, Marks-Wiggins pleaded guilty to robbery and a violation of probation. Chambers-Thomas pleaded guilty to the same charged on April 4; his sentencing date is set for May 30.

On April 23, during Marks-Wiggins’ sentencing hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie asked the court to consider the guidelines for the robbery charge, which includes three to eight years of incarceration.

Beattie told the court that this incident was a “setup robbery” where Marks-Wiggins and Chambers-Thomas knew that the victims would have marijuana on them.

According to Beattie, Chambers-Thomas was named the suspect with the gun and Marks-Wiggins was named as the suspect with the knife during the incident. Beattie said that this makes Marks-Wiggins the second most culpable in the robbery.

Marks-Wiggins also was on probation from a prior charge while he was charged in the armed robbery incident, Beattie reminded the court.

Representing Marks-Wiggins were attorneys Robert Castro and Brendan Callahan.

“Everything that the state said is true,” Callahan said. However, he said that the ‘victim’ that the defendant pulled a knife on was an “inside man” and knew about the robbery and knew what was going to happen.

Nicklas Adams, 22, of Waldorf, who was the ‘victim’ with a knife held to his stomach, was also charged in the case. He pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 18 months incarceration in January.

Callahan asked for no more than 18 months incarceration with work release for the robbery charge, given Adams’ sentence.

Castro, who was representing the defendant on his violation of probation, called Marks-Wiggins “a good kid” and “respectful.” He asked for the court to keep Marks-Wiggins local, at the Charles County Detention Center, instead of sending him to the state Department of Corrections (DOC).

 In an orange jumpsuit, Marks-Wiggins apologized for his actions and said that he has since matured.

“It’s a DOC case every way you look at it,” West said.

West told the defense attorneys that there was a better argument that this was an above guidelines case than a below guidelines case.

He said that the real victim who was robbed at gunpoint was not on the inside; he “could have gotten hurt pretty easily.”

“Someone easily gets seriously harmed in this case,” West said.

West sentenced Marks-Wiggins to six years incarceration at the Department of Corrections for the robbery charge and two years to run consecutive for the violation of probation charge.

The defendant will be credited 300 days incarceration and will have to pay the victims $930 in restitution.

 

Originally Posted on Maryland Independent:

http://www.somdnews.com/independent/crime_and_courts/waldorf-man-sentenced-years-for-armed-robbery/article_47bbf02f-6999-57ae-927a-7164588d2a80.html

Kandes No Comments

Man Found Guilty of Murder

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, April 13, 2018, a Charles County jury, after a 5 day trial, convicted Bryan Javier Aquice, 25, of the First Degree Murder of Michael Beers, Unlawful Use of a Firearm in the Commission a Crime of Violence related to the First Degree Murder of Michael Beers, two counts of First Degree Assault, and other related charges.

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. The owner of the residence was also forced to enter the room.

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.

A sentencing date has been set for June 8, 2018. He faces two life sentences in prison plus 115 years.

Kandes No Comments

Man Sentenced for Assaulting Victim

State v. Jermaine Robert Maddox, C-08-CR-18-000069

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Jermaine Robert Maddox, 30 of Nanjemoy, to 12 years in prison and an additional 10 years suspended time for two counts of Second Degree Assault and 2 counts of Obstruction of Justice.
On July 31, 2017, officers responded to the 3900 block of Boozer Place in Indian Head and spoke with the female victim present at the residence.

Their investigation revealed that earlier on the same day while the victim was at work, Maddox attempted to contact the victim via cell phone. Maddox made over 30 calls or texts within an hour trying to contact the victim. She did not answer or respond to Maddox. At least one of the texts was threatening the victim.
After work the victim returned to her residence on Boozer Place, where she found Maddox blocking the entrance to her driveway. Maddox approached the victim’s vehicle with a hammer and threatened to harm the victim if she did not open the vehicle’s door. When the victim refused, Maddox lit a cigarette and held it near the vehicle’s gas cap. At that time, the victim opened the door. Maddox forced entry into the vehicle and demanded that the victim unlock her phone, but the victim refused. Maddox eventually told the victim to enter her house.

The victim later fell asleep in her bedroom and woke up to find Maddox in her room holding her cell phone. Maddox again demanded the victim unlock the phone, but she again refused. Maddox then pushed the phone in the victim’s face and shoved the victim down on her bed, demanding that she open the phone. When the victim responded that she could not, Maddox took a pillow and put it over the victim’s face, prompting her to call out for help to her 8-year-old daughter, who was also in the house during the incident. Maddox then used his whole body weight to cup the pillow around the victim’s head in an attempt to suffocate her. The victim went limp and played dead. Eventually, Maddox released the pillow and got off of the victim. The victim then escaped to an upper level in the house where her and her daughter hid for safety and called the police.

Maddox was located and apprehended by officers a few days later. While incarcerated, Maddox made calls in attempt to get family members and friends to threaten to kill the victim and her mother if the charges against him were not dropped and the victim did not change her story to the police.

On February 5, 2018, Maddox entered a guilty plea in Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge H. James West to the above listed charges.

Kandes No Comments

Former Charles County Public School’s teacher takes plea, sentenced for sex abuse

A St. Charles High School teacher, who was accused of sexually abusing a student during school hours from January to May 2017, entered a guilty plea in Charles County Circuit Court Tuesday.

In front of Judge H. Jay West, LaToya Niccole Parker, 40, of Waldorf pleaded guilty to misconduct in office and displaying obscene matter to a minor. Parker was sentenced in court Tuesday to 11 years, all of it suspended, and five years probation, according to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office.

On Nov. 3, Parker was charged with sex abuse of a minor, sexual solicitation of a minor and displaying obscene material to a minor.

Parker was a family and consumer science teacher at St. Charles High School at the time of the incidents and had been teaching at the school since 2015.

In Charles County Circuit Court Nov. 7, assistant state’s attorney Sarah Freeman gave a description of the incident that the victim told detectives.

Freeman said that the investigation began in May. A student told detectives that Parker would remove him from class, buy food for him from various restaurants, and she had him eat the food in her classroom while she talked to him.

She would also text him on his cell phone, Freeman said.

Freeman told the court that the victim said Parker would write him love notes in a composition book and have him read them. The book was later recovered in Parker’s home by Det. Webster with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Some of the letters included Parker stating she had feelings for the victim.

“I have feelings for you. I want to kiss you. Do you ever think about me?” Freeman read to the court.

The victim also told police that Parker stated that she wanted to have sex with him. According to the victim, while in her classroom, Parker showed him several photos of herself naked, as well as a video of herself and another man engaging in sexual acts, Freeman said.

Parker also gave the victim money.

 The victim, who was on the school’s football team, began to tell his peers about the incidents between he and Parker, which circulated around the school. Having heard about the incidents, a staff member contacted the sheriff’s office, Freeman told the court.

Once notified of the incident, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) immediately removed Parker from her teaching duties and directed that she have no contact with students, according to a CCPS press release.

The school system’s general practice is to immediately remove any employee accused of inappropriate behavior from having contact with students during the investigation of charges. CCPS places the employee on administrative leave with pay or assigns them to a temporary position in the administrative offices until resolution of the charges, the release states.

All of Parker’s electronic devices were seized. On Oct. 5, the Maryland State Police submitted a findings report to Webster, according to Freeman. Forty-eight images and one video were found and some were considered sexual. Seven of the images were of her having sex with another male, which “matched the description” of the photos the victim said Parker showed him.

Representing Parker was attorney Hammad S. Matin.

 

Originally Posted on Maryland Independent:

http://www.somdnews.com/independent/crime_and_courts/former-charles-county-public-school-s-teacher-takes-plea-sentenced/article_c36b546f-78ed-5bb2-b7bc-32d73e0ce885.html