Press Releases

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.

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.

State v. Clyde Douglas Parks, Jr., C-08-CR-17-000004

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Thursday, April 5, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced former District Heights Police Officer Clyde Douglas Parks, Jr., 48 of Waldorf, to 11 years in prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

On May 24, 2017, the Charles County Department of Social Services received a mandatory report of child sexual abuse involving Parks.  The report was then screened by Child Protective Services and sent to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for investigation.

Detectives from the CCSO made contact with the victim who revealed that over the course of approximately two years she was repeatedly abused by Parks.  The abuse included Parks showing the victim pornographic material and Parks engaging in repeated sexual acts with the victim. The abuse began when the victim was approximately 8 years old.  The abuse came to light some 10 years later when the victim was interviewed in May of 2017.  During the course of the investigation, Parks admitted to the sexual contact as described by the victim.

Parks entered a guilty plea in Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier to Sex Abuse of a Minor on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie told the judge, “Mr. Parks was supposed to be a role model for protection. The biggest, greatest betrayal is to violate trust to the extent Mr. Parks did. This is an issue the victim will be dealing with for the rest of her life. This was not an isolated incident. Mr. Parks was grooming the victim for his own selfish gratification.”

Parks’ overall sentence was 25 years suspend all but 11 years active time to serve.  The State recommended and argued for a sentence of 15 years active time.

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State v. Carlos Deangelo Bell

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30 of Waldorf, to 350 years suspend all but 190 years in prison for multiple counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, 2^nd Degree Sexual Offense, 3^rd Degree Sexual Offense, Child Pornography Filming, Attempted Transmission of HIV, and related charges.

On June 30, 2017, Bell was arrested at his home for charges of child pornography and assault. An investigation of Bell began in December of 2016 after a parent reported a suspicious text sent to a student’s cellular device. Bell, who was working for Charles County Public Schools as an instructional assistant at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and a track coach at La Plata High School, was immediately placed on administrative leave and ordered to have no contact with students.

Detectives conducted a search on Bell’s work computer with no suspicious results. Detectives also executed a search warrant on Bell’s home, where his personal computer and other electronics were retrieved and submitted to the Maryland State Police Crime Lab for examination. Through the examination, the Maryland State Police Crime Lab found numerous videos that depicted Bell sexually assaulting minors.  It was confirmed that the videos were produced on school property and at Bell’s home in Waldorf, Maryland. The time frame of the alleged conduct spans approximately 3 years from the beginning of 2014 through June of 2017.  The ages of the victims at the time the offenses were committed range from 11 years old to 17 years old.

During the investigation, Bell admitted that he was HIV positive at the time of the assaults. Other evidence uncovered by investigators corroborated Bell’s disclosure. To this date, the State is not aware of any victims having tested positive for HIV.

On January 5, 2018, Bell entered a guilty plea in Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier to 27 counts ranging from Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Second Degree Sex Offense and other related charges.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the court, “Even after being suspended from his job with the schools on the suspicion of inappropriate solicitation of a minor, even after detectives searched his house and seized all the electronic devices he knew contained his self-made child pornography, the abuse of minors still continued up to two weeks prior to his arrest. That is brazen and bold. He has no remorse. All he cared about was his own immoral desires.  And this was not an isolated incident. This was pedophilia at its worst. The defendant targeted and abused at-risk kids, those that were most susceptible to his manipulations”.

In arguing to the Court that it should impose a sentence that would keep Bell in jail for the rest of his life, State’s Attorney Covington explained, “Retribution is one of the legitimate goals of sentencing in a criminal case.  The retribution imposed by our Courts help our victims and communities to believe that justice can be and will be done.  And it keeps citizens from taking matters into their hands through vigilantism.  Given the huge impact on the dozens of victims in this case, retribution should be the top goal in sentencing Carlos Bell.  This community has been stunned by the immoral and horrific acts of this defendant and I am asking this Court, by its sentence, to give voice to the communities’ outrage.  Let Mr. Bell, and anyone else that is watching, know that abusing our children will not be tolerated and very well may cost you your freedom for the rest of your life.”

After sentencing, when asked to comment on the Court’s sentence, Covington commented, “The Court essentially imposed the exact sentence we recommended.  I certainly can’t complain about a sentence that is the maximum under the plea agreement and one we requested.  Let’s be clear though: he deserves every day he has to serve. By his own admission during pre-sentencing evaluations, he has a compulsion that he can’t control.  If anyone can’t control themselves from engaging in the evil acts of pedophilia, they should not be running around free to abuse more kids.  The Court obviously agrees with my view of it since the Court’s sentence protects our children from Carlos Bell, realistically, forever.”

Summary of Charges

State v. Miguel Angel Santana, K17-497

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County announced that on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, a Charles County jury, after a 6 day trial, convicted Miguel Angel Santana, 27 of Waldorf, of First Degree Murder of Thomas Tibbs, 4 counts of Attempted Murder, 5 counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime, 9 counts of Reckless Endangerment, and three weapons charges.

On March 23, 2016, officers responded to the 2500 block of Gittings Court in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered two victims, Thomas Tibbs and Kemo Key, suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for their injuries; however, Tibbs succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

An investigation into the shooting revealed that earlier in the day, Santana’s co-defendant, Rashaad Jovonni Brawner, was involved in a verbal altercation with Key at a gas station.  After leaving, Brawner picked up Santana and drove to a neighborhood looking for Key. When they found Key, Brawner confronted him and a physical confrontation ensued. Brawner attempted to retreat to the driver’s seat of his vehicle; however, several men who were at the residence attempted to pull Brawner out. Santana, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, began shooting at the men while still inside of the vehicle. The men fled. Thomas Tibbs, who was standing nearby but not involved in the fight, was struck with bullets from Santana’s gun in the chest and arm.  Key was also shot, suffering a non-life threatening wound to the buttocks. Brawner and Santana then fled the area in the vehicle.

Witnesses identified Brawner as the driver of the vehicle. Brawner later identified Santana as the shooter.

Santana will be sentenced on July 26, 2018. At sentencing, Santana faces 5 life sentences plus 133 years in prison.

On January 17, 2017, Brawner pled guilty to Manslaughter for his role in the killing. His sentencing date has been set for June 21, 2018.

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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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.

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.