Press Releases

State v. Travis Edward Paschal Wood, C-08-CR-22-000688

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, October 23, 2025, a Charles County jury, after a four-day trial, convicted Travis Edward Paschal Wood, 36, of First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence in connection with the murder of his wife, Shawnda Nicole Wood.

On December 9, 2022, Wood and his female cousin entered the Charles County Sheriff’s Office District Three Station in Waldorf to request a welfare check at Wood’s residence. Wood told an investigator that he had been suicidal the night before, requested a welfare check, and asked for his lawyer, but did not provide further details.

Officers responded to the 2300 block of Tawny Drive and entered the home through an unlocked front door. During a search of the residence, officers discovered a silver and black handgun on the couple’s bed, as well as the deceased victim, who had suffered a single gunshot wound to the back of her head.

An investigation revealed that on the night before the shooting, Wood, the victim, and their three daughters went out to eat and shop before returning home to put the children to bed. Wood and the victim later went to a hookah lounge, had drinks, and returned home around 2 a.m. At home, the victim confronted Wood for urinating on the floor outside of the bathroom and told him that he needed to be out of the house by the weekend. While the victim lay in bed asleep, Wood retrieved his registered firearm and shot her one time in the back of her head.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on December 9th, Wood woke his daughters and told them they were going to visit their grandmother and instructed them not to wake their mother and not to go into her bedroom. Wood dropped his children off at their grandmother’s (his mother’s) house. After dropping them off, Wood remained at his residence for a few hours before going back to his mother’s house. He then confessed to his mother that he shot and killed his wife. After his confession, Woods went back to his house for a period of time before eventually going to the police station.

Wood’s DNA was later found on the firearm used during the murder.

A sentencing date for Wood has been set for January 8, 2026. He faces life in prison plus an additional twenty years.

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State v. Nasir Maurice Cooper, C-08-CR-24-000425

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Nasir Maurice Cooper, 19, to 12 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking. Upon release, Cooper will be placed on supervised probation for five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces an additional 8 years in prison.

Cooper pled guilty to the charge on August 22, 2025.

During the morning hours of June 9, 2024, officers with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Food Lion in the 3200 block of Old Washington Road in Waldorf for the report of a carjacking. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who reported that two male suspects approached her and attempted to steal her purse. A struggle followed, during which one suspect, later determined to be co-defendant Steven Nathaniel Franklin, brandished a handgun and threatened to shoot her. While Franklin threatened the victim, the second suspect, later identified as Cooper, stood next to the victim’s vehicle. The victim then gave her purse and ran to the store to get help.

Both Franklin and Cooper entered the victim’s vehicle, with the victim’s purse, and fled the scene.

A further investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Franklin and Cooper had looked at a Mercedes vehicle for sale nearby. Franklin’s fingerprints were recovered from that vehicle, leading investigators to positively identify him.

The victim’s vehicle was later located in Prince George’s County. When officers with the Prince George’s County Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled into Washington, D.C. Officers were ultimately able to stop the vehicle, and two male occupants fled; however, both were apprehended. The driver was identified as Franklin; the passenger was identified as Cooper. At the time of his arrest, Cooper was wearing the same shoes the victim had described one suspect wearing. He was also found with a black Nike face mask that the victim also described.

While Franklin and Cooper were in possession of the victim’s purse, her credit cards and debit cards were used to make purchases from various locations.

On May 9, 2025, Franklin entered a guilty plea to Armed Carjacking and the Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun. He was sentenced the same day to 12 years in prison. Upon his release, he will be on supervised probation for five years. If Franklin violates the terms of his probation, he also faces an additional 8 years in prison.

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State v. Nijale Zaki Mikal-Brown, C-08-CR-25-000049

LA PLATA, MD— Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, September 26, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Nijale Zaki Mikal-Brown, 22, of Waldorf, to 4 years in prison for the Gross Negligent Manslaughter of Ja’Juan Malik Cobb. Upon release, Mikal-Brown will be on supervised probation for a period of five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces 6 additional years in prison.

Mikal-Brown pleaded guilty to the charge on May 12, 2025.

On March 27, 2024, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of St. Charles Parkway and Duncannon Road in Waldorf for the report of a motor vehicle collision involving a vehicle on fire. Upon arrival, officers observed a 2023 silver Toyota Camry stopped in the southbound lanes, heavily burned with extensive damage to the front and driver’s side. A victim, later identified as Ja’Juan Malik Cobb, was located in the back of the vehicle deceased and lying on his side.

An investigation revealed that Mikal-Brown, who was driving the vehicle, had been traveling south on St. Charles Parkway more than 90 mph in a 45-mph zone on wet roads at nighttime. Cobb was seated in the front passenger seat, while another male passenger was in the left rear passenger seat. Mikal-Brown lost control of the Camry, struck a curb, then collided with a tree at approximately 75 mph, causing the vehicle to catch on fire. There is no evidence that Mikal-Brown applied brakes. Both Mikal-Brown and the other male passenger were able to escape the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. Unfortunately, Cobb was not able to exit the vehicle and died as a result of the collision. Mikal-Brown and the other male passenger were treated for injuries sustained during the crash.

A blood kit administered on Mikal-Brown revealed that he had a .10 blood alcohol level.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Kate Edmands told the judge that Mikal-Brown’s actions were “outrageous behavior.” She continued, “He has to be held responsible, or we won’t be able to effect change. Not only did he put himself [and the other occupants] in danger, but anybody else that was on the roadways. He absolutely has to be held accountable.”

Before sentencing Mikal-Brown to 4 years in prison, the Honorable Judge Makeba Gibbs told Mikal-Brown that it was “very troubling how fast you were going. – The sheer recklessness of it is very baffling.”

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State v. Jermaine Christopher Stringer, C-08-CR-21-000511

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, September 26, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Jermaine Christopher Stringer, 39, to Life plus 20 years in prison for the First-Degree Murder of Arick Jordan Jackson, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm When Prohibited After Being Convicted of a Crime of Violence.

On September 18, 2025, a Charles County jury, after a four-day trial, convicted Stringer of the above charges.

On September 10, 2021, officers with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex in Waldorf following reports of a gunshot. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim lying deceased in a breezeway. The victim was later identified as Arick Jordan Jackson.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the complex, which showed the victim arriving and speaking with a group of people shortly before the shooting. The victim was then seen speaking with the suspect, later determined to be Stringer. After their exchange, the victim walked toward the breezeway, where others had gathered.

Moments later, Stringer approached the breezeway, after having returned to the vehicle he arrived in. A sound of the racking of a gun was heard and the victim tried to run. However, Stringer chased the victim and fired one shot, striking the victim in his upper back and killing him.

After the shooting, Stringer fled the area with co-defendant Darius Delonte Newman, who was present during the murder and drove Stringer out of the area.

Prior to the shooting, Stringer left a red plastic cup on the ground of the breezeway, leaving behind his fingerprints and DNA for identification.

On September 16, 2025, Newman was sentenced to 1172 days in prison for Accessory After the Fact – First-Degree Murder for his role in helping Stringer flee.

At Stringer’s sentencing, the prosecuting attorney for the case told the judge that Stringer has a history of prior assaults and acts of violence. The victim “at just 25 years was taken from the world unjustly at the hands of the defendant.”

Calling the murder “cold, calculated, and callous” she furthered that Stringer had “no regard for the life of Arick or quite frankly anyone else that was there that night. – [Stringer] has forfeited his right to walk this Earth as a free man.”

Before sentencing Stringer to Life plus 20 years in prison, the Honorable Judge Greer stated that the murder was an “execution” and that the “victim’s family will never be the same.”

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State v. Jermaine Christopher Stringer, C-08-CR-21-000511

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, September 18, 2025, a Charles County jury, after a four-day trial, convicted Jermaine Christopher Stringer, 39, of the First-Degree Murder of Arick Jordan Jackson, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and related charges.
On September 10, 2021, officers with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex in Waldorf following reports of a gunshot. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim lying deceased in a breezeway. The victim was later identified as Arick Jordan Jackson.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the complex, which showed the victim arriving and speaking with a group of people shortly before the shooting. The victim was then seen speaking with the suspect, later determined to be Stringer. After their exchange, the victim walked toward the breezeway, where others had gathered.

Moments later, Stringer approached the breezeway, after having returned to the vehicle he arrived in. A sound of the racking of a gun was heard and the victim tried to run. However, Stringer chased the victim and fired one shot, striking the victim in his upper back and killing him.

After the shooting, Stringer fled the area with co-defendant Darius Delonte Newman, who was present during the murder and drove Stringer out of the area.

Prior to the shooting, Stringer left a red plastic cup on the ground of the breezeway, leaving behind his fingerprints and DNA for identification.

On September 16, 2025, Newman was sentenced to 1172 days in prison for Accessory After the Fact – First-Degree Murder for his role in helping Stringer flee.

A sentencing date for Stringer has been set for September 26, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. He faces Life plus 35 years in prison.

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State v. Kenneth Tyrell Wade-Greene, C-08-CR-23-000567

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced Kenneth Tyrell Wade-Greene, 35, to 40 years in prison for three counts of Second-Degree Assault, Attempted Robbery, and Possession of a Firearm with a Felony Conviction. Upon release, Wade-Greene will be on supervised probation for a period of five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces 20 additional years in prison.

Wade-Greene pled guilty to the charges on September 16, 2024.

On July 15, 2023, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office attempted to apprehend Wade-Greene, who was wanted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for multiple felony offenses to include Armed Carjacking, First Degree Assault, and firearm charges. Wade-Greene was spotted in a stolen vehicle, and he began to flee from police. He eventually assaulted an officer with his vehicle and was able to escape.
On July 18, 2023, Wade-Greene was observed driving a Ford F-150 with no license plate and again fled from officers, eventually abandoning the vehicle and running on foot near Young Road and Hunters Harbor Lane in Waldorf. Officers then observed Wade-Greene retrieving a black handgun from his waistband.

While fleeing, Wade-Greene confronted two victims standing in the driveway of their residence near an open garage. He demanded their car keys, but they refused. Wade-Greene then brandished his handgun. One of the victims retreated in his residence, but Wade-Greene followed and pointed the gun at him. The victim managed to lock himself in a room, which eventually prompted Wade-Greene to return outside.
Wade-Greene rummaged through two vehicles trying to locate a key before ultimately finding keys to a Dodge Ram pickup truck inside the home. Armed with a handgun, he entered the vehicle and started it; however, the other victim began to struggle with Wade-Greene as he attempted to flee.

An officer pulled into the driveway and found Wade-Greene seated in the vehicle. Ignoring commands to surrender, Wade-Greene fled and attempted to enter another house but was unable because the door was locked. He eventually exited the garage, assaulted two more officers, and was taken into custody. A handgun was discovered in the freezer of the garage; however, it did not belong to any of the residents of the house.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse requested a 50-year active sentence, stressing Wade-Greene’s long history of criminal activity dating back to 2010, his actions in terrorizing an entire family with a firearm, and his assault on three police officers in Charles County after committing an Armed Carjacking in St. Mary’s County.
 

Count 1

Second Degree Assault

10 years with all but 5 years suspended

Count 15

Attempted Robbery

15 years

Count 20

Possession of a Firearm with Felony Conviction

15 years with all but 10 years suspended

Count 25

Second Degree Assault

10 years with all but 5 years suspended

Count 27

Second Degree Assault

10 years with all but 5 years suspended

5 years supervised probation

All counts consecutive

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State v. Dalvin Devonte Risi, C-08-CR-23-000154

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Stephenson sentenced Dalvin Devonte Risi, 27, of La Plata, to 10 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit the First-Degree Murder of Aden Christopher Garcia and the Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun in a Vehicle Upon the Roads, Highways, and Parking Lots.

Upon release, Risi will be on supervised probation for a period of five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces Life in prison.

On December 21, 2023, Risi entered a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges.

On October 23, 2022, the Prince George’s County 911 call center received a call from an individual stating that someone shot his friend in a Waldorf neighborhood. The individual also said that he was en route to Southern Maryland Hospital Center to get his friend treatment. The individual was advised to stop in the area, where he was met by officers and Emergency Medical Services. The injured individual, identified as Aden Christopher Garcia, was treated at the location and transported to the hospital. However, he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries the following day.

An investigation revealed that before the shooting, Dalvin Devonte Risi, co-defendant Ricardo Kevon Colbert-Lyles and another suspect met with the victim at Risi’s vehicle for a scheduled drug transaction in Waldorf. However, the transaction did not occur. The victim left the area of the vehicle and walked back to his neighborhood. Colbert-Lyles and the other suspect instructed Risi, who was driving a black Nissan Versa, to drive to the victim’s neighborhood. When they arrived in the neighborhood, the suspect exited the vehicle, ran toward the victim, who was seated in another vehicle, and then shot at him multiple times, striking him once in the head. After the shooting, the suspect returned to the Nissan Versa, where he fled with Risi and Colbert-Lyles.

Surveillance video captured the incident and the Nissan Versa. Risi was identified as the primary operator of the vehicle.

A further investigation revealed that prior to the shooting, Colbert-Lyles requested Risi to pick him up as well as the other suspect, whom Risi was unacquainted with, and drive them to the victim for the transaction.

On June 27, 2025, Colbert-Lyles was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. for his role in the murder.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie told the judge, “When you make certain decisions, you’re on the hook for the repercussions of those decisions. The decisions he made does have a consequence. He does need to be held accountable.”
 

Sentence

Count 14
Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder
Life with all but 10 years suspended

Count 13
Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun in a Vehicle Upon the Roads, Highways, and Parking Lots
3 years
Concurrent with Count 14

5 Years of Supervised Probation

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State v. Edward Stanley Stewart, III, C-08-CR-24-000607

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Stephenson sentenced Edward Stanley Stewart, III, 39, of Waldorf, to 20 years in prison for First-Degree Assault and Possession of a Firearm with a Felony Conviction.

On July 2, 2025, Stewart pleaded guilty to the above charges.

On April 10, 2024, officers responded to an apartment complex in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they made contact with Stewart, who was bleeding and had a torn shirt. Stewart reported to officers that he was shot by the victim. He was later flown to Medstar Hospital Center for treatment of his injuries.

An investigation revealed that the day before the shooting, Stewart found his wife intoxicated in the victim’s apartment. After Stewart confronted the victim, he and his wife returned to their apartment. The following day, Stewart continued to threaten the victim through text message and warned him to stay away from his wife. Later, while walking his dog, Stewart saw the victim working in a vacant apartment through a window. Stewart put his dog in a vehicle, then climbed through the window to confront the victim again.

The two men left the apartment, and shortly after, Stewart, armed with a gun, began a verbal altercation with the victim that turned physical in the breezeway of the apartment building. The altercation moved back inside the vacant apartment building, where Stewart was shot multiple times by the victim, who was also armed.

Stewart was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions.
 

Sentence

Count 5
• First-Degree Assault
o 20 years

Count 9
• Firearm with a Felony Conviction
o 5 years
o Concurrent to Count 5

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State v. Kolbey Cooper, C-08-CR-25-000184

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Kolbey Cooper, 23, of Waldorf, to 90 days in jail for Misconduct in Office and Contraband Delivery. Cooper will be on supervised probation for five years upon release. If he violates the terms of his probation, Cooper faces an additional 2 years and 275 days in jail.

On June 5, 2025, Cooper pleaded guilty to both charges.

In February 2025, correctional officers at the Charles County Detention Center reported concerns about potential inappropriate conversations between Cooper, then employed as a correctional officer, and an incarcerated female. An immediate investigation ensued which revealed that Cooper and the incarcerated victim had been exchanging notes with each other.

A further investigation revealed that Cooper kissed the victim on one occasion, gave her candy, and allowed her to use his vape pen on another occasion.

At sentencing, the attorney prosecuting the case told the judge that Cooper “took advantage of the situation.” She furthered that “it affected not only [the victim] but it affects the community at large. The community needs to believe, respect, and trust that the individuals in the jail are going to perform their duties in a responsible way.”

Before sentencing Cooper, the Honorable Judge Gibbs told him, “These rules are in place for a reason to protect people.” She also noted that his job was a position “that people look up to and people depend on you to maintain the integrity of that position.”

Sentence

Count 1
Misconduct in Office
3 years with all suspended

Count 5
Contraband Delivery
3 Years suspend all but 90 days

5 Years of Supervised Probation

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State v. Ricardo Kevon Colbert-Lyles, C-08-CR-23-000504

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, June 27, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Ricardo Kevon Colbert-Lyles, 24, of Waldorf, to 25 years in prison for Conspiracy to Commit the First-Degree Murder of Aden Christopher Garcia.

Upon release, Colbert-Lyles will be on probation for a period of five years. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces Life in prison.

On May 16, 2025, Colbert-Lyles entered a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge.

On October 23, 2022, the Prince George’s County 911 call center received a call from an individual stating that someone shot his friend in a Waldorf neighborhood. The individual also said that he was en route to Southern Maryland Hospital Center to get his friend treatment. The individual was advised to stop in the area, where he was met by officers and Emergency Medical Services. The injured individual, identified as Aden Christopher Garcia, was treated at the location and transported to the hospital. However, he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries the following day.

An investigation revealed that before the shooting, Colbert-Lyles, co-defendant Dalvin Devonte Risi, and another suspect met with the victim at Risi’s vehicle for a scheduled drug transaction in Waldorf. However, the transaction did not occur. The victim left the area of the vehicle and walked back to his neighborhood. Colbert-Lyles and the other suspect instructed Risi, who was driving a black Nissan Versa, to drive to the victim’s neighborhood. When they arrived in the neighborhood, the suspect exited the vehicle, ran toward the victim, who was seated in another vehicle, and then shot at him multiple times, striking him once in the head. After the shooting, the suspect returned to the Nissan Versa, where he fled with Colbert-Lyles and Risi after Colbert-Lyles directed Risi to pick the suspect up.

Surveillance video captured the incident and the Nissan Versa. Risi was identified as the primary operator of the vehicle.

A further investigation revealed that prior to the shooting, Colbert-Lyles requested Risi to pick him up as well as the other suspect, whom Risi was unacquainted with, and drive them to the victim for the transaction. As the shooting occurred, Risi attempted to flee the area but was instructed by Colbert-Lyles to remain for the shooter.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie requested that the Judge give Colbert-Lyles 25 years in prison, stating “Without Colbert-Lyles, none of this happens. Without Colbert-Lyles, there’s no [shooter].”

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