Press Releases 2024

November, 22 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Rachel McGuckian, a jury convicted defendant, Torrey Damien Moore, 33, of Silver Spring, on two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Denise Middleton, and for the death of her unborn, viable fetus. Middleton was eight and a half months pregnant at the time of her death. In addition to those two counts, the jury found Moore guilty of two counts of use of handgun in commission of a felony, one count of crime of violence against a pregnant person and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. 

Moore faces the potential of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2025. This marks the first time in the history of Montgomery County that we have had a conviction for the murder of a viable fetus. 

Moore is also pending sentencing in a separate case in which he was convicted of first-degree murder, use of a handgun in commission of a felony, and illegal possession of a firearm for the shooting death of 61-year-old Ayalew Wondimu. That sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 20, 2025. 

Wondimu was a clerk in the Dash In convenience store along the 11000 block of New Hampshire Ave in Silver Spring. Management had previously banned Moore from the convenience store but on December 8, 2022, Moore entered the store and became involved in an altercation with Wondimu. Moore produced a handgun and shot Wondimu, killing him. While police were searching for Moore in connection with Wondimu’s murder, they executed a no-knock search warrant on December 9, 2022, on Moore’s apartment in 11000 block of Oak Leaf Drive in Silver Spring. Members of the Montgomery County Police SWAT team found Moore inside his apartment with the gun used in all of the murders. The bodies of Denise Middleton and her unborn fetus were found in another room. They were in an advanced state of decomposition.  An autopsy revealed Middleton had been shot seven times. 

An investigation by Montgomery County Police detectives revealed that Moore and Middleton entered the apartment complex along Oak Leaf Drive around 7 p.m. on October 9, 2022. They were captured on surveillance video in the lobby and then taking the elevator up to their apartment. It was the last time Middleton was seen alive. It is believed Moore shot Middleton in the minutes that followed. Approximately one hour later, Moore was captured on surveillance video in the elevator leaving the crime scene alone. Cell phone data showed Moore traveled the country for approximately 26 days. His search engine history during that time included the terms, “How long does it take for a dead body to smell?” and “How to move a dead body without being seen.”  Moore then returned to the apartment, living there with the decomposing bodies until his arrest on December 9, 2024. 

Assistant State’s Attorneys James Dietrich and Jodie Mount are prosecuting this case.

November, 22 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, a jury has found defendant, Jennifer Espinoza-Orellana, 22, of Gaithersburg, guilty of second-degree murder for the death of her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jose Manuel Zavala Marquez.

The jury returned its verdict on November 18, 2024, after a five-day trial. The jurors deliberated for just 90 minutes. Espinoza-Orellana faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 4, 2025.

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, at approximately 5:30 a.m., the defendant dropped the victim’s body off at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in the 9900 block of Medical Center Drive in Rockville. Zavala Marquez had been stabbed in the chest. An investigation by homicide detectives with Montgomery County Police revealed Espinoza-Orellana and Zavala Marquez had an argument at her home along the 8000 block of Shady Spring Drive in Gaithersburg. She followed him outside and stabbed him in the chest with a knife she pulled from a knife block in the kitchen. The knife went through his sternum and pierced his heart. The approximate time of the stabbing was just before 1:15 a.m. Espinoza-Orellana did not immediately seek medical aid for the victim. She instead placed Zavala Marquez in her vehicle and drove to the home of a family member. From there, she drove to a park to meet up with another individual. At least four hours passed before she drove to the medical center and dropped off the victim’s body,

Espinoza-Orellana returned to the hospital at approximately 8 a.m. She was questioned by police and provided false information, lying about the events leading up to and following the victim’s death.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Shiela Bagheri and John Grochowski are prosecuting this case. 

November, 08 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jeannie Cho, a jury found defendant, Nelson Jones, 27, of Clarksburg, guilty of third-degree sex offense. The jury returned its verdict late in the evening on November 12, 2024.

Jones will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. He faces a maximum of ten years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2024.

The charge stems from an incident on May 15, 2021. The defendant attended a college graduation celebration at the home of a family friend. The celebration continued into early morning hours, and a woman attending the gathering went into a bedroom alone to sleep. Jones entered the bedroom and sexually assaulted the woman. She awoke to him touching her. The jury found Jones guilty of groping the victim’s breasts underneath her shirt. This was a re-trial. The case was originally tried in February 2023 but resulted with a hung jury.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Carlotta Woodward are prosecuting this matter.

“The victim showed bravery in not only the first trial but again this week, testifying against the man who assaulted her. Our prosecutors remained dedicated to seeing justice served and ensuring that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions. We are relieved that he will be required to register as a sex offender for life,” said Lauren DeMarco, spokesperson for the State’s Attorney’s Office. 

November, 08 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Sharon Burrell, defendant, Cesar Alexander Lopez, 24, of Hyattsville, pleaded guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter for the death of 17-year-old Aiden Vining.

Lopez faces up to ten years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 12, 2025.

On October 24, 2023, a family member found the victim unresponsive in his bedroom when they tried to wake him for school.  Fire Rescue attempted lifesaving measures but ultimately the victim, Aiden Vining, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers located a straw with white residue on the scene and a round blue pill labelled “M 30” in Vining’s wallet. These types of pills are often referred to as Percocet, percs, erks or 30s on the street. The Office of the Chief Medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the cause of death to be Cocaine and Fentanyl Intoxication.

Defendant, Cesar Alexander Lopez was arrested following an investigation by Montgomery County Police. On October 23, 2023, phone messages between the defendant and victim indicated they arranged for the victim to purchase ten “percs.” Subsequent investigation revealed that Vining had also purchased cocaine from the defendant three days prior to his death.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Harrison and Kimberly Cissel with our Overdose Prosecution Unit are handing prosecution of this matter.
“We are experiencing heartbreaking loss in our community due to fentanyl overdoses.  We must continue to work on educating our youth, in particular, about the dangers of street level drugs. The DEA tells us seven out of every ten pills seized contain a lethal dose of fentanyl,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

November, 08 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, defendant, Evelin Cabrera, 20, of unknown address, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the death of 19-year-old Daniel Pineda-Romero.  The plea hearing was held Thursday, October 31, 2024, and Judge Storm sentenced Cabrera to ten years in prison suspend all but four years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

On December 10, 2022, a family member discovered the victim, Daniel Pineda-Romero unresponsive inside of the family home in Gaithersburg. First responders arrived at the scene and pronounced Pineda-Romero deceased.  Toxicology results were positive for fentanyl intoxication.

Following an investigation, Montgomery County Police arrested Evelin Cabrera. Cell phone records showed messages between the defendant and victim coordinating a location in Silver Spring for the victim to purchase pills in the hours before his death.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kimberly Cissel with the Overdose Prosecution Unit handled the prosecution of this case.

The victim’s mother provided the following statement:

"Daniel was an amazing son that unfortunately took the wrong path to obtain painkillers. He trusted the wrong person which led to his death. He was an amazing brother, son, and friend." 

November, 07 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Julie Stevenson Solt sentenced defendant, Demonte Hewitt, 22, of Washington D.C., to 70 years in prison suspending all but 30 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

In May of 2024 Hewitt pleaded guilty to Attempted First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, First-Degree Assault, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault and Use of a Handgun in Commission of a Crime of Violence.

The charges stem from an incident on June 15, 2022, when Hewitt and two co-defendants chased down a man in Silver Spring at random and shot him. It was captured by surveillance cameras. The victim had just left a birthday celebration at a bar along Georgia Avenue and walked a friend to her vehicle. As he left his friend and began to cross Georgia Avenue to head to his own vehicle, a car pulled up and two men jumped out, dressed all in black, wearing ski masks and gloves, and holding handguns. The men started chasing the victim and he ran for his life. He ran into an alleyway called Mayor Lane as the men and car continued to chase him. They opened fire and hit the victim in the back. Video then shows the car reversing out of the alley onto Silver Spring Avenue and making a left onto Fenton Street. The victim was able to keep running and came upon a police cruiser, yelling “I’ve been shot.” Officers with Montgomery County Police applied a tourniquet to his leg in attempt to stop the bleeding until an ambulance arrived. The victim survived.

Co-defendant Nathan Barnes pleaded guilty on October 3, 2023, to Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault. He is currently serving a sentence of 25 years with all but six years suspended, and will have five years of supervised probation upon release.
Co-defendant Brian Bowen pleaded guilty on May 6, 2024, to Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault and Use of Handgun in Commission of Crime of Violence. He is awaiting sentencing.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Rachel Morris prosecuted this case.

November, 07 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, defendant, Fernando Herrera-Rivera, 24, of Gaithersburg, pled guilty to four counts of second-degree arson. The plea hearing was held November 6, 2024.

On September 17, 2023, Herrera-Rivera lit fires in several locations including:

• A vehicle along Russel Avenue
• A Gaithersburg Police Department building on Fulks Corner
• A beer and wine store in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue
• A market in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue

Herrera-Rivera faces up to 80 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 26, 2024. 
Assistant State’s Attorney Hannah Gleason is prosecuting this matter for the State.

November, 07 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Jermaine Palmer, 36 of Gaithersburg, to 38 years in prison, suspending all but 21 years to serve. The sentencing hearing was held on November 6, 2024.

On August 5, 2024, Palmer was found guilty on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault on law enforcement, second-degree assault, resisting arrest, and possession of CDS (not cannabis). The charges were filed following an incident on June 30, 2023, in the 7900 block of Spiceberry Circle in Gaithersburg. Montgomery County Police officers responded for a report of a person spraying a fire extinguisher in the hallway of an apartment building. As one of the officers approached Palmer, the defendant punched him in the face, causing the officer to fall back and hit his head on pavement, leaving him unconscious. The officer was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Palmer ran toward the Flower Hills Shopping center where he then assaulted another officer as police worked to take him into custody inside of a fast-food restaurant.

Assistant State’s Attorney Teresa Casafranca prosecuted this case.

November, 04 2024
 In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Debra Dwyer, defendant, Jonathan Mohelski, 39, of Rockville, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the death of his friend, 33-year-old Brandon Sutherland. Mohelski was convicted late Friday evening, November 1, 2024, following a ten-day jury trial.

Mohelski faces up to ten years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

This case was originally tried in December of 2023 and resulted in a hung jury. It stems from an incident on November 3, 2021. The defendant and the victim were friends. The victim was staying at the defendant’s home in the 13000 block of Turkey Branch Parkway in Rockville. The defendant called 911 to report that the victim “fell on something sharp in the bathroom” and “he might be dead on the floor.” The victim had a stabbing wound to his chest. When first responders arrived, they attempted life saving measures, but Sutherland was pronounced dead at the scene. The knife that was used in the stabbing was found cleaned off and re-sheathed in the defendant’s bedroom closet. The weapon was tested for DNA and the victim’s blood was found to be present on the blade.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Lauren Fetsch are prosecuting this matter.

“We thank our prosecutors who remained dedicated to seeking a conviction following this senseless loss of life. We continue to express our deepest condolences to the family of Brandon Sutherland. The State will seek the maximum penalty at the sentencing hearing,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

November, 04 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, defendant, Dominique Moore, 46, of Montgomery Village, entered a guilty plea to six counts of child neglect of his six minor children.

Moore faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 5, 2025.

Both Dominique Moore and his wife, Cynthia Moore, were arrested in May of 2023, and each was indicted on charges of second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect following an investigation into the death of their 17-year-old child. On May 10, 2022, emergency responders were called to the Moores’ home in the 9000 block of Quill Place in Montgomery Village for an unresponsive child and discovered the family living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Cynthia Moore was convicted on six counts of child neglect of her six minor children by Judge Cummins on October 16, 2024, following a bench trial. Cynthia Moore also faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. She has a sentencing hearing scheduled for January 22, 2025.

November, 1 2024 - Joint News Release
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, a jury found defendant, Jovan Ali, 45, of Fairfax, VA, guilty of second-degree assault. The jury returned its verdict on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Ali faces up to 10 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2024.

This stems from an incident on April 17, 2024. Ali was involved in an altercation with an individual at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring. This incident was witnessed by a Montgomery County Police officer. There was also a Montgomery County Police drone above that captured Ali pulling a knife from his pocket and stabbing an adult male in the shoulder area. The victim’s injuries were not life-threatening, but he did require surgery.

Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Chadha is prosecuting this matter. It is the first conviction in a jury trial in Montgomery County, MD, resulting from the Drone as a First Responder Program.

Montgomery County’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program deploys drones to active scenes, allowing officers to remotely monitor situations, gather evidence, and coordinate response efforts in real-time. The DFR Program aims to enhance officer and community safety, improve response times, and provide crucial aerial perspectives to support criminal investigations.

“The drone video evidence in this case was critical for the State. We would not have been able to prove the defendant’s guilt without it. The value of this technology is immeasurable when it comes to public safety. It is a game-changer within the criminal justice system. We are grateful to Montgomery County Police for their advocacy and implementation of the Drone as a First Responder program,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Montgomery County Police Captain Nicholas Picerno, who leads the Special Operations Division, highlighted the success of the program. “The Drone as First Responder program has proven to be a transformative tool for the Montgomery County Police Department,” said Picerno. “It allows us to respond more quickly, enhance situational awareness, and ultimately increase the safety of officers and community members.” “In this case, the drone footage was invaluable in securing the conviction. This technology is a major asset to our operations, providing capabilities that were previously unimaginable,” he added. “This is another example of how officers, supplied with real-time intelligence, make better informed decisions.”

October, 30 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Mary Beth McCormick, defendant, Erin N. Kelly, 41, of Rockville, pleaded guilty to theft scheme over $100,000.  The plea hearing was held yesterday, October 29, 2024.

Between January 1, 2017, and May 31, 2022, Kelly stole $160, 986.25 from Dawn Crafton Dance Connection where she worked. Kelly fraudulently diverted funds from customers intended for her employer into her own personal bank account.

Kelly faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine. She is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on January 7, 2024.
Assistant State’s Attorney John Lalos is prosecuting this case.

October, 18 2024
 Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer, defendant, Wenhui Sun, 34, of Lake Arbor, CA, pleaded guilty to charges of theft scheme over $100,000, theft over $100,000, attempted theft over $100,000 and conspiracy to commit theft over $100,000.  

Sun faces a maximum of 80 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2024. 

This defendant was part of a scheme to swindle more than $1.1 million dollars from an elderly woman living in the Leisure World community in Silver Spring. The victim ultimately turned over nearly $800,000 in the form of gold bars. 

The scam is believed to be part of an international organized crime ring. Similar Gold Bar Scams have been reported here in Montgomery County and across the United States. On August 12, 2024, State’s Attorney John McCarthy hosted a joint news conference with Montgomery County Police, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations to inform the public about these scams. Wenhui Sun’s case marks the first conviction in Montgomery County.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Hannah Gleason and Robert Hill are prosecuting this case.

“We are pleased that the first gold bar scam case to enter the courts in Montgomery County has resulted in a conviction. As in this case, the scam often targets vulnerable victims who lose their life savings at a time when they are most dependent upon those funds to sustain themselves. We are grateful to the Montgomery County Police Fraud Division, in particular Detective Sean Petty for his tremendous work on this case. This is significant organized crime on an international level, and we will be seeking a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the impact on this victim,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy

October, 13 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Rachel McGuckian, defendant, Marion Pearson, 67, of Durham, NC, pleaded guilty today to second-degree rape and second-degree sex assault for attacks on two victims in April and June of 1981.

Per a plea agreement Pearson faces up to 17 years of executed prison time. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2024.

In March of 2022, detectives with the Montgomery County Police Cold Case Unit identified an open rape case from April 1981 and submitted evidence collected from the rape to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for additional testing. A search of the FBI’s National DNA Index System (NDIS) connected the DNA to Pearson.

Pearson served 22-years in a North Carolina prison for a series of first-degree rapes and was released in 2020. He previously lived in Prince George’s County, MD, and had been arrested several times for assault, indecent exposure, and peeping-tom, between 1980 and 1999.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Thea Zumwalt are prosecuting this case.

“After more than four decades the defendant is finally being held accountable for his violent actions in Montgomery County, MD. We thank the members of the Montgomery County Police Cold Case Unit for bringing closure to this case and hope the conviction can provide some comfort to the survivors of these crimes,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

September, 27 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, a jury has found defendant Keith Delcid-Palacios, 25, of Silver Spring, guilty on charges of second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of use of a handgun in commission of a felony for the shooting death of 21-year-old Martin Nolan and the attempted shooting of an additional victim. The nine-day trial concluded late yesterday, September 26, 2024.

Delcid-Palacios faces the potential of life in prison plus an additional 130 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 7, 2024.

This stems from an incident on January 14, 2021, in the parking lot of Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring. The victim was sitting in the driver seat of his parked vehicle with a friend in the passenger seat when the defendant walked up and repeatedly yelled “Where’s Scrappy?” The defendant started pistol whipping Nolan in the head. Nolan put the vehicle into the drive position and the defendant stated, “If you leave, I am going to blast your ass.” Nolan started to drive forward, and the defendant fired a shot from his handgun, which struck Nolan. Nolan lost control of the vehicle and struck another car. He died as a result of the gunshot wound. The other victim ran from the vehicle and the defendant fired at him as he fled, but he was not hit.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Thea Zumwalt and Donna Fenton are prosecuting this matter.

During the course of the trial, the defendant’s brother, Jeffery Delcid-Palacios, was arrested and charged with two counts of intimidating a witness and one count of obstruction of justice. He was ordered held without bond by a judge in District Court and is pending trial.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Martin Nolan. The level of violence exhibited by the defendant was outrageous. We commend our prosecution team for seeing that justice was served in this matter despite challenges including witness intimidation,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

September, 27 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Marielsa Bernard sentenced defendant, Zachary Ciccantelli, 25, of Rockville, to 490 years in prison suspend all but 45 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge Bernard recommended that Ciccantelli be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated.

Ciccantelli and co-defendant, Callen Baker, were convicted on charges related to a hail of gunfire in the 700 block of Monroe Street in Rockville on March 1, 2023. Ciccantelli fired the gunshots. Baker provided Ciccantelli with the handgun and drove the getaway vehicle. There was a school bus dropping off children at the time which captured the sounds of gunfire and the getaway car fleeing on its surveillance video. (please see emails below for further details)

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Kimberly Cissel prosecuted this case. The State would like to thank Rockville City Police who led the investigation and Montgomery County Police Department for their assistance.

September 25, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Sharon Burrell ruled in favor of the State and denied a motion to vacate the guilty plea of convicted murderer Lee Boyd Malvo.

On October 10, 2006, Malvo pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of six victims, Sonny Buchanan, Conrad Johnson, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, James Martin, Sarah Ramos, and Premkumar Walekar. The fatal shootings occurred in the fall of 2002 and are included in what has become widely referred to as the DC Sniper Attacks. Malvo was sentenced to six life sentences without the possibility of parole to run consecutively to each other and consecutively to the four life sentences he is currently serving in Virginia.

Due to a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions about juveniles and sentences of life without the possibility of parole, the Maryland Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Malvo must receive a new sentencing hearing. Since the State lacks the ability to transport Malvo from Virginia’s custody to the state of Maryland, today Judge Burrell stated that there are two options for the re-sentencing: either a virtual hearing or a hearing at the time of completion of his Virginia sentence. The defendant has declined to consent to a virtual hearing. Today the Judge ruled that the matter will be deferred until Malvo has completed serving his prison sentence in Virginia. She issued a bench warrant to serve as a detainer should he be released in the future. 

State’s Attorney John McCarthy and Assistant State’s Attorney Seth Zucker handled prosecution of this matter.

Malvo’s co-defendant, John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death and executed in Virginia in 2009.

September 12, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Sharon Burrell, defendant, Flavio Lanuza, 27, of Laurel, pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Fleeing and Eluding Marked Police Vehicle by Failing to Stop Vehicle Resulting in Bodily Injury, and eleven counts of Failure to Return and Remain at the Scene of an Accident.

Lanuza faces up to 14 years and 10 months in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12, 2024.

The defendant also has charges pending in Prince George’s County, MD. It all stems from an incident on February 16, 2024, when Lanuza led police on a chase that lasted more than half an hour. In Montgomery County, he struck two Maryland State Police vehicles, injuring one State Trooper. He also struck eleven civilian vehicles.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Joshua Wesnidge and Mary Herdman are prosecuting this matter.

September 3, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Terrence McGann, a jury has found three co-defendants guilty in a fatal shooting that occurred on Colony Road in Silver Spring on November 9, 2022.
Defendants, Junior Francisco Del-Cid, 20, of Takoma Park, Elmer Lopez-Cortez, 25, of Silver Spring, and Elvin Guzman-Machado, 20, of Silver Spring, were convicted on charges of First-Degree Murder, three counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, four counts of Use of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and Participation in a Criminal Organization Resulting in Death, for the shooting death of 19-year-old Willians Anderson Alberto Cruz and for shooting at three additional victims, two of whom were hit and survived their injuries. This is the first time a defendant has been convicted on the charge of Participation in a Criminal Organization Resulting in Death in Montgomery County, MD. Each defendant faces the potential of life in prison without parole and four additional, consecutive life sentences plus 105 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 31, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The jury reached its verdict late Friday evening, August 30, 2024. The jurors deliberated for six hours following a three-week trial.
A fourth co-defendant, Jonathan Leon-Chacon, 26, of Silver Spring, is still pending charges and is set for trial on June 16, 2025.
This stems from an incident on November 9, 2022. The victims and defendants were previously unknown to each other. The four defendants have been validated by Montgomery County Police as members of the La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. As stated during trial, the State submits that the motive for the shooting was retribution for defaced gang graffiti in the forested area next to the parking lot where the shooting occurred. Del-Cid and Lopez-Cortez opened fire on the victims after the defendants became convinced the group was responsible for defacing the graffiti. Guzman-Machado and Leon-Chacon waited in the get-away vehicle. Victim, Alberto Cruz, died at the scene. The two other victims, who were hit multiple times, were treated at the hospital for their injuries.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Kimberly Cissel are handling prosecution of this matter.

September 4, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Dennis Hinnant, 30, of Silver Spring, to 40 years in prison for the murder of his wife, 28-year-old Taresha Pendarvis.
This is the maximum penalty under Maryland state law for second-degree murder.
Judge Maloney issued the sentenced during a hearing yesterday, September 3, 2024. Please see the email below for the details released at the time of conviction.

August 14, 2024

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Theresa Chernosky sentenced defendant, Eric Turner, 32, of Gaithersburg, to 10 years in prison suspend all but six years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. The sentencing hearing was held Friday, August 9, 2024.

Turner pleaded guilty on June 7, 2024, to involuntary manslaughter for the death of 20-year-old Shanon Cole. Cole overdosed in July of 2023 after ingesting a pill he received from Turner and died as a result. The pill contained fentanyl.

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel and Jennifer Harrison with our Overdose Prosecution Unit.

“This case should send a clear message that dealers selling fentanyl are merchants of death and will be held accountable in Montgomery County. If you participate in the distribution of this lethal, illicit drug and someone dies, you will not only be charged with distribution. As occurred here, you potentially face additional charges related to the homicide and associated consequences.,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

August 07, 2024

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Theresa Chernosky sentenced defendant, Ishtiaq Malik, 60, of Lanham, to 42 years in prison suspend all but 24 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Malik will also be required to register as a sex offender for the duration of his life.

“The judge issued a sentence above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines which is entirely appropriate in this case. Ishtiaq Malik took advantage of his position as a medical professional and violated these women who trusted him with their care,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

August 05, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Bibi Berry, sentenced defendant, Jayleen Hannor, 24, of Montezuma, GA, to 18 years in prison suspend all but eight years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. The sentencing hearing was held Friday, August 2, 2024.

On March 21, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to Gross Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, Life Threatening Injury by Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of Alcohol, and Failing to Remain at the Scene of a Collision Involving Death.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred late in the evening on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 on the outer loop of I-495 near the Rt. 355 exit ramp. The defendant, after a night of heavy drinking and while driving his white sedan the wrong way on both I-270 and I-495, struck a Nissan Pathfinder head-on, killing the driver, 36-year-old Elizabeth Velez, and causing life-threatening injuries to Ms. Velez’s 15-year-old daughter. Ms. Velez’s partner, a 36-year-old male, received non-life threatening injures. Two additional children, ages eight and one, sustained minor injuries. The family had been traveling from Pennsylvania on their way to vacation in South Carolina. A third vehicle, a Lexus RX, could not avoid the wreckage and collided with the Nissan as well. Five occupants in the Lexus were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries. The defendant fled the scene on foot and was eventually located walking along the inner loop of the beltway near the Connecticut Avenue exit. He submitted to a breath test which showed an alcohol concentration of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. This was the defendant’s third drunk driving offense in 13 months. He is facing charges for two separate, prior incidents in the state of Georgia.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle O’Grady prosecuted this matter.

“We are gratified that the judge agreed that this case deserved a sentenced above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines range. There were ten victims, including a family that suffered immeasurable loss, and it was entirely preventable,” stated Lauren DeMarco, spokesperson for the State’s Attorney’s Office.

July 30, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Jill Cummins has sentenced co-defendants Malik Marin, 27, of Bowie, MD, and Tuflah Davies, 27, of Laurel, MD. Both defendants pleaded guilty to possession of a large amount of fentanyl, and they received the same sentence during separate hearings last week: 15 years in prison suspend all but five years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

On December 6, 2023, the defendants traveled from Los Angeles, CA, to Rockville, MD, on Amtrak, transporting illicit drugs into our county. Davies and Marin were stopped by Montgomery County Police in Rockville. Officers found multiple bundles of pills wrapped in plastic in their possession. The defendants were transporting thousands of pills, weighing 2.2 kilograms, in their luggage. Many of the pills contained fentanyl.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel and Jennifer Harrison prosecuted this matter.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office HIDTA Group 45, led this investigation, and the operation was supported in part by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) supplies grant funding and strategic assistance to MCIN member sites. These resources enable the identification, disruption, and dismantling of criminal organizations through enhanced inter-agency collaboration and data sharing, contributing to a safer Maryland for all.

“Fentanyl is killing people in our county, the country and worldwide. The effort to address the flood of fentanyl into our community is one of the most important things we can do. We thank our law enforcement partners and our own Overdose Prosecution Unit for their work on this case,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

July 29, 2024

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Marybeth Ayres sentenced defendant, Emmanuel Simmonds, 17, of Gaithersburg, to life in prison suspend all but 35 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge Ayres recommended that Simmonds be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders program while incarcerated. The sentencing hearing was held Friday, July 26, 2024.

Simmonds pleaded guilty on December 28, 2023, to charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, for the shooting death of 18-year-old Tenneson Vaughn Leslie, Jr. of Greenbelt.

On May 18, 2023, at the Wheaton Metro Station, two groups of males who were strangers to each other became involved in an altercation on an escalator. Simmonds produced a firearm and shot Leslie in the back of the head, as Leslie and his associates were running away from Simmonds’ group.

Assistant State’s Attorney Peter Larson prosecuted this case.

July 26, 2024

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, defendant, Roberto Rivera-Delgado, 23, of unknown address, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and participating in a criminal organization resulting in death. The plea hearing was held yesterday, July 25, 2024. Rivera-Delgado faces the potential of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.

Rivera-Delgado is one of four co-defendants charged in a homicide that occurred in May of 2023. On September 30, 2023, he led Montgomery County Police detectives to a wooded area along Brookville Road in OIney to a shallow grave that contained the skeletal remains of victim, Rosa Sanchez Merino.

Co-defendants Aracely Abaraca-Melgar and Iris Alanzo-Salgado are pending trial. The fourth co-defendant’s identity and case details are shielded due to age.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Gabe Carrera and John Grochowski are prosecuting this matter.

July 25, 2024

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer sentenced defendant, Geofrey Gaitan, 31, of Silver Spring, to 30 years in prison suspend all but 27 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

A jury found the defendant guilty on April, 24, 2024, of attempted murder in the second degree for a near-fatal attack on his landlord. Gaitan beat the then 63-year-old victim, hitting him several times with two solid wood table legs and stomping on his head after he fell to the ground. The victim suffered multiple skull fractures and permanent, traumatic brain injury.

The conviction was a result of the third jury trial in this case. Two previous trials ended with a hung jury, but the State remained committed to seeking justice for the victim and his family, and preventing the defendant from being released into the community.

July 18, 2024

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Rachel McGuckian sentenced defendant, Daylon Miller, 19, of Germantown, to 25 years in prison suspend all but 15 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge McGuckian recommended that Miller be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated.

On April 30, 2024, Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Taon Cline of Frederick. Cline was fatally shot on April 22, 2022 on the 19,000 block of Gunners Branch Rd. in Germantown. A police investigation revealed Miller was one of four co-defendants involved in an ongoing dispute between gangs in the Germantown and Gaithersburg areas. The victim was associated with a rival gang.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Thea Zumwalt prosecuted this case. 

Jun, 25 2024
In the Circuit for Frederick County, MD, before the Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher, defendant David Gray, 33, of Frederick, pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and use of a handgun in commission of a felony. Gray entered his plea yesterday June 24, 2024. 

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 7, 2024.

This stems from a shootout in downtown Frederick on December 9, 2022, between Gray and another defendant, Atu Adeymei, 51, of Frederick. Multiple shots were fired around 8:20 p.m. in the area of South Market Street and All Saints Street following the city’s Kris Kringle parade. Gray shot first and Adeyemi returned fire. 

Adeyemi pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024, to first-degree assault and use of a handgun in commission of a felony. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Adeyemi faces a maximum of 12 years in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2024.

Montgomery County State’s Attorneys Jennifer Harrison and Carlotta Woodward are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the State to avoid any potential conflict of interest

Jun, 13 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Harry Storm has sentenced defendant, Allen Price Jr., 45, of Gaithersburg to 45 years in prison. The sentencing hearing was held late yesterday afternoon, June 12, 2024. Price Jr. pleaded guilty on December 15, 2023, to Second-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the shooting death of his wife, Natasha Price.

On September 17, 2020, Price Jr. shot his wife inside of their home on the 19400 block of Sandy Lake Drive in Gaithersburg. He then jumped out of a second-story window and attempted to flee. Montgomery County Police searched the neighborhood and located the defendant hiding in a wooded area. Natasha Price was transported to a local hospital where she remained on life support until her death on October 9, 2020. During the State’s review of the case, it came to light that Natasha Price confided in friends and relatives that she had intended to leave her husband and cut him off financially.

“We aggressively prosecute domestic violence cases, and in this matter, we are thankful that the judge imposed a penalty above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines. The defendant fatally shot his wife while her children were present inside of the home. We express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and share in the grief over this senseless loss of life,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Rubinstein and Jaime Jacobson prosecuted this case.

May 31, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the honorable Theresa Chernosky, defendant Lora Loethen, 55, of Damascus, has been convicted on one count of second-degree child abuse and five counts of child neglect. Loethen entered a guilty plea on Thursday, May 30, 2024. She faces up to four years in prison and has terminated her parental rights to the six minor victims. As a condition of probation, Loethen will not be permitted to have any contact with the minor victims or any unsupervised contact with other minors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 5, 2024.

This stems from an incident on March 21, 2023, when one of Loethen’s adopted daughters confided in another adult that she had been repeatedly hit in the face by the defendant. There was a lengthy history of complaints and evidence of neglect of the defendant’s other five adopted children. Between August 2021 and March 2023, police had been dispatched to incidents involving the family 65 times and had written more than 30 reports. Most of the reports were in regard to children having run away from the home.
“Every child in this community deserves our protection. The defendant sought to become the most trusted caretaker for these six children, yet she violated that trust, abusing vulnerable victims. We are relieved that the children will not have to suffer any further trauma by participating in a trial,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Rubinstein and Lauren Fetsch are prosecuting this matter.

May 29, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Mariela Bernard, a jury has found defendants, Callen Baker, 20, of Jefferson, MD, and Zachary Ciccantelli, 24, of Rockville, MD, guilty on charges related to a shootout on Monroe Street in Rockville on March 1, 2022. The jury returned a guilty verdict on 18 counts of first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence and reckless endangerment.

The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 500 years in prison. Baker is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 6, 2024. Ciccantelli is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 13, 2024.

On March 1, 2022, the defendants arrived in the neighborhood in the 700 block of Monroe Street around 3:45 p.m. and opened fire on a group of people recording a music video. Several of the victims fired back. Multiple bullets struck nearby apartment buildings which were occupied at the time. Officers with Montgomery County Police recovered more than 20 shell casings and one privately manufactured firearm (ghost gun) from the scene.

“This is the kind of senseless violence that terrifies our community. The hail of gunfire occurred in a densely populated neighborhood in the middle of the day. There should be profound consequences for anyone who engages in this type of conduct, and we will urge the court to fashion an appropriate penalty at the time of sentencing,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Teresa Casafranca and Kimberly Cissel are prosecuting this case.

May 22, 2024
IIn the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Julie Stevenson Solt, defendant, Demonte Hewitt, 22, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty to Attempted First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, First-Degree Assault, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault and Use of a Handgun in Commission of a Crime of Violence.

Hewitt indicated he wanted to enter a guilty plea yesterday, May 21, 2024, in the middle of a jury trial, bringing the court proceeding to an end. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he now faces up to 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

This stems from an incident in the early morning hours of June 15, 2022, in Silver Spring that was captured by surveillance cameras. A man had just left a birthday celebration at a bar along Georgia Avenue and walked a friend to her vehicle. As he left his friend and began to cross Georgia Avenue to head to his own vehicle, a car pulled up and two men jumped out, dressed all in black, wearing ski masks and gloves, and holding handguns. The men started chasing the victim and he ran for his life. He ran into an alleyway called Mayor Lane as the men and car continued to chase him. They opened fire and hit the victim in the back. Video then shows the car reversing out of the alley onto Silver Spring Avenue and making a left onto Fenton Street. The victim was able to keep running and came upon a police cruiser, yelling “I’ve been shot.” Officers with Montgomery County Police applied a tourniquet to his leg in attempt to stop the bleeding until an ambulance arrived. The victim survived.

A police investigation led to the arrest of Demonte Hewitt and two co-defendants.

Co-defendant Nathan Barnes pleaded guilty on October 3, 2023, to Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault.
Co-defendant Brian Bowen pleaded guilty on May 6, 2024, to Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Assault and Use of Handgun in Commission of Crime of Violence.
Both are awaiting sentencing.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Rachel Morris are handling prosecution of this matter.

“This was senseless, gratuitous violence. These men intended to kill the victim, who was a stranger to them. We thank Montgomery County Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. Park Police for their work leading to the arrests in this case and we are gratified that the three defendants have now been convicted,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

May 17, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD before the Honorable Rachel McGuckian, a jury has found defendant Torrey Damien Moore, 33, of Silver Spring, guilty of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and illegal possession of a regulated firearm for the shooting death of 61-year-old Ayalew Wondimu.

The jury returned its verdict yesterday, May 16, 2024. Moore faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge McGuckian on December 12, 2024.

On November 18, 2024, the defendant is scheduled to stand trial in a separate murder case. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related charges for the death of his pregnant girlfriend and the unborn fetus she was carrying.

On February 8, 2022, Moore entered the Dash In convenience store at the Shell Gas station located along the 11000 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring and walked up to the counter to purchase a drink. Management had previously banned Moore from the store. Moore and the store clerk, Ayalew Wondimu, became engaged in a verbal altercation. The defendant began throwing energy drink shot bottles at the victim, which struck him. The victim, Wondimu picked up a metal pole and attempted to strike Moore as he ordered Moore to leave. Moore produced a handgun and shot Wondimu. Wondimu fell to the floor and Moore leaned over the counter, shooting the victim again as he was helpless on the ground. Wondimu was shot a total of three times. Moore then fled the scene. The incident was captured by a store surveillance camera.

An investigation conducted by Montgomery County Police detectives developed Moore as a suspect in the death of Wondimu. When officers arrived at Moore’s apartment in the 11000 block of Oak Leaf Drive in Silver Spring to serve an arrest warrant on February 9, 2022, they discovered the body of a deceased, pregnant, female in advanced stage of decomposition inside the residence. An autopsy revealed the woman, identified as 26-year-old Denise Middleton, had been shot multiple times. The male fetus Middleton was carrying was viable at the time of death.

Assistant State’s Attorneys James Dietrich and Jodie Mount are prosecuting these cases.

May 08, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Harry Storm sentenced defendant, Malik Jefferson, 25, of Silver Spring, to 55 years in prison. On January 26, 2024, a jury convicted Jefferson on charges of Second-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in Commission of Crime of Violence, and Robbery for the death of 22-year-old Jose Osvaldo Genao Romero. Judge Storm sentenced him to 50 years stemming from that conviction. Jefferson was also found in violation of probation for a First-Degree Child Abuse (134256-C) case where he was sentenced to the additional five years of incarceration.

On March 21, 2024, Judge Storm sentenced co-defendant, Jackson Garcia, 20, of Silver Spring to life in prison suspend all but 60 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Garcia was convicted by a jury in July of 2023 on charges of First-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in Commission of Crime of Violence, Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.

This stems from an incident on February 17th, 2022, at the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Fletcher Place in Rockville, where officers with Montgomery County Police and Rockville City Police found 22-year-old Jose Osvaldo Genao Romero, suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at an area hospital.

The defendants had picked up the victim outside of his home and drove him to the location of the murder. A nearby surveillance camera captured the attack on video. An ensuing police investigation led to the arrests of the accused shooter, Malik Jefferson, and his co-defendant, Jackson Garcia.

“We thank Judge Storm for imposing lengthy sentences that will protect the community from defendants who would so needlessly take a life,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. Following Jefferson’s conviction, the State’s Attorney said in a statement, “This is yet another case of a marijuana deal gone bad in Montgomery County resulting in murder. The purchasing of marijuana within the black-market, which continues to exist despite legal changes that have taken place in the state of Maryland, remains extremely dangerous.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Lauren Turner handled prosecution of this matter.

John McCarthy, State's Attorney

May 7, 2024
Today, In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Theresa Chernosky sentenced defendant, John Vigna, 57, of Silver Spring, a former Montgomery County Public Schools teacher, to 30 years in prison suspend all but time served. Vigna pleaded guilty on March 1, 2024, to one count of Sexual Child Abuse and three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor for crimes he committed against multiple students at Cloverly Elementary School between 2001 and 2016. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender for the duration of his life. The judge ordered that he complete five years of probation with multiple conditions including supervision by COMET (Collaborative Offender Management/Enforced Treatment), no unsupervised contact with minors, and no contact with the victims or their families.

The defendant’s admission of guilt was paramount to the State and the multiple victims in this case. This resolution also prevents further trauma to the victims who courageously participated in one trial and were re-traumatized by the criminal justice system when the original conviction was overturned. The victims are in support of the plea agreement. The defendant served over six years in prison to date and will face an additional 23-years if he were to violate probation.

Following the conviction in March, State’s Attorney John McCarthy said, “This is an appropriate resolution given all of the challenges that would arise should the case go to trial. The State received unfavorable rulings in pre-trial motions hearings that would have required some of the victims’ cases to be tried separately. The passage of time itself presents additional hurdles to overcome. The defendant’s admission of guilt following nearly a decade of denial is vindication for the victims and the community.”

John McCarthy, State's Attorney

May 03, 2024
Today, before the Honorable John Maloney, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, a jury found defendant, Dennis Hinnant Jr., 30, of Silver Spring, guilty of second-degree murder for the death of his wife, 28-year-old Taresha Pendarvis.

The defendant faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 18, 2024.

On February 1, 2023, Hinnant walked into the Rockville City police station holding a baby and said he wanted to turn himself in. He told officers that he needed to talk to a homicide detective about something that happened hours prior in Silver Spring. He gave them his wife's address, and when police responded to check on her welfare, they found her deceased in the bathtub. She had been stabbed multiple times and strangled with a belt. When interviewed, he said they had been arguing about their marriage before the murder occurred. 
Pendarvis’ baby was not physically harmed and was removed from Hinnant’s custody upon his arrest.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jodie Mount and Daniela Chavez are prosecuting this matter.

“We remain dedicated to aggressively prosecuting domestic violence in any form. The defendant was appropriately found guilty of murder, and we will be seeking the maximum penalty under the law,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

April 29, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Bibi Berry sentenced defendant, Arash Khosh to life in prison suspend all but 50 years and five years of supervised probation upon release. Khosh will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

On February 15, 2024, a jury convicted Khosh on charges of first-degree rape, home invasion, and second-degree assault.

On May 15, 2022, at the Hilton Garden Inn located in the 14000 block of Shady Grove Road in Rockville. Khosh forced his way into the hotel room of a 70-year-old victim and sexually assaulted her. The victim was unknown to Khosh. Her husband was on the first floor of the hotel at the time having coffee waiting for the victim to meet him for breakfast.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Donna Fenton prosecuted this case.

April 26, 2024
The Honorable Debra Dwyer has sentenced defendant, Andre R. Moore, to life in prison suspend all but 70 years and five years of supervised probation upon release for the shooting death of his house-mate, 40-year-old Michael Sutton.

The sentencing hearing was held Friday, April 26, 2024. Moore was convicted by a jury on December 1, 2024, on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence for shooting and killing Sutton inside of the home along Balmoral Drive in Silver Spring where they were both tenants.id State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

April 25, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer, a jury found defendant, Geofrey Gaitan, 31, of Silver Spring guilty of attempted murder in the second degree for a near-fatal attack on his landlord in a dispute over rent.

The jury returned the verdict late yesterday April 24, 2024. Gaitan faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 25, 2024.

This was the third time this case was tried in Montgomery County Circuit Court, as two Previous trials concluded with a hung jury. It stems from an incident on April 19, 2020, in a home on the 9700 block of Hastings Drive in Silver Spring. The defendant severely beat his then 63-year-old landlord, hitting the victim several times with two solid wood table legs and stomping on his head after he fell to the ground. The victim suffered multiple skull fractures and permanent, traumatic brain injury.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Harrison and Teresa Casafranca are handling prosecution of this matter.

“Our dedicated attorneys remained committed to seeking justice for this victim and his family. This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent man and the defendant will
now be held accountable,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

April 15, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Rachel McGuckian has sentenced defendant, Kimberly Tyler, 31, of Germantown, to 30 years in prison suspend all but 25 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.
Judge McGuckian issued the sentence on Friday, April 12, 2024. Tyler was convicted by a jury on December 7, 2023, following a four-day trial, on multiple charges including First-Degree Child Abuse and Conspiracy to Commit Neglect of a Minor of her 8-year-old son.

**This stems from an incident in May of 2020, when the defendant lit her 8-year-old son on fire. The details are included below as adapted from a proffer entered into the court.
“This was among the worst we have seen when it comes to child abuse cases. The level of harm caused by someone in the ultimate position of trust, the child’s mother, is unfathomable. Our hearts are with the young victim and those now entrusted with his care. We thank the judge for fashioning an appropriate sentence and Assistant State’s Attorneys Sheila Bagheri and John Grochowski for their work on this highly emotional and upsetting case,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Co-defendants:
Kimball Tyler (victim’s grandfather)- Testified against his daughter at trial. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and received a probation before judgment sentence.
Chareese Snorgrass-Tyler (victim’s stepmother) – Pleaded guilty to neglect of a minor. She was sentenced to five years in prison suspend all but six months to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 11, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Bibi Berry sentenced defendant, Jose Oliva-Marin, 26, of Montgomery Village, MD to 15 years in prison suspend all but nine years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Oliva-Marin will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Oliva-Marin pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree rape on November 6, 2023, for an attack on a 14-year-old girl inside of her family’s apartment in October of 2021. The defendant broke in through the victim’s bedroom window. She attempted to flee the room, and he physically assaulted her saying in Spanish, “Make love to me or die.” The victim was able to escape out of the bedroom and the defendant left. Family members contacted 911. The defendant was apprehended a short time later in the apartment complex and was linked to the case through DNA and addition evidence. He was known to the victim’s mother.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Dermot Garrett prosecuted this case.

“This tremendously brave young girl endured a terrifying ordeal. We thank her for her cooperation in this case and we are grateful that the defendant has been sentenced to a significant period of time,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

April 11, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Eric Johnson, a jury has found defendant, Jose Dimas Ordonez-Marquez, 33, of Montgomery Village, guilty of second-degree rape.
The verdict was returned yesterday evening, April 10, 2024. Ordonez-Marquez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 4, 2024.

This stems from an event on June 19, 2021. Ordonez-Marquez was hosting a gathering at his home to celebrate his birthday. One of the guests became intoxicated and was unconscious in a bedroom, when the defendant entered the bedroom and raped her. In the early morning hours of June 20, 2021, the victim was taken by ambulance to Shady Grove Hospital and consented to a sexual assault forensic examination. Evidence was collected and subsequent DNA testing linked Ordonez-Marquez to the case. He was arrested following a police investigation.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Hannah Gleason are handling prosecution of this matter.
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 05, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Theresa Chernosky found defendant, Danshell Evon, 38, of Bryans Road, MD, guilty of gross negligent manslaughter, four counts of second-degree assault, and one count of neglect of a minor. The four-day bench trial concluded today with the judge’s verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for August 9, 2024. The defendant faces a maximum of 55 years in prison.

The defendant was driving her 2015 Kia Optima southbound on Connecticut Avenue near Atherton Drive at approximately 7:30 a.m. on May 12, 2022, when she struck a 1997 Ford F-150. Both occupants of the Ford suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the collision, as well as Evon’s two 13-year-old children who were passengers in her vehicle. Evon's three-year-old daughter, Dreamie Dior Jackson, died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

The event data recorder examined during the investigation by the Montgomery County Police Collison Reconstruction Unit revealed that Evon reached speeds in excess of 98 mph in the seconds leading up to the crash. Victim, Dreamie Dior Jackson, was improperly secured in a backless booster seat which contributed to her death.

“This heartbreaking loss of such a young member of our community is a tragedy that was easily avoidable. At the speeds the defendant was traveling, she wasn’t driving a car, she was steering a missile down the road in the middle of rush hour. If the barest of common-sense parenting skills were in place, there would have been a proper child safety seat installed,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.  
Assistant State’s Attorneys Kyle O’Grady and Brian Rubinstein are handling prosecution of this matter.

State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 05, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Bibi Berry sentenced defendant, Hummad Siddiqui, 35, of Germantown, to 64 years in prison suspend all but 18 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. He will be required to register as a sex offender.

Siddiqui pleaded guilty to eight counts of distribution of child pornography on December 20, 2023. He was arrested following an investigation by Montgomery County Police. The department was alerted to cyber tips from Google about Siddiqui’s internet activity that were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Assistant State’s Attorney Frank Lazzaro prosecuted this case.

“This is a just sentence that will help to protect our community, in particular our children. The State thanks Detective Bryan Savage and the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division Child Exploitation Unit for their collaboration and the thorough investigation leading to this arrest.,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 05, 2024
Today In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Debbie Dwyer, a jury found defendant, Michael Boyd Jr., 40, of Olney, guilty of two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The verdict was returned late yesterday evening. Boyd faces a maximum of 90 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 20, 2024.

This stems from an incident outside of the Sole D’Italia restaurant in the 14300 block of Layhill Road on July 13, 2023. A fight broke out behind the restaurant and the defendant arrived on scene shortly thereafter wielding a firearm and pointing it at multiple individuals. Four people were shot, including the defendant. An additional victim was injured by bullet fragments. The jury found Boyd intended to cause fear of physical bodily harm and used a firearm to do so.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Gabriel Carrera and Jennifer Harrison are prosecuting this case.

State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

March 21, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, defendant, John Vigna, 57, of Silver Spring, a former Montgomery County Public Schools teacher, pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Child Abuse and three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor for crimes he committed against multiple students at Cloverly Elementary School between 2001 and 2016. 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2024. The State will request a 30-year suspended prison sentence with probation supervised by the COMET (Collaborative Offender Management/Enforced Treatment) Unit of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation with conditions including no unsupervised contact with minors. As a result of the conviction, Vigna will be required to register as a sex offender for the duration of his lifetime. 

The defendant’s admission of guilt was paramount to the State and the multiple victims in this case. This resolution also Prevents further trauma to the victims who courageously participated in one trial and were re-traumatized by the criminal justice system when the original conviction was overturned. The victims are in support of the plea agreement. The defendant served over six years in prison to date and will face an additional 23-years if he were to violate probation.  

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

March 15, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Bibi Berry, defendant, Nickolis Williams, 33, of Wheaton, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 29-year-old Darcel Cole.

Williams faces up to 30 years in prison per conditions of a plea agreement. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2024.

This stems from an incident on December 18, 2021, outside of a restaurant in Silver Spring. The defendant and victim became involved in a fight and nearly ten months later, the victim died in the hospital from injuries sustained during the physical altercation.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Jodi Mount are prosecuting this case.
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

March 20, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, defendant, Kaleab Berhanu, 21, of Baltimore, has been found guilty of First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion, and use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence for the shooting death of 20-year-old Carlos Carter.  The jury returned its verdict yesterday evening, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, after a six-day trial.

The defendant faces the potential of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 18, 2024.

This stems from an incident in the early morning hours of April 9, 2023. The defendant broke into the victim’s family home in the 11,000 block of Old Columbia Pike in Silver Spring and shot him multiple times, killing him.
“This victim was asleep in his bed when he was attacked. He was shot multiple times as he attempted to escape the defendant and fell at the feet of his mother and siblings. We express our deepest condolences to the family, and we thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Thea Zumwalt for seeing justice served in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

March 01, 2024
Good afternoon, Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, defendant, John Vigna, 57, of Silver Spring, a former Montgomery County Public Schools teacher, pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Child Abuse and three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor for crimes he committed against multiple students at Cloverly Elementary School between 2001 and 2016.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2024. The State will request a 30-year suspended prison sentence with probation supervised by the COMET Unit (Collaborative Offender Management/Enforced Treatment) of the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation with conditions including no unsupervised contact with minors. As a result of the conviction, Vigna will be required to register as a sex offender for the duration of his lifetime.

The defendant’s admission of guilt was paramount to the State and the multiple victims in this case. This resolution also Prevents further trauma to the victims who courageously participated in one trial and were re-traumatized by the criminal justice system when the original conviction was overturned. The victims are in support of the plea agreement. The defendant served over six years in prison to date and will face an additional 23-years if he were to violate probation.

"This is an appropriate resolution given all of the challenges that would arise should the case go to trial. The State received unfavorable rulings in Pre-trial motions hearings that would have required some of the victims’ cases to be tried separately. The passage of time itself Presents additional hurdles to overcome. The defendant’s admission of guilt following nearly a decade of denial is vindication for the victims and the community,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

February 29, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Sharon Burrell has sentenced defendant, Francisco Barahona, 46, of Gaithersburg to 45 years in prison suspend all but 30 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

The sentencing hearing was held Friday, February 23, 2024. Barahona pleaded guilty on October 16, 2023, to charges of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Second-Degree Rape.

In 2019, Barahona was in the midst of serving a ten-year sentence for federal drug trafficking charges when the victim in this case came forward to police to report rape and sex trafficking she endured for years at the hands of the defendant. The victim reported she was trafficked by a relative of Barahona’s from Guatemala across the border of Mexico into Texas where she was detained by United States Border Patrol. Barahona posed as her family member and coordinated her flight to Dulles International Airport in June of 2010. The victim was 14 years old at the time.

Upon arrival at the Defendant’s residence, Barahona told the victim that she would have to work for him in order to pay back for the flight and the “coyote” that had taken her across the U.S. Border. The Defendant forced her to have sex with men for money in order to pay back the money she owed. The Defendant also forced her to live with him in his bedroom and regularly have sexual intercourse with him.

Upon completion of his federal sentence, Barahona was transferred to Montgomery County to face the charges in this case which was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Sheila Bagheri.

“This sentence reflects the heinous exploitation of a child at the hands of many individuals because of the actions of the defendant. We thank the Montgomery County Police VICE and Intelligence Unit for their dedicated work and comprehensive investigation in this case,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

February 26, 2024

Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Cheryl McCally sentenced defendant Malik Hney, 17, of Kensington, to life in prison suspend all but 30 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. On October 3, 2023, a jury found Hney guilty of Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder for the death of 20-year-old Taon Cline of Frederick. Judge McCally recommended the defendant be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated.

This stems from the fatal shooting of Cline on April 22, 2022 on the 19,000 block of Gunners Branch Rd. in Germantown. The investigation revealed the defendants and two additional co-defendants were involved in an ongoing dispute between gangs in the Germantown and Gaithersburg areas. The victim was associated with a rival gang.

“This defendant boldly opened fire on an officer at point-blank range in the middle of the day, in a highly populated Townhomecommunity, not far from a playground. This highlights the selfless risks our law enforcement officers take every day to keep our communities safe.  We are pleased that the judge imposed a sentence above the state sentencing guidelines. We thank the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for their joint efforts and collaboration in bringing the defendant to justice,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Robert Hill and Varya Elkis prosecuted this case.

The charges stem from an incident on February 1, 2022. Below is a summary of the events as adapted from the State’s proffer to the court:

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

February 16, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Bibi Berry, a jury found defendant, Arash Khosh, 46, of Rockville, guilty on charges of first-degree rape, home invasion, and second-degree assault. The jury returned its verdict Thursday evening, February 15, 2023.

Khosh faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on April 29, 2024.
This stems from an incident on May 15, 2022, at the Hilton Garden Inn located in the 14000 block of Shady Grove Road in Rockville. Khosh forced his way into the hotel room of a 70-year-old victim and sexually assaulted her. The victim was unknown to Khosh. Her husband was on the first floor of the hotel at the time having coffee waiting for the victim to meet him for breakfast.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Donna Fenton prosecuted this case.

“We thank the victim for her the courage to testify before the court. This defendant attacked a vulnerable woman in our community and her brave actions will help to Prevent him from targeting anyone else,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

February 15, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Sharon Burrell, a jury found defendant, Samuel Harry Powell Jr., 59, of Gaithersburg, guilty on charges of armed robbery and robbery.

Powell faces up to 25 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2024.

This stems from an incident on September 29, 2021, at the BB&T Bank located on the 400 block of N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg. The defendant entered the bank wearing a medical mask. He handed the teller a note demanding U.S. currency in 100’s, 50’s and 20’s and displayed a handgun. The defendant obtained approximately $1,400.00 and exited the bank. The robbery was captured on surveillance video.

Powell was arrested on October 1, 2021, following a police investigation. He had Previously served prison time on federal bank robbery charges stemming from prior incidents.

Assistant State’s Attorney Gabe Carrera is prosecuting this matter.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

January 29, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, a jury has found defendant, Dr. Ishtiaq Malik, 59, of Lanham, guilty of two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense for assaults on two of his patients. The verdict came in Friday, January 26, 2024.

Today, the defendant appeared before Judge Chernosky and agreed that the State has the evidence to prove his guilt in a separate case. He entered a plea acknowledging this for eight counts of fourth-degree sex offense, one for each of eight additional victims. (This is known as an Alford plea)

The defendant was taken into custody on Thursday February 16, 2023, outside of his medical practice, the Advanced Walk-In Urgent Care located at 10800 Lockwood Dr. in Silver Spring.  Dr. Malik groped, inappropriately touched, and sexually assaulted two patients during routine examinations at the Lockwood Dr. location. Following the report of his arrest, the eight additional victims came forward.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2024. The court will consider the crimes committed against all ten victims. Malik faces up to 42 years of executed prison time.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Ashley Inderfurth and Christina Ferris are prosecuting this case.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

January 29, 2024
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jeannie Cho, a jury has found defendant, Tyrone Curtis, 35, of Washington, D.C., guilty of first-degree murder for the death of 29-year-old Amontae Cunningham.

The verdict came in on the evening of January 24, 2024. Curtis faces the potential of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 5, 2024.
This stems from an incident on April 5, 2023, at approximately 12:25 p.m. The defendant and victim became engaged in a verbal altercation on a Metro Transit bus in Wheaton. The victim exited the bus when it stopped in front of 11304 Amherst Avenue. The defendant followed the victim off of the bus with his knife blade out and to his side and then stabbed the victim one time in the upper torso. The victim fell on the sidewalk. Video of the incident was captured by surveillance cameras on the bus.

“This was a verbal altercation between strangers that the defendant senselessly escalated. There was zero justification for the use of a deadly weapon, and he will pay the consequences. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Amontae Cunningham and thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Thea Zumwalt and Caitlin Murphy for the successful prosecution of this case,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

January 26, 2024
Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, defendant, Malik Jefferson, 24, of Silver Spring, was convicted by a jury on charges of Second-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in Commission of Crime of Violence, and Robbery.

Jefferson faces a maximum of 75 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 8, 2024.

This stems from an incident on February 17th, 2022, at the intersection of Bradley Avenue and Fletcher Place in Rockville, where officers with Montgomery County Police and Rockville City Police found 22-year-old Jose Osvaldo Genao Romero, suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at an area hospital.

The defendants had picked up the victim outside of his home and drove him to the location of the murder. A nearby surveillance camera captured the attack on video. An ensuing police investigation led to the arrests of the accused shooter, Jefferson, and his co-defendant, Jackson Garcia, 20, of Silver Spring.

Garcia was convicted by a jury in July of 2023 on charges of First-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in Commission of Crime of Violence, Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.

Garcia faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on February 16th, 2024.

“This is yet another case of a marijuana deal gone bad in Montgomery County resulting in murder. The purchasing of marijuana within the black-market, which continues to exist despite legal changes that have taken place in the state of Maryland, remains extremely dangerous. We thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Lauren Turner for their successful prosecution following this senseless loss of life,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

John j. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

January 10, 2024

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Theresa Chernosky, defendant, Trevon G. Brox, 28, of Washington, D.C. has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted second-degree murder and use of a firearm in a crime of violence for shooting at a Maryland-National Capital Park Police officer. 

Brox entered the guilty plea yesterday, January 9, 2024. He faces up to 50 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 26, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. 

Assistant State’s Attorneys Robert Hill and Varya Elkis are prosecuting this matter. 

“The significance of the charges in this case could not be more poignant as the plea hearing occurred on National Law Enforcement ApPreciation Day. The State intends to ask the judge to go beyond the sentencing guidelines in this matter and will request the maximum sentence,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

February 1st 2022 Incident Summary PDF File

January 03, 2024
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Cheryl McCally sentenced defendant, Dr. James Michael Ryan, 50, of Clarksburg, to 45 years in prison.

On August 25th, 2023, Ryan was convicted by a jury on charges of second-degree depraved heart murder and involuntary manslaughter for the death of 25-year-old Sarah Harris, along with possession with the intent to distribute midazolam and distribution of Ketamine and diazepam.

The victim, Harris, was found deceased in the home she and Ryan were renting in Clarksburg on January 26, 2022. A medical examiner determined her cause of death was Ketamine, propofol and diazepam intoxication. Ryan had been supplying her with drugs, taken from his oral surgery practice, often administering them himself.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel, James Dietrich and Jennifer Harrison prosecuted this case.

John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland