Kandes No Comments

Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Assault, Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, and Related Charges of Students at St. Charles High School

State v. Martino Marcus Young, C-08-CR-24-000364

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, August 28, 2025, a Charles County jury, after a 4-day trial, convicted Martino Marcus Young, 20, of Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, two counts of First-Degree Assault, four counts of Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and related charges.

On March 6, 2024, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to St. Charles High School for the report of an armed subject. Upon arrival, they met with a juvenile victim (Victim 2) who reported that he and two friends were confronted and assaulted by four suspects in the school’s parking lot.

A school resource officer also made contact with another victim (Victim 1), who reported that during the assault, he was struck several times in his face with a firearm. The victim fell and lost the key to his vehicle, which one of the suspects used to steal his car. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries due to the assault.

An investigation revealed that the day before the assault, a friend of Victim 1 and Young’s juvenile co-defendant got into a verbal altercation at the school. Later that day, Victim 1 drove his friend to the co-defendant’s apartment complex, but no altercation occurred. The following day, however, the suspects parked near Victim 1’s vehicle and ambushed him, Victim 2, and another friend as they walked toward the cars. While the third friend was able to escape prior to the attack, Victims 1 and 2 were assaulted. During the attack, one of the suspects brandished a firearm and threatened Victim 1. The suspects then fled the area, with one of them taking Victim 1’s car.

Video surveillance of the assault was captured by school cameras. During the course of the investigation, Young was developed as one of the suspects.

A sentencing date for Young has been set for October 31, 2025, at 2 p.m. He faces 155 years in prison.

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Kristen Schulz No Comments

Second Man Sentenced to Life for First-Degree Murder

State v. Mikayle Tahed Qawwee, C-08-CR-20-000180

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Mikayle Tahed Qawwee,, 21, to life in prison for the First-Degree Murder and Armed Robbery of Bradley Brown, as well as related charges.

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, a Charles County jury convicted Qawwee of the above-mentioned 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 17-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

An investigation revealed that Qawwee and co-defendant Darryl Edward 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. Freeman, Qawwee, and another individual later arrived at Brown’s residence and announced a robbery.

Brown was shot and killed during the robbery of the THC vape cartridges, which were worth approximately $850. Qawwee, Freeman, and the other individual fled the area in Freeman’s vehicle immediately after the shooting. Based on the cell phone that was recovered from Qawwee at the time of his arrest, approximately two hours after the shooting Qawwee offered to sell the THC vape cartridges to another individual.

At the sentencing hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie stated, “Of all of the parties involved in this case, the only one who was an adult at the time was the defendant. If there was one thing this case needed it was an adult decision. Unfortunately, the only adult involved was the defendant, who actively encouraged and carried out this crime.”.

Prior to announcing the sentence, Judge H. James West commented that the amount of harm inflicted was extensive and the level of violence was troubling. He stated he could find no reason to depart from the recommended sentencing range of life imprisonment.

Freeman was also convicted of First-Degree Felony Murder and was sentenced to life in prison on August 31, 2021.

Sentence

• First Degree Murder

o Life

• Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence 1st Degree Murder

o 20 years concurrent to Count 1

• Possession of a Regulated Firearm Under the Age of 21

o 5 years concurrent to Counts 1, 2

• Wear, Carry, and Transport of a Handgun

o 3 years concurrent to Count 1, 2, 9

• Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery

o 20 years concurrent to Count 1, 2, 9 and 10

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Kandes No Comments

Drive Sober Initiative 2021

The SAO was present at Shop Small La Plata this past Saturday, November 27th to encourage people to enjoy the holiday season safely. Thank you to the La Plata Business Association for a great event and all those who stopped by our table!

For more information, click here.