Press Releases

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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State v. James Mark Kimble, C-08-CR-24-000103

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced James Mark Kimble, 39, of Mechanicsville, to 15 years in prison for First-Degree Assault and the Wear and Carry of a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to Injure.

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

On April 29, 2025, a Charles County jury convicted Kimble of the aforementioned charges.

On December 27, 2023, officers made contact with the victim at University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata. The victim reported that he was stabbed by the suspect, later determined to be Kimble, after the victim dropped off a mutual acquaintance at Cooksey Store in La Plata. The victim was able to drive himself to the emergency room, where he received treatment for serious injuries.

An investigation revealed that a mutual acquaintance contacted the victim during the evening hours of December 27th and requested that the victim give her a ride to her parents’ house, to which the victim agreed. During the ride, the acquaintance requested to be brought to a different location, which prompted a verbal argument between her and the victim. The acquaintance contacted Kimble while still in the victim’s vehicle. The victim agreed to drop off the acquaintance at Cooksey Store. When the acquaintance got out of the vehicle, Kimble entered the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle and began stabbing the victim multiple times. As the victim began driving off to flee, Kimble exited his vehicle. Kimble then left with the mutual acquaintance.

Kimble later admitted to using phencyclidine (PCP), marijuana, and alcohol before the incident.
During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jerome Linkins, requesting a 20-year prison sentence, told the judge that Kimble “has a history of drinking and a history of violence.” He furthered that Kimble “commits crimes of selfishness and recklessness against other people. There’s no excuse for this behavior. Absolutely none. Not only has [Kimble] done multiple acts of selfishness, but he’s also affected this person’s life for no reason. – The victim’s life has completely changed.”

 
Sentence

Count 1
• First-Degree Assault
• 20 years with all but 15 years suspended

Count 3
• Wear and Carry of a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to Injure
• 3 years
• Concurrent to Count 1

Five years of supervised probation

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State v. Thoraz Xavier Smallwood, C-08-CR-23-000855

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Thoraz Xavier Smallwood, 39, of Waldorf, to 15 years in prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Second-Degree Assault.

Smallwood will be on supervised probation for five years upon release and is required to register as a lifetime Tier III Sex Offender. If Smallwood violates the terms of his probation, he faces an additional 20 years in prison.

On January 13, 2025, Smallwood entered a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges.

On June 6, 2023, a detective with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office spoke with the juvenile victim regarding the abuse. The victim reported that she was sexually assaulted by Smallwood on numerous occasions.

An investigation revealed that Smallwood was introduced to the victim when she was 7 or 8 years old and became like a father figure to her. Smallwood began grooming the victim and ultimately shared a residence with her. When the victim was 14 years old, Smallwood started engaging in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with her. The abuse happened repeatedly over the course of a year at multiple locations in Charles County.

The victim reported the abuse to her mother, who then contacted the police.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie, requesting a 25-year sentence, called Smallwood’s grooming of the victim “abhorrent.” He stated this was a “relationship that [Smallwood] changes, perverts, and uses to take advantage of the victim. – There is no greater injury that you can place on a child than to take on a [father-figure] role and ruin it for them.”

Before sentencing Smallwood, the Honorable Judge Gibbs stated that Smallwood was “a very dangerous person” and that the “harm was beyond extreme.” She furthered that he left “a path of destruction not only for the victim herself but also her family.”

Sentence

Count 1
• Sex Abuse of a Minor
• 25 years suspend all but 15 years

Count 9
• Second-Degree Assault
• 10 Years all suspended
• Consecutive to Count 1

5 Years of Supervised Probation

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State v. Jeremiah Terrell Bryant, C-08-CR-24-000146

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William Greer, Jr. sentenced Jeremiah Terrell Bryant, 26, to 9 years in prison for Armed Robbery, Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and related charges. The first 5 years are without the possibility of parole. Upon release, Bryant will be on supervised probation for a period of five years.

On August 2, 2024, a Charles County jury convicted Bryant of the above-listed charges following a 5-day trial.

On January 9, 2024, detectives with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Sunoco Gas Mart in Waldorf for the report of a commercial armed robbery. Detectives spoke with a store employee who reported that the suspect, later determined to be Bryant, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at him, then took money from the store’s cash register as well as the employee’s phone.

An investigation revealed that Bryant entered the store, approached the sales counter, and handed the employee a brown plastic bag while simultaneously pointing a handgun at him. Bryant demanded that the employee put money in the bag. When the employee opened the cash register, Bryant reached over the counter and took $494.00. He then left with the cash and the employee’s cell phone but left the plastic bag at the store.

Surveillance video captured the incident, as well as Bryant arriving and leaving in a Mitsubishi Outlander with a broken passenger side mirror. Detectives later located the Mitsubishi Outlander outside of Bryant’s mother’s residence.

The plastic bag Bryant left on the scene was processed and the fingerprints recovered belonged to Bryant. Cell site analysis of Bryant’s cell phone also placed him at the scene of the Armed Robbery.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse called the robbery “brazen” and stated it “victimize[ed] not only that particular cashier but also impacts the business itself,” other businesses within Charles County, and “the whole community.”

 
Sentence

Count 1
• Armed Robbery
o 20 years with all but 5 years suspended

Count 2
• Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
o 20 years with all but 5 years suspended
o Consecutive to Count 1

Count 7
• Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm
o 5 years with all suspended
o Consecutive to previous counts

Count 11
• Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery
o 20 years with all suspended
o Consecutive to previous counts

5 years of supervised probation

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State v. Richard William Ellis, C-08-CR-24-000749

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Richard William Ellis, 48, of Newburg, to 5 years in prison with all but 142 days suspended for 19 counts of Second-Degree Assault. Ellis had already served 142 days in custody prior to sentencing and received credit for time served. As a part of his sentence, Ellis is currently on supervised probation for five years and was ordered to remove all firearms from his residence.

On April 3, 2025, Ellis pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charges.

On September 23, 2024, officers interviewed several juvenile victims who reported that an individual, identified as Ellis, pulled out a handgun and pointed it toward the rear of the school bus.

An investigation revealed that the incident occurred on September 20, 2024, as a school bus transporting students from Piccowaxen Middle School was dropping off a juvenile relative of Ellis near Waverly Point Road in Newburg. At drop-off, another student on the bus made an insulting remark toward Ellis’ relative.

In response, Ellis pointed a handgun toward the bus and began walking toward the bus in an aggressive manner. The bus, which was fully occupied at the time of the incident, was able to leave the area safely, and no physical injuries were reported. Officers responded to Ellis’ house and recovered a handgun that fit the description that the victims provided.

On December 23, 2024, Ellis was apprehended.

During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Charmayne Clark, asking for a higher sentence, stated that Ellis “terrorized a bus full of children.”

Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse furthered that “He is the adult and to do that to a bunch of kids on a bus – it is so wrong. That was a really bad thing to do.”

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