News

State v. Dashawn Fitzgerald Thomason, C-08-CR-20-000572

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, July 26, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Dashawn Fitzgerald Thomason, 19, of Waldorf, to 15 years in prison for Armed Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Robbery, and two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery.

On May 11, 2021, Thomason entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges.

On September 16, 2020, officers responded to the 3000 block of Pilgrims Square in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery. An investigation revealed that victim Rommel Inman arranged to meet with an individual to purchase marijuana. During the transaction, three male suspects approached Inman and assaulted him. The suspects demanded that Inman give them money and other belongings. One of the suspects produced a handgun. After the suspects received the belongings, they fled. 

On October 9, 2020, officers made contact with another victim, Ronnell Benson, and a witness. Benson reported that he was contacted by Thomason, a former schoolmate, via Instagram to film a music video for his friend, later identified as co-defendant Joshua Reginald Michael-Leech.

Benson arrived at the 3000 block of Gallery Place in Waldorf and began filming Michael-Leech. During filming, another male suspect put Benson in a chokehold. Michael-Leech then demanded Benson’s belongings. Benson gave his camera and equipment, as well as other items.

In a separate incident on October 20, 2020, officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy located in the 3800 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf for the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, they made contact with victim Umar Ali, who reported he was just robbed at gunpoint and physically assaulted for his belongings. He stated prior to the robbery, he was speaking with a former classmate, co-defendant Pasheun Monique Perry, in her vehicle located in the CVS parking lot. While in the vehicle, Ali was placed in a chokehold by a suspect in the backseat. Two other male suspects, one determined to be Thomason, began punching him, and demanding his belongings. Ali was transported to the hospital for treatment of the injuries he sustained during the robbery.

A week later, on October 27, 2020, officers made contact with another victim, Prince Sherman. Sherman reported being robbed at gunpoint in the 3000 block of Gallery Place in Waldorf. An investigation revealed that Thomason, a former schoolmate, reached out to Sherman via Instagram under the guise of being interested in purchasing expensive hoodies. Thomason provided Sherman with a location for the exchange. When Sherman arrived, Thomason was present. Two other male suspects began to approach Sherman. One pulled out a gun, pointed it at him, and demanded his belongings. A woman who was in Sherman’s vehicle attempted to flee once she saw the robbery take place. She was stopped by one of the suspects, who demanded her cellphone. She gave the phone to him out of fear for her safety.

On November 4, 2020, a search warrant was conducted at Thomason’s residence. During the search, a handgun, property of Inman and Benson, as well as other firearm paraphernalia were recovered. Thomason admitted to his involvement in all the robberies.

Before sentencing Thomason to fifteen years, Judge West stated, “This is a major case and what this case has is calculation and planning. It involves luring people who trusted him enough to be lured, who considered him a friend. The victims in this case have been greatly affected by this and the community has been affected by this.”

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State v. Daniel Jonathan Felts

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, July 23, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Daniel Jonathan Felts, 38, to two life sentences in prison for Second Degree Rape, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Solicitation to Commit Murder.

On April 21, 2021, Felts entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges.

On September 4, 2019, the juvenile victim and her mother contacted officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to report multiple sexual assaults that occurred on Blair Road in Indian Head. The victim reported that between 2016-2019, Felts touched her underneath her clothing and forced her to have sex with him on various occasions. The victim also reported that Felts purchased a sex toy for her use.

Felts was apprehended on October 4, 2019 and was held at the Charles County Detention Center.

During the course of the investigation, officers confiscated Felts’ cell phone and found pornographic images of children on his device.

In August 2020, detectives from the CCSO learned that an inmate was trying to solicit someone to murder two people. An investigation by the CCSO and Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that Felts reached out and offered to pay someone to kill the juvenile victim and her mother before his trial date. Thankfully, the victim and her mother were unharmed.

At sentencing, the prosecutor told the judge, “These charges are some of the most serious that Your Honor has seen and that this courthouse has seen. The State implores the Court to give the maximum sentence as punishment and to show the community that we don’t tolerate adults having sex children, and we don’t tolerate people trying to solicit murder. –  It’s heinous, it’s horrific, and he deserves the maximum sentence that you can impose.”

Before giving Felts two life sentences, Judge Greer stated, “These heinous actions show that you were only considering yourself. You are a danger to others and not interested in rehabilitation.” He further said that Felts would be “an ongoing danger to every member of society” which “demands [he] receives the maximum penalty to protect the community.”

C-08-CR-20-000293

• Count One – Second Degree Rape
  • Life

C-08-CR-20-000351

• Count One – Possession of Child Pornography
  • 10 years concurrent to Count One in C-08-CR-20-000293

C-08-CR-20-463

• Count One – Solicitation to Commit Murder
  • Life consecutive to Count One in C-08-CR-20-000293
• Count Two – Solicitation to Commit Murder
  • Life concurrent to Count One in C-08-CR-20-463; consecutive to count one in   C-08-CR-20-000293

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State v. James Anthony Christian, C-08-CR-20-000031

LA PLATA, MD— Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced James Anthony Christian, 46 of Bryans Road, to 25 years in prison for Motor Vehicle Manslaughter and 4 counts of Second-Degree Assault. Christian entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges on May 11, 2021.

Covington, commenting on the sentence said: “Destanee is gone and there is no remedy for that.  I am gratified, however, that the Court imposed a very significant sentence for this drugged driving case.  Given his behavior and total lack of concern for anyone else on the road that day, the defendant, quite frankly, earned this sentence.  The impact on him is unfortunate, but it is not the end of his life – and remember he caused it.  He will come home one day.  Destanee, on the other hand, will never come home. Her family will never see her smile again. Christian caused that too. 25 years is appropriate.”

On October 14, 2018, troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to Maryland Route 6, west of Burch Road in Port Tobacco for the report of a two-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, troopers observed a Maroon 2015 Nissan Rogue with severe front-end damage on the westbound shoulder of Route 6 and a Black 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with severe rear-end damage in a private driveway. Deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Waldorf Fire and Rescue Squad were already on the scene.

When troopers made contact with the operator of the Nissan Rogue, later identified as Christian, he appeared intoxicated and confused. Troopers detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the Nissan Rogue and observed a clear plastic bottle containing burnt tobacco cigarettes located inside the vehicle. The cigarettes appeared to be soaked in Phencyclidine (PCP).

An investigation into the collision revealed that a Chevrolet Cruze, operated by Tiauna Quarles and occupied by Destanee Keenae Lyles, as well as three other passengers, was traveling Eastbound on Maryland Route 6. Ms. Quarles had just left her driveway and was taking Destanee Lyles and two of her friends back to college in Virginia.  A Nissan Rogue, operated by Christian, was also traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 6 and approached the Chevrolet Cruz from behind. Christian attempted to pass the Chevrolet Cruze, however, failed to control his speed in order to avoid a collision. The right front of the Nissan Rogue collided with the left rear of the Chevrolet Cruze.

The impact caused the Chevrolet Cruze to rotate clockwise and collide with a ditch. As a result, the rear axle became separated from the vehicle. The Chevrolet Cruze came to a final rest in a private driveway. Christian’s vehicle also rotated clockwise but came to a final rest on the roadway. The vehicle caught fire as a result of the collision but was extinguished by a Charles County Sheriff Deputy. At the time of impact, Christian was driving 109 miles per hour.

The occupants of both vehicles were transported to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the collision. Lyles, who was in the rear seat of the driver’s side of the Chevrolet Cruze, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. She was only 18 years old.

It was later determined that Christian was involved in a hit-and-run incident before the deadly collision. Also prior to the crash, he forced another vehicle off the roadway and almost side-swiped yet another vehicle just before the fatal crash.  One driver correctly estimated that Christian was traveling more than 100 mph just moments before the collision.

A blood sample taken from Christian indicated he had PCP in his system at the time of the incident.

During sentencing, in a packed courtroom filled with Destanee’s family and friends, the prosecutor told the judge, “This man is 46 years old and has been using PCP since 2010. He has been afforded probation. He has been afforded treatment. At this point, the opportunity has passed. Enough is enough. The community and justice demand he be incarcerated for 25 years. He put so many lives in danger. He took the life of an 18-year-old and almost four other lives. The defendant’s history, coupled with his behavior in this case, and his actions after it, warrant the twenty-five years.”

State v. Marc Christopher Brown, Jr., C-08-CR-20-000020

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, June 3, 2021, a Charles County jury, after a 7-day trial and less than a day of deliberation, convicted Marc Christopher Brown, Jr., 28, of Home Invasion, First-Degree Burglary, Kidnapping, and related charges.

On December 12, 2019, officers made contact with victim Uchenna Okezie at the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Okezie reported that she was assaulted at her Waldorf residence and kidnapped.

An investigation revealed that on December 11, 2019 at approximately 7:30 p.m., the victim returned home from work and walked into the foyer of her residence. Upon entrance, a male suspect, later determined to be Brown, ran from the living room and began to physically assault her. Brown struck the victim in the head and body several times, pinned her down, and bound her hands and feet. He also stuffed gauze pads in her mouth and tied tape around her head to hold the gauze pads in place.

After keeping the victim bound in her house for several hours, Brown forced the victim into the passenger side of her 2010 black Toyota Camry. As Brown was exiting the neighborhood,  the victim was able to free her hands and feet and fall out of the vehicle.  The victim screamed as the vehicle stopped.

When the vehicle stopped, Brown got out and dragged the victim back into the vehicle.  Brown then drove the vehicle out of the neighborhood. Brown drove around for some time before returning to the victim’s residence. Brown re-secured the ligatures around the victim’s feet and hands inside of the residence. He also covered her head with a coat and forced her to sit on a stair while he proceeded to rummage through items in the house.

Brown then forced the victim back into the vehicle and drove to several ATM machines in an attempt to withdraw money using the victim’s credit and debit cards. He successfully withdrew $100 from a bank in Waldorf. After his attempts to withdraw money, Brown drove to the area of Gardiner Road in Accokeek and pushed the victim out of the vehicle while her hands and feet were still bound. He then left the area in her vehicle. The victim was able to contact a passerby who was able to contact the Prince George’s County Police Department.  Officers responded and located the victim on the roadway still bound.

Shortly after leaving the victim, Brown drove the victim’s vehicle into the front glass doors of the AMF Waldorf Lanes bowling alley several times. He then exited the vehicle and approached the ATM machine located in the business’s lobby.  Once he discovery the ATM was empty, he left the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

Brown was apprehended on December 12, 2019. When officers apprehended Brown, they discovered glass in his bookbag that matched the glass from AMF Waldorf Lanes and $100. Brown was also wearing shoes that matched the pattern found on a shoeprint at the victim’s residence. The victim’s vehicle was later located near Brown’s father’s residence.

A sentencing date has been set for August 26, 2021.  Brown faces a potential of over 107 years in prison.

 

CONVICTED

• Home Invasion
• First-Degree Burglary
• Second-Degree Burglary
• Second-Degree Assault
• Kidnapping
• Robbery
• False Imprisonment
• Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle
• Theft: $1,500 to Under $25,000
• Take/Steal/Cary Credit Card Belonging to Another
• Fraudulent Theft of Identifying Information Without Consent
• Malicious Destruction of Property (2 counts)

State v. James Anthony Christian, C-08-CR-20-000031

LA PLATA, MD— Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, James Anthony Christian, 46 of Bryans Road, entered a guilty plea to Motor Vehicle Manslaughter and 4 counts of Second-Degree Assault.

On October 14, 2018, troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to Maryland Route 6, west of Burch Road in Port Tobacco for the report of a two-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, troopers observed a Maroon 2015 Nissan Rogue with severe front-end damage on the westbound shoulder of Route 6 and a Black 2014 Chevrolet Cruze with severe rear end damage in a private driveway. Deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Waldorf Fire and Rescue Squad were already on scene.

When troopers made contact with the operator of the Nissan Rogue, later identified as Christian, he appeared intoxicated and confused. Troopers detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the Nissan Rogue and observed a clear plastic bottle containing burnt tobacco cigarettes located inside the vehicle. The cigarettes appeared to be soaked in Phencyclidine (PCP).

An investigation into the collision revealed that a Chevrolet Cruze, operated by Tiauna Quarles and occupied by Destanee Keenae Lyles, as well as three other passengers, was traveling Eastbound on Maryland Route 6. A Nissan Rogue, operated by Christian, was also traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 6 and approached the Chevrolet Cruz from behind. Christian attempted to pass the Chevrolet Cruze, however, failed to control his speed in order to avoid a collision. The right front half of the Nissan Rogue collided with the left rear half of the Chevrolet Cruze.

The impact caused the Chevrolet Cruze to rotate clockwise and collide with a ditch. As a result, the rear axle became separated from the vehicle. The Chevrolet Cruze came to a final rest in a private driveway. Christian’s vehicle also rotated clockwise but came to a final rest on the roadway. The vehicle caught fire as a result of the collision but was extinguished by the Charles County Sheriff’s Deputies. Christian was driving 109 miles per hour in a posted 50 miles per hour zone.

The occupants of both vehicles were transported to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the collision. Lyles, who was in the rear seat of the driver’s side of the Chevrolet Cruze, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. She was only 18 years old.

It was later determined that Christian had been involved in a hit and run incident prior to the deadly collision. Witnesses reported that Christian was driving recklessly at a high rate of speed.

A blood sample taken from Christian later indicated that he tested positive for PCP.

A sentencing date has been set for June 29, 2021.

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State v. Darryl Edward Freeman, C-08-CR-20-000179

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, May 6, 2021, a Charles County jury, after a 9-day trial and less than a day of deliberation, convicted Darryl Edward Freeman, 18, of the First-Degree Felony Murder and Armed Robbery of Bradley Brown, as well as related charges.

On February 18, 2020, officers responded to the 3100 block of Warehouse Landing Road in Bryans Road for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found one victim, Bradley Brown, with gunshot wounds to his chest and leg. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An investigation revealed Freeman planned to rob Brown prior to the shooting. On the day of the incident, Freeman reached out to Brown under the guise of purchasing THC vape cartridges.

During the course of the investigation, officers discovered that Freeman arrived at Brown’s residence, along with two other individuals.

Brown was shot and killed during the robbery of the THC vape cartridges, which were worth approximately $850. Freeman and the other two individuals immediately fled the area in Freeman’s vehicle.

A sentencing date has been set for August 31, 2021 at 1 p.m.

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LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, April 23, 2021 a Charles County Grand Jury indicted Tanesha Renea Williams for allegedly driving a vehicle into a Taco Bell located on Smallwood Drive in Waldorf on March 31, 2021.

C-08-CR-21-000161

• 5 counts of First-Degree Assault
• 7 counts of Second-Degree Assault
• Malicious Destruction of Property/Value Less Than $1,000
• Disorderly Conduct
• Reckless Driving

Co-Defendant Diamond Shanay Johnson was also indicted on Friday, April 23, 2021 by a Charles County Grand Jury with the following charges:

C-08-CR-21-000162

• 2 counts of Second-Degree Assault
• Disorderly Conduct

 

An initial appearance has been scheduled for Williams and Johnson on May 28, 2021.

State v. Daniel Jonathan Felts

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, Daniel Jonathan Felts, 38, entered a guilty plea to Second Degree Rape, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Solicitation to Commit Murder.

On September 4, 2019, the juvenile victim and her mother contacted officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to report multiple sexual assaults that occurred on Blair Road in Indian Head. The victim reported that between 2016-2019, Felts touched her underneath her clothing and forced her to have sex with him on various occasions. The victim also reported that Felts purchased a sex toy for her use.

Felts was apprehended on October 4, 2019 and was held at the Charles County Detention Center.

During the course of the investigation, officers confiscated Felts’ cell phone and found pornographic images of children on his device.

In August 2020, detectives from the CCSO learned that an inmate was trying to solicit someone to murder two people. An investigation by the CCSO and Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that Felts reached out and offered to pay someone to kill the juvenile victim and her mother before his trial date. Thankfully, the victim and her mother were unharmed.

A sentencing date has been set for July 23, 2021. Felts faces two life sentences.

 

C-08-CR-20-000293

• Pled guilty to Count One – Second Degree Rape

 

C-08-CR-20-000351

• Pled guilty to Count One – Possession of Child Pornography

 

C-08-CR-20-463

• Pled guilty to Count One – Solicitation to Commit Murder
• Pled guilty to Count Two – Solicitation to Commit Murder

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State v. Christopher Anthony Goldbeck, C-08-CR-19-000858

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine M. Carrington Martin sentenced Christopher Anthony Goldbeck, 47 of Waldorf, to 43 years in prison for Second Degree Rape and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Upon release, the defendant will be on supervised probation for a period of five years.

On October 23, 2020, Goldbeck entered a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges.

On August 27, 2019, the juvenile victim’s father contacted officers at the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and reported that Goldbeck sexually assaulted his daughter. A subsequent interview was arranged with the victim, who reported that she was repeatedly assaulted by Goldbeck during the summer of 2018 in the 900 block of Barrington Drive in Waldorf. The victim was 10 years old when the incidents took place.

The victim reported that Goldbeck sodomized her, forced her to watch pornography, and forced her to perform oral sex on him. An examination performed on the victim revealed she suffered physical scarring as a result of the assaults.

During the course of the investigation, Goldbeck admitted to sexually assaulting the victim.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Tiffany L. Campbell asked that the defendant be sentenced to life in prison, saying “This child looked to the adults in her life to protect her and keep her safe. The defendant did the exact opposite. [The victim] will have to deal with this for the rest of her life; the defendant should be incarcerated for the rest of his life.”

 

Count 1 – Second Degree Rape

• Life with all but 25 years suspended

 

Count 2 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor

• 25 years with all but 18 years suspended
• Consecutive to Count 1

 

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