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Charles man pleads guilty to father’s murder

La Plata, MD – A man who told police he used drugs and then killed his father pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Charles County Circuit Court Monday, March 12. The defendant, Carlton Vernon Bell Jr., 23 of Waldorf, entered the plea before Judge Amy Bragunier.

According to documents on file in the Maryland court system, during the afternoon of Jan. 27, 2017, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from Lurleen Lynette Bell, who told police her son Carlton Jr. had just been in a motor vehicle crash and had been taken to shock trauma. “She stated her son and his father had gotten into a verbal disagreement before the son got into the accident,” court documents stated. Police went to the residence on Topsmelt Court in Waldorf to check on the welfare of Carlton Vernon Bell Sr. Two sheriff’s officers entered the home, finding it in disarray, with broken glass, blood and signs of a struggle. Carlton Bell Sr.’s body was discovered in an upstairs bathroom. A screwdriver was found lodged in his head.

Detectives interviewed Carlton Bell Jr. with his consent at Baltimore Shock Trauma. “He stated to the detectives that he had been using drugs and felt like he needed to kill someone,” court documents stated. “He stated he located his father inside the residence and cut him with a knife. He advised he then killed his father by using a hammer to drive a screwdriver into his father’s head. He told detectives he stayed in the house for several hours. The defendant stated he left the house looking for someone else to kill. He eventually decided to kill himself by crashing his vehicle into a ravine.”

The crash occurred shortly after 1 p.m. in the area of Route 301 and Mitchell Road. Carlton Bell Jr. fled the scene of the crash on foot but was caught by police a short time later. Due to his injuries he was flown to shock trauma.

Bell’s attorney, William C. Brennan Jr. noted his client had originally pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of insanity due to his state of mind at the time the crime was committed. That plea was withdrawn. First-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Assistant State’s Attorney John A. Stackhouse represented the state during hearing.
Bragunier ordered a pre-sentencing investigation. Sentencing was tentatively set for May 15.

 

Originally Posted on The Baynet:

http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0318/charlesmanpleadsguiltytofathersmurder.html

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Kiwanis of Charles County Meeting

On Tuesday, March 6, 2018, State’s Attorney Tony Covington spoke to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Charles County about the office’s “Think About It” initiative, as well as community concerns.

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Sexual Predator Gets 3 Life Terms

State v. Darren Anthony Wimbush, K15-1225

 LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Darren Anthony Wimbush, 35 of Waldorf, to 3 consecutive Life sentences plus 60 consecutive years for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and 5 counts of Second Degree Sex Offense.

On June 30, 2015, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received a Crime Solver’s anonymous tip that the victim was being sexually abused by Wimbush. After receiving the anonymous tip, detectives contacted the victim, who later revealed that she was sexually abused repeatedly by Wimbush over the course of a two year timeframe.

An investigation revealed that Wimbush, a registered sex offender, began sexually abusing the victim when she was 11 years old and he was 29 years old.  The abuse continued until June of 2015.  Investigators also learned that Wimbush threatened to kill the victim and her family if she told anyone. A Sexual Assault Exam conducted on the victim revealed trauma that was consistent with sexual assault.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the judge, “As I said to the jury, the defendant was supposed to build the victim up, teach her right from wrong, teach her morals, but he did the opposite. This was gross, vicious, and heinous, and it was repeated over and over. The level of harm was excessive. The court heard the emotional and mental effect it had on the victim. The defendant was torturing her. It is our recommendation that the defendant get multiple life sentences. He should not get the opportunity to breathe air as a free man ever again.”

Before sentencing Wimbush to multiple life sentences plus 60 years, Judge West stated, “When you run into people who are gifted or have special qualities about them, the last thing you should do is abuse them. That is exactly what happened here. The level of harm is excessive. This is probably the worst abuse of trust that I’ve seen.”

Covington, commenting on the Court’s sentence said, “The Court was absolutely justified in imposing this sentence.  Wimbush is a proven predator and must be kept away from all potential victims for the rest of his life.  Part of the Court’s duty is to protect our citizens from those that would perpetrate evil acts – especially on our most vulnerable.  The Judge did so in this case.”

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Drug Store ATM Burglar Sentenced

State v. Kevontae DeAngelo Stewart, C-08-CR-17-000209

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Kevontae DeAngelo Stewart to 10 years all suspended but 18 months for Second Degree Burglary. Stewart also faces 10 years back up time and 5 years supervised probation for Conspiracy Theft $10,000-$100,000.
On August 8, 2017, officers responded to an intrusion alarm at the CVS located in the 4200 block of Altamont Place in White Plains. While responding, a witness notified officers of seeing a pickup truck backing into the front of the store, followed by three suspects pulling the store’s ATM into the bed of the truck and driving away in the direction of Hedgemeade Court.
Upon canvassing the area of Hedgemeade Court, an officer identified a potential suspect. After a foot chase, the suspect, later identified as co-defendant Everett Tyrone Brown, was apprehended. Within the area Brown was first observed fleeing, officers discovered an unoccupied Silver Ford F-350 in the street with the engine running. Behind the truck, officers discovered the stolen ATM machine from CVS.
Officers also determined occupants in another truck to be involved with the burglary. After a vehicle pursuit, the vehicle was successfully disabled by officers. Two suspects immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot. One suspect, later determined to be Stewart, was discovered in a drainage ditch inside of a construction site. A pair of white gloves with red colored tips were also discovered during apprehension. The other suspect was not immediately located.
Surveillance tape from the CVS confirmed the descriptions of Stewart and Brown, who were both wearing the same clothing during their apprehension as seen in the burglary. The video surveillance also showed the suspects wearing white gloves with red colored tips.
An investigation into the Silver Ford F-350 revealed that the vehicle and registration plate were reported stolen from Montgomery County.
Covington had no comment on Stewart’s sentence.
A sentencing date for co-defendant Everett Tyrone Brown has been set for April 25, 2018.

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Child sex offender convicted

La Plata, MD- A repeat sex offender in Charles County is now facing life in prison after being convicted on several counts relating to child sex abuse.

Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, 44 of La Plata, was charged with sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sexual offense and two counts of third-degree sexual offense. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, after two days of testimony, a jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before finding Crutchfield guilty of the charges.

Crutchfield was charged after a 14-year girl reported the abuse to a teacher in January of 2017. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Social Services immediately investigated Crutchfield. That investigation revealed a string of text messages Crutchfield sent to the victim’s cell phone, which corroborated her account of the abuse.

The text messages revealed there were times in which Crutchfield had inappropriate contact with the victim in her bedroom. Each time the he apologized to the victim. The text messages date back to April 2016.

During closing arguments, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the jury, “the defendant preyed on the victim’s need to have a father in her life; he pretended to support and care for her simply to fulfill his own twisted sexual desires.”

In 1999, Crutchfield pleaded guilty and was convicted of child abuse in Montgomery County.

A sentencing date has been set for April 10.

 

Originally Posted on The Baynet: 

http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0318/childsexoffenderconvicted.html

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Repeat Sexual Offender Found Guilty of Child Sexual Abuse

State v. Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, K17-130

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, after two days of trial and less than 30 minutes of deliberations, a Charles County jury convicted Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, 44 of La Plata, of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Sexual Offense in the Second Degree, and two counts of Sexual Offense in the Third Degree.

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 is 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.

During closing argument, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the jury, “the Defendant preyed on the victim’s need to have a father in her life; he pretended to support and care for her simply to fulfill his own twisted sexual desires”. The text messages 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.

In 1999, Crutchfield plead guilty and was convicted of Child Abuse in Montgomery County, Maryland. Based on the jury’s findings of guilt in Charles County and his prior conviction, Crutchfield is facing a possibility of Life imprisonment. A sentencing date has been set for April 10, 2018.

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Newburg man sentenced 5 years for nearly disemboweling man

A 24-year-old Newburg man was sentenced the maximum five years for attacking and stabbing a male in the stomach last June.

Tramaine Vondell Dorsey, 25, was charged with first-degree and second-degree assault, along with reckless endangerment.

On June 17, 2017, around 10:30 p.m., officers responded to the 4000 block of Tims Place in Nanjemoy for the report of a stabbing.

 Police reports state the male victim, 22, was attacked and stabbed in the abdomen.

The incident began at a party, where the victim was involved in an argument with Dorsey. According to the state, the victim was talking to Dorsey’s girlfriend, which started the dispute.

During the argument, Dorsey allegedly stabbed the victim then fled the scene. Shortly after the incident, police were called to the location, where they located the victim with a stab wound to his abdomen.

The victim was flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment. The victim had “his intestines hanging out” due to the stab wound, Judge William Greer said.

The sheriff’s office used a K-9 unit to search the area and Dorsey was located nearby. Dorsey was arrested, charged and held at the Charles County Detention Center with a $50,000 bond.

After a trial on Dec. 7, 2017, Dorsey was found guilty of reckless endangerment.

At Dorsey’s sentence hearing, the state, represented by assistant state’s attorneys Jonathan P. Beattie and Paul A. Halliday, argued that the victim suffers from a permanent injury because he now has a significant scar, which the jury saw in Dorsey’s trial.

The defense, represented by public defender Kathryn B. Batey, argued that it would not be clear if the victim’s scar would be permanent and also mentioned that a weapon was never found on Dorsey or at the scene of the incident.

The state rebutted and said that the scar on the victim’s stomach was a direct result of Dorsey’s actions. The victim had to undergo surgery for his wound, according to Halliday.

The state also asked, on behalf of the victim, that Dorsey pay around $700 in medical bills as restitution.

“[I just want to remind the court] how pointless this all was. None of this needed to happen,” Halliday told the court.

Dorsey read a letter he wrote to the court aloud just before he was sentenced by Greer.

“It was never my intentions to cause anyone harm,” Dorsey said.

He said that he felt that he was defending himself at the time of the incident; he later called himself a considerate person.

Dorsey also got emotional when he was telling the court about the love he has for his girlfriend and her two young sons. He said he would be willing to take anger management courses in order to control his anger issues.

Greer told Dorsey that he sat in the trial and heard “what went down” the day of the incident and said that Dorsey had “multiple opportunities to leave.”

“I don’t think for a second that a razor wasn’t there [at the place of crime]. You escalated the incident where someone could have been killed,” Greer told Dorsey.

He said that this incident and “serious injury” will “probably effect [the victim] for the rest of his life.”

Greer said that he understood Dorsey’s “tough upbringing” of poverty; however, he said, “You are still young and still have a chance to put this behind you and move on.”

Greer sentenced Dorsey to five years incarceration with credit for 250 days already served and restitution to the victim.

Originally Posted on The Maryland Independent:

http://www.somdnews.com/independent/crime_and_courts/newburg-man-sentenced-years-for-nearly-disemboweling-man/article_12a88bcf-065e-51d8-8fff-f948c1967bc0.html

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Man given maximum sentence for child sex abuse

A 39-year-old New Carrolton man was sentenced to the maximum 25 years in prison on Tuesday after he was found guilty last year of sexually abusing a minor.

On Nov. 6, 2015, Donald McCoy Stancell Jr. was accused by a 17-year-old girl of sex abuse. After DNA results were returned to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Stancell was charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense, third-degree sex offense and other charges on Jan. 21, 2016.

When Stancell’s case was forwarded to circuit court in March 2016, his charges were altered to four counts of sex abuse to a minor, three counts of third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault.

Stancell had two trials involving this case result in mistrials. His final trial was in November 2017, where the jury found him guilty of sex abuse of a minor after deliberating for only 15 minutes.

During the trial, the teenager testified that Stancell had been sexually abusing her for years. She stated that he would have her perform sexual favors in exchange for lifted punishments and luxury items.

Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman used evidence that Stancell’s DNA was found on the crotch area of the girl’s underwear to prove her case.

Representing Stancell, attorney Thomas C. Mooney argued that the teenager was getting revenge on Stancell with false accusations.

During the sentencing, Freeman reviewed the incident which lead to his convictions.

“Mr. Stancell was the person who was supposed to build [the victim] up, not tear her down,” Freeman told the court.

She mentioned the “layers of harm” that Stancell had put on the victim. Freeman told the court that this was not an isolated event; it was repeated, and that the state asked for the sentence to be above the guidelines.

The the victim’s mother spoke to the court during the sentence hearing. She told the court that during the victim’s abuse she aborted a pregnancy, in fear that it was Stancell’s. She said that her children have to be in counseling.

“I cannot sleep without medication. I have this crazy fear that someone is going to harm my children,” the victim’s mother said.

The victim also shared her impact statement with the court.

“What you did to me for four years, I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” she said.

The victim also referred to herself as feeling like a “sex puppet” during her time of abuse. She mentioned her attempts of suicide during that time as well.

“I hope justice continues to serve you because the scar you left is now tattooed,” the victim said, referring to Stancell.

Mooney told the court that before these allegations, Stancell was a paid firefighter in Prince George’s County and that he suffered from trauma he had experienced on the job, which led him to use alcohol.

Stancell’s sister and father spoke to the court about Stancell growing up in church and being a “hero” as a firefighter.

After listening to the state and the defense, Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier gave Stancell the maximum sentence of 25 years incarceration.

“You’ve had a lot of people fooled to hide your double life … your disgusting, double life,” Bragunier said.

“You’ve seen a lot of the worst in society, but you’ve also been the worst,” she said. “You gave [the victim] a life sentence. You destroyed a soul,” Bragunier said to Stancell.

Earlier in the sentencing, Stancell pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, which was found on his laptop during the investigation of the victim’s accusations. He will serve five years for each count, which will run consecutively with the 25 years, with five years of probation upon release.

 

 

Originally Posted on Maryland Independent:

http://www.somdnews.com/independent/crime_and_courts/man-given-maximum-sentence-for-child-sex-abuse/article_5f8fd868-1e10-5bdb-b317-6ebae7bad00f.html