September 22, 2023
Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith sentenced defendant, Dakari Thomas, 20, of Silver Spring, to 25 years in prison suspending all but 12 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge Smith recommended Thomas be admitted into the Patuxent Youthful Offenders program while incarcerated.

On July 6, 2023, Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Getro Marius Benamna. The defendant and victim encountered one another along the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring on December 7th, 2021 and began to conduct a drug transaction. Thomas was attempting to pass off another substance as marijuana. The two men became involved in a physical altercation and Thomas produced a knife, fatally stabbing Benamna.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Cortenous Herbert and John Lalos prosecuted this case.
“Once again, this was a situation where a fight over marijuana led to the loss of a young life in our community. The State requested an executed sentence of 25 years, but we respect the Judge’s decision in this matter. Our hearts remain with the family of Getro Benamna,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
 

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

September 20, 2023
This afternoon, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, a jury convicted defendant, David Lee Brown III, 29, of Washington D.C. on charges of attempted voluntary manslaughter, first-degree assault, and use of a handgun. He faces up to 55 years in prison when he is sentenced on November 20th, 2023.

This stems from an incident at the Clyde’s Restaurant in Chevy Chase on November 14th, 2022, that began as an altercation between Brown and a woman.  Several people came to the woman’s defense and a physical altercation ensued. Brown pistol-whipped one male victim and shot another man. The shooting took place outdoors, but the fight then continued inside of the establishment sending employees running for cover.

“This was a violent act at popular establishment that placed people in danger, including innocent bystanders. We thank Montgomery County Police for their work leading to the arrest and commend Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and John Lalos for handling the prosecution of this defendant,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
 

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

September 9th, 2023
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Michael McAuliffe sentenced defendant, Charles Ewald, 37, of Knoxville, MD, to 15 years in prison suspend all but five years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release.

Ewald pleaded guilty on May 18th, 2023 to charges of felony theft scheme having a value of over $100,000 and misdemeanor misconduct in office. He stole approximately $324,500 from the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation between at least 2016 and 2021 while he was working there in the role of Assistant Director.

This matter was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Bryan Roslund, Special Prosecutions Division Chief. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant paid $250,000 in restitution and an additional $74,500 is due by the end of his probationary period.

“We thank Judge McAuliffe for an appropriate and just sentence for this defendant who committed one of the worst financial crimes to ever victimize Montgomery County Public Schools. This was a breach of the community’s trust as Mr. Ewald stole a significant amount of taxpayer dollars over a period of several years,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy

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

July 28, 2023
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Teresa Chernosky, a jury has found defendant, Jose Mazara, 27, of unknown address, guilty of three counts of First-Degree Burglary and one count of Felon in Possession of a Regulated Firearm, as well as conspiracy counts for each and some related charges.

The defendant burglarized three homes in the Takoma Park area in November 2022, stealing multiple items of jewelry and watches (estimated total value of $30,000) and a handgun with ammunition. The victims were away from their homes at the time of the break-ins. In one case, the family was traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday. Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Kroepsch is prosecuting this case and stated in court that Mazara targeted homes where newspapers and/or mail sat outside of the front door, indicating the likelihood that the occupants were not present. The defendant entered the homes through unlocked doors and windows, in one case, using a ladder from the yard to access a second story window.

Mazara is facing up to 75 years in prison and is scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2023
 

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

July 17, 2023
Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Michael McAuliffe has sentenced defendant, Aaron Jefferson, 28, of Washington D.C., to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release, for a shooting on the 7900 Block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.

Judge McAuliffe issued the sentence on July 17 ^th, 2023. On May 31, 2023, Jefferson pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and reckless endangerment for his role in the incident, which occurred on October 2, 2021. Investigators believe this shooting was the result of a rival gang dispute. 

More than 40 rifle and handgun casings were recovered from the scene. Bullets struck a man in the hand and leg. That victim survived. Three commercial businesses and five vehicles were also hit by bullets. The investigation by Montgomery County Police showed that Jefferson was one of multiple individuals shooting handguns and a rifle. Jefferson was shot in the back and back of his neck. It’s believed he sustained his injuries as a result of the other shooters hitting him from behind. The search continues for additional suspects. This stems from an incident on October 2nd, 2021.

Assistant State’s Attorney Thea Zumwalt prosecuted this case.

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

July 14, 2023
Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Jean J. Pierre, 50, of Montgomery Village, to 40 years in prison. This is the maximum penalty for second-degree murder, the charge on which the defendant was convicted by a jury.

The jury deliberated for just two hours after a five-day trial in May 2023, prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Ryan Wechsler and Assistant State’s Attorney Gabe Carrera.

It is believed that the defendant, Pierre, stabbed and killed his wife, 41-year-old Nerlande Foreste inside of their home on the 20000 block of Rothbury Lane in Montgomery Village on August 21st, 2019, then placed her body inside of a shipping container and carried it out to a dumpster. The victim’s remains have not been recovered.

Foreste was Pierre’s second wife. He lost his first wife and several children in the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Pierre and his sole surviving daughter, who lost her leg but survived after being pulled from the rubble, came to the United States as refugees. The defendant’s daughter was 14 years old in August of 2019 when she became concerned for the whereabouts of her stepmother, Nerlande Foreste. The teen contacted police, participated in the investigation, and testified during the “no-body” murder trial.

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

July 13, 2023
Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Harry Storm, defendant, Jackson Garcia, 20, of Silver Spring, was convicted by a jury 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 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. A police investigation led to the arrests of Garcia and a co-defendant, the accused shooter, Malik D. Jefferson, 24 of Silver Spring. Jefferson is scheduled for trial on January 22nd, 2024.

“Today our hearts are with the family of the 22-year-old young man who lost his life in this case. Invariably, when we have a homicide resulting from a drug deal gone bad in Montgomery County, the drug involved is marijuana. This is yet another example of that. We thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Lauren Turner for their work in holding this defendant accountable,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

July 11, 2023
After a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith found defendant, Erick Odir Vidal-Fuentes, 39, of Hyattsville, guilty of Second-Degree Rape and Fourth-Degree Sex Offense. Vidal-Fuentes faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 4th, 2023 at 9 a.m.

This stems from an incident on September 29th, 2020, at the Iglesia Pentecostal El Fin Viene on the 7500 block of New Hampshire Ave. in Takoma Park, where Vidal-Fuentes was serving as pastor. The victim was a parishioner. Vidal-Fuentes currently has another case pending for assault on an additional parishioner who came forward and testified during this trial. 

“The defendant abused his position as head of a church to gain the confidence of this parishioner, and then violated her trust, victimizing her. We thank Assistant State’s Attorney Gabriel Carrera for his work in this matter, and we also thank the victim for having the bravery to come forward and testify in the trial, helping to ensure Vidal-Fuentes is not able to do further harm in the community.”

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

July 10, 2023
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Marielsa Bernard found defendant Sergio Koyangbo, 21, of Bethesda, guilty but Not Criminally Responsible* (NCR) for the stabbing death of his stepfather, 46-year-old David Beasley on March 6, 2022.

The State challenged an NCR finding by a state expert in December of 2022 and retained one of Maryland’s leading forensic psychiatrists to conduct an independent evaluation of the defendant. That doctor, however, came to the same conclusion of an NCR finding.

In light of the second expert’s opinion, the State conceded the issue. Immediately following today’s hearing, Koyangbo was committed to the Maryland Department of Health. He will remain in a medical facility pending future evaluations.

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

July 7, 2023
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Christopher Fogleman, a jury has found defendant, Gary Savage, 60, of Tampa, FL, guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, and two counts of Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence.

This stems from an incident on September 3rd, 2021. The defendant drove from where he was living in Tampa, FL to the home of his estranged wife on Baileys Court in Silver Spring, MD. When Savage arrived, his estranged wife and her boyfriend, 44-year-old Whali Shabazz, were getting into a vehicle. Text messages that were admitted into evidence showed Savage knew the two victims were together and expected Shabaz to be there when he arrived. Savage opened fire on both of them, killing Shabaz and continuing to shoot at his estranged wife while she took cover behind another vehicle. She was not injured.

In court, the defendant claimed self-defense saying he opened fire due to the perceived threat of a handgun that Whali Shabaz had in his possession.

The jury returned its verdict late Friday evening. Savage faces the potential of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 17th, 2023.

Assistant State’s Attorney’s Jim Dietrich and Lauren Turner are prosecuting this case.

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

June 30, 2023
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Michael McAuliffe, defendant, Todd Michael Watkins, 56, of Jefferson, MD, pleaded guilty to one count of the misdemeanor charge of misconduct in office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 11th, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

The defendant, Watkins, was appointed Director of the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Transportation in 2009. Beginning in at least 2016 and continuing into September 2021, the defendant failed to properly manage the contract for the purchases of school buses and the use of purchasing cards in his department such that Charles Ewald, the Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation, was able to steal over $320,000. 

This follows a guilty plea entered by defendant, Charles Ewald, 37, of Knoxville, MD, in the Circuit Court, before Judge McAuliffe, on May 18th, 2023 to charges of felony theft scheme having a value of over $100,000 and misdemeanor misconduct in office. Ewald is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 6th, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the theft scheme charge.

“These convictions are the result of a thorough investigation on the part of the Montgomery County Police Department. We thank the detectives for their diligent work in this matter after being alerted to the possibility of fraudulent activity by Montgomery County Public Schools. We will provide further comment in open court at the time of sentencing in September,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

June 22, 2023
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith has sentenced defendant, Steven Ray Beitzel Jr., 33, of Germantown to 85 years in prison suspend all but 32 years and five years of supervised probation upon release. Following the conviction, the State and Beitzel entered into a plea agreement to resolve four remaining criminal cases including:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault
• Armed Robbery
• Robbery
• Burglary

This stems from a string of incidents in 2021 and 2022.

While in custody, Beitzel, according to doctors, feigned illness and was transported to Holy Cross Hospital. In a hospital restroom, the defendant attempted to disarm one of the sheriff’s deputies monitoring him. He lunged for the deputy’s service weapon. A mele ensued and during the scuffle, Beitzel was able to lower the safety hood of the service weapon, which is the first step in removing the gun from its holster. The two deputies involved were injured and subsequently treated for concussions. Thanks to the discipline and restraint of the two Sheriff’s Deputies and an off-duty Montgomery County Police officer, a firefight was narrowly avoided

On March 23rd, 2023, after a two-day trial, a jury found Beitzel guilty of one count of Attempt to Disarm Law Enforcement and two counts of Second-Degree Assault. Assistant State’s Attorneys Jodi Mount and Rachel Morris prosecuted this case.

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

June 9th, 2023
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, a jury convicted defendant, Kyle Noble, 30, of unknown address, on charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery for the death of 31-year-old Efrain Arias. Noble faces up to 60 years in prison and a 25-year mandatory minimum as this is the third conviction for a violent crime in the state of Maryland.

Noble committed murder while on probation for a stabbing in Frederick County in April of 2017. He also pled guilty to robbery in Montgomery County during March of 2014. The sentencing hearing is scheduled on July 17th, 2023.

This stems from an incident on September 15th, 2019 when the defendant, Noble, confronted Efrain Arias as he exited his vehicle in the parking lot of Extended Stay America hotel on Milestone Center Drive in Germantown. Noble chased the victim down a hill into a field near the parking lot, fatally stabbed him, then came back and robbed the dying victim of personal property. As stated by the prosecutors in court, the attack was fueled by drug-seeking behavior and a jealous rage, as the victim was a friend of Noble's ex-girlfriend.

This case was originally tried in September 2022 and ended with a hung jury. Both the original trial and retrial were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Rachel Morris.

“This is a situation where it took a number of years and continued dedication on the part of our prosecution team and the Montgomery County Police Department to ensure justice was served,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “We are grateful to them along with the men and women of the jury and the witnesses who participated and testified during trial.” 

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

May 31, 2023. 
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Kevin Hessler sentenced defendant, Rodjaun Neal-Williams, 21 of Clarksburg, to 30 years in prison.

Neal-Williams was convicted by a jury on March 7th, 2023, on charges of Voluntary Manslaughter and Use of Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the death of 23-year-old Javon Gordon of Boyds.

May 26, 2023.
This week, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, defendant, Scorpio Alexander Stanfield, 32, of unknown address, was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for stabbing attacks on two victims in Rockville.

On Thursday, May 25, 2023, a jury convicted Stanfield of second-degree murder for the death of 35-year-old Jonathan Lawrence Moore of Silver Spring. Stanfield faces up to 40 years in prison in this matter. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2023.
On Monday, May 22, 2023, a separate jury convicted Stanfield of first-degree assault for the non-fatal stabbing of an adult male. Stanfield faces up to 25 years in prison on this charge. The sentencing hearing will also be held on August 22, 2023.

Both trials were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Turner and Gabe Carrera.

The stabbings occurred on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 on Hungerford Dr. in Rockville. Officers with Rockville City Police and Montgomery County Police arrived at the 700 block of Hungerford Dr. at approximately 9:55p.m. for a report of a stabbing. They located man suffering from a stab wound who provided a description of the suspect. That victim was transported to the hospital and survived.

Officers located the suspect, later identified as Stanfield, in the area and arrested him. While investigating the crime scene, they discovered a man seated in his vehicle in the 800 block of Hungerford Dr., suffering from a stab wound. This man was later identified as Jonathan Lawrence Moore. Moore succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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

May 16, 2023.

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Margaret Schweitzer, a jury has convicted defendant, Jaime Havier Lee, 43, of an unconfirmed address, on the charge of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of 36-year-old Cornelius Lyon of an unconfirmed address.

The jury returned its verdict late yesterday evening. Lee faces up to 40 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 28 ^th, 2023, at 1 p.m. in front of Judge Schweitzer.

This trial, prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Donna Fenton and Jodie Mount stemmed from an incident on May 2 ^nd, 2020. That afternoon, officers with Montgomery County Police and Rockville City Police responded to the 100 block of Frederick Avenue in Rockville where the victim, Lyon, was lying on the ground, deceased. According to witnesses, Lyon had walked to the area in an attempt to seek help. He had been stabbed by Jaime Lee inside of a nearby apartment in the 700 block of Lenmore Avenue. Witnesses say a group of men were inside the apartment when a fight broke out over $20 dollars. The defendant and victim became involved in a verbal argument which escalated, and Lee stabbed Lyon in the face, chest, left arm and neck. Multiple people then fled the apartment including both the victim and the defendant. Rockville City officers located Lee in the area a short time later.

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

April 21, 2023
Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney sentenced defendant, Tremayne Dorsey, 44, of unknown address, to life in prison plus an additional 110 years.

The sentence breakdown is:

• Count 1 First Degree Murder - Life
• Count 2 Use of a Firearm - 20 years consecutive
• Count 3 Home Invasion - Merged with Count One
• Count 4 First Degree Assault - 25 years consecutive
• Count 5 Use of a Firearm - 20 years consecutive
• Count 6 First Degree Assault - 25 years consecutive
• Count 7 Use of a Firearm - 20 years consecutive

A jury convicted Dorsey on January 13th 2023 in a trial prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Kimberly Cissel. The charges stem from an incident on November 30th, 2021, when Dorsey forced his way into an apartment along the 12300 block of Treetop Drive in Silver Spring, shooting and killing 39-year-old James Beverly whose eight-month-old daughter and other family members were just feet away, inside of the unit. Dorsey also assaulted two women inside of the apartment. As detailed in court proceedings, Dorsey had previously stayed at the residence with the victims and had a falling out with them, so he was known to them. He was found by police nearly a month later in Colonial Heights, VA.

“We commend Judge Maloney for this sentence which sends an incredibly strong message to the community that anyone who commits such despicable acts of violence will be held accountable,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

April 14, 2023
This afternoon, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney, a jury found defendant, Mario Samm, 22, of Frederick, MD, guilty of murder in the second-degree and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence for the death of 25-year-old Jahandar Darvish. Samm faces up to 60 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 19th, 2023. This stems from an incident inside Darvish’s apartment on the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown on December 23, 2021. During an altercation, Samm fired seven rounds from two firearms, striking the victim three times. One of the other bullets went through the floor into an apartment unit below. There were no additional injuries. During the investigation it was found that social media posts of the defendant in the weeks preceding the incident, showed him with one of the guns believed to be used in the fatal shooting. 

“Thanks to the hard work of Montgomery County Police detectives and Assistant State’s Attorneys Jim Dietrich and Kyle O’Grady, this senseless act of violence will be met with severe consequences. The defendant not only took the life of the victim, Jahandar Darvish, but also put other people in harm’s way when he fired weapons inside of the apartment building. We are grateful that justice has been served in this case and we express our deepest condolences to Darvish’s family who will forever be impacted by this loss,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

March 31, 2023
The Honorable David Lease sentenced defendant, Etienne Kabongo, to 90 years in prison suspend all but 40 years. He would face five years of supervised probation should he ever be released. The defendant pleaded guilty to crimes against four female victims, ages 12, 12, 18 and 20, who rode the bus he drove for Montgomery County Public Schools. While he pleaded guilty, Kabongo claimed he was not criminally responsible due to an alleged mental disorder. Last month, however, a jury found he is indeed responsible for the two counts of Second-Degree Rape and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

“Etienne Kabongo was entrusted with the safety of some of the most vulnerable members of our community and he violated that trust, using his position to sexually abuse the nonverbal students for which he was responsible. Thank you to Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Rubinstein for his work in holding this defendant accountable. We are grateful that justice has prevailed and hope it provides some comfort for the victims and their families,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. 3/31/2023

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

March 30, 2023
Before the Honorable Eric Johnson, a jury has found defendant, Jefferson Delgado, 29, of Gaithersburg, guilty of first-degree attempted murder for shooting a man outside of Antojitos restaurant located on East Diamond Avenue Gaithersburg. The incident occurred on April 18, 2021 and the jury reached its verdict late yesterday, March 30, 2023. Delgado faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on May 8, 2023. 

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

March 28, 2023
The Honorable John Maloney sentenced defendant, Carlos Zackery, 26, of Washington, D.C., to 100 years in prison suspend all but 26 years and five years of supervised probation upon release. The defendant pleaded guilty in this case in September 2022 to six armed robberies, nine first degree assaults, and two conspiracy to commit armed robbery charges.

A codefendant in this case, Zackery’s half-brother, Dionte Taylor, 25, of unknown address, was sentenced on January 20, 2023 to 65 years with all but 12 suspended, and five years of supervised probation upon release. He had plead guilty to 13 counts related to the armed robberies.

“These defendants terrorized pharmacy employees and customers. We are grateful to Assistant State’s Attorneys Peter Larson and Sheila Bagheri for their work in this matter along with the pharmacy clerk who bravely activated the silent alarm and to Montgomery County Police. In the case of the most recent robbery, officers were able to prevent thousands of narcotics and opioid pills from hitting the streets,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

March 28, 2023
The Honorable David Lease sentenced defendant, Jose Lara-Chacon, on Friday to life in prison suspend all but 40 years and five years of supervised probation upon release. A jury convicted the defendant of first-degree murder in November 2022.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Dimer Diaz Martinez today. This sort of sudden, vicious violence has no place in our community and the defendant will now be held accountable. We thank the men and women of the jury for rejecting the defendant’s claim of self-defense and helping to ensure Jose Lara-Chacon will not be able to harm another person in this way. I also commend Assistant State’s Attorney James Dietrich for his outstanding work in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

March 20, 2023

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney sentenced defendant, Julia Birch, 28, of Kensington, to 40 years in prison suspend all but 23 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. She must also complete 240 hours of community service upon probation. Judge Maloney recommended the defendant be admitted to the Patuxent Eligible Persons Program while incarcerated.

This stems from an incident on July 28th, 2021.

Birch plead guilty to second-degree murder for taking the life of her family friend, the woman whom she was living with, 92-year-old Nancy Ann Frankel. Assistant State’s Attorneys Dermot Garrett and Frank Lazzaro prosecuted this case. The State recommended 40 years of incarceration which is the maximum penalty under the law for second-degree murder.

Nancy Frankel’s adult children offer the following quote:
“We are still coming to terms with our mothers tragic death and prefer to maintain our privacy at this moment. Thank you for your understanding. We have no further comments at this time.”

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 29th at 10 a.m. 

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

March 8, 2023
In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Kevin Hessler, a jury has found defendant, Rodjaun Neal-Williams, 21 of Clarksburg, guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter and Use of Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence for the death of 23-year-old Javon Gordon of Boyds.

The jury returned the verdict on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023. Defendant, Neal-Williams, faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before Judge Hessler on May 31st at 1:30 p.m.

“This is an example of a ghost gun fired in broad daylight in a neighborhood where families were out enjoying a beautiful spring day. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Gabriel Carrera and John Lalos for their work in this matter, as this type of brazen violence is not acceptable in our community. This defendant will face up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

March 7, 2023
Caden Riley, 19, of Rockville, has pleaded guilty to the charge of second-degree rape for an attack on a 16-year-old girl who was a stranger to him. Riley entered his guilty plea on Friday, March 3, 2023, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable John Maloney. He faces up to ten years in prison when he is sentenced on July 28th, 2023.

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

March 2, 2023
The Honorable Robert Greenberg sentenced Maritza Ramirez, 57, of Germantown to five years in prison suspend all but 18 months and five years of supervised probation upon release. Ramirez was also ordered to pay $7,700 in restitution to the families of victims she stole from. Ramirez was a 14-year employee of Marian Assisted Living, located in the 19100 block of Georgia Avenue. On November 29, 2022, she pleaded guilty to Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adults in a Scheme.

“Maritza Ramirez was entrusted with the care of vulnerable adults and violated that trust when she stole their possessions and used the items for her personal financial gain. Multiple items had great sentimental value to the families who were victimized, and those items have not been recovered. We thank Judge Greenberg for this appropriate sentence. It should serve as a deterrent for anyone looking to use their position to exploit a vulnerable person in this way,” said Lauren DeMarco, spokesperson for the State’s Attorney’s Office. 

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

February 24, 2023
Before the Honorable Karla Smith, Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville, pleaded guilty to counts of First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of Felony for the death of his former manager, Geoffrey Biddle, 66, of Bethesda, on June 23, 2021.

Phillips faces the potential of life in prison plus an additional 65 years when he is sentenced on March 10th at 10:30 a.m. The State will be seeking the maximum penalty.

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

February 17, 2023
Before the Honorable Karla Smith, a jury has found Adin Huezo Grandados, 28, of Leesburg, VA, guilty of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor. The jury returned the verdict this week, on Wednesday, February 15th. Huezo communicated with what he thought was a 15-year-old female through a social media profile created by an undercover officer with the Montgomery County Police Vice & Intelligence Unit and was arrested on June 17, 2022 when he arrived at a planned meeting place in a shopping center across from a Montgomery County public high school. He believed the “female” he would meet was a student at the school.

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

January 13, 2023
Justice prevails in two unrelated murder cases on the same day as the State’s Attorney’s Office and the court continue to hold defendants accountable for homicides and violent crime in Montgomery County, MD.

A jury found defendant, Tremayne Dorsey, 44, of unknown address, guilty of first-degree murder, felony murder, home invasion, two counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Dorsey faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on March 23rd, 2023.

As well, a jury found defendant Sergey Danshin, 35, of Rockville, guilty of first-degree murder and related handgun charges for the death of 39-year-old Javier Gonzalez-Mena. Danshin faces the potential of life in prison when he is sentenced on April 6th, 2023. 

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

January 4, 2023
The Honorable Christopher Fogleman sentenced Herbert Randall, 19, of Potomac, to nine years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release for charges of Armed Carjacking and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence. Randall had pleaded guilty to both counts in November 2022. He used a Privately Manufactured Firearm (PMF) or ‘ghost gun’ in commission of this crime. Judge Fogleman is recommending Randall be admitted to the Patuxent Youthful Offenders Program while incarcerated. 01/04/2023

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

December 15, 2022
The Honorable John Maloney sentenced Abraham Douglas, 21, of Washington D.C. to life in prison plus an additional 25 years for the death of Ahamdou Bamba Gueye, 23, of Takoma Park. A jury had convicted the defendant of First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony and Third-Degree Burglary. 

"We express our deepest condolences to the family of Ahmadou Bamba Gueye. This senseless violence has no place in our community and thanks to the work of the responding officers and detectives on this case along with outstanding prosecution by Assistant State’s Attorneys Marybeth Ayres and Lauren Turner, the defendant will be held accountable,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

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

December 14, 2022
The Honorable Karla Smith sentenced Joshua Wright, 18, of Bethesda, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years for the death of a 33-year-old man on December 19, 2021. Co-defendant Antonio Lawrence is scheduled for trial beginning February 6, 2023.

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

December 1, 2022
A jury has convicted James McClain, 39, of Rockville, on charges of second-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape and two counts of third-degree sex offense for his assault on a victim who was previously unknown to him. McClain faces up to 60-years in prison and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2023.

"The bravery of the victim in coming forward initially and then participating in the trial, testifying before the jury, cannot be overstated. We are grateful for her help and the prosecutorial work of Assistant State's Attorneys Gabriel Carrera and Lauren Fetsch. A predator in our community will now be held to account," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.

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

October 26, 2022
A jury convicted defendant, Jhasir Devaux, 25, of Baltimore, MD, on one count of robbery. This stems from the robbery of the Sandy Spring Bank located at 14241 Layhill Road in Silver Spring on Aug. 7th, 2019.

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

October 11, 2022
The honorable Judge David Lease sentenced defendant, Anthony Millhouse, 40, of Washington D.C., to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release. Millhouse was convicted by a jury on April 13, 2022, of armed carjacking and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

“This is an appropriate sentence for the defendant who terrified an innocent member of our community as she went about her day. We thank our partners in the greater metropolitan area for working with us to recover the victim’s vehicle and for their help in tracking down Millhouse, so that he is not able to target anyone else and can be held responsible for his actions,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. 

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

September 20, 2022
The Honorable Sharon Burrell sentenced Biet Van Tran, 65, to life without the possibility of parole on the charge of first-degree murder and to an additional 55 years for two counts of attempted first-degree murder for stabbing attacks on two victims.

"This was about as vicious an attack as you can possible imagine. As Judge Burrell stated in court, Biet Van Tran committed the ultimate crime against these three innocent victims and will pay the ultimate punishment. We thank the survivors for their bravery in participating in the trial and working with Assistant State's Attorneys Ashley Inderfurth and Kyle O'Grady to make sure this defendant will never harm anyone again," said State's Attorney John McCarthy. 

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

September 9, 2022
The Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Vaughn Darvel Bellamy, 32, of Hagerstown, MD, to life in prison plus an additional 40 years. A jury convicted Bellamy and Bryan Byrd, 31, of Washington D.C., on charges of first degree murder for the death of Alexander Buie in 2013, and multiple related charges. 

State's Attorney John McCarthy offers the following statement: "This was a case of mistaken identity. Alexander Buie was a truly innocent victim, and lost his life at a time when he was trying to maintain his sobriety and get his life back on a positive path. Justice will now be served for the family of Mr. Buie, as the men responsible for his death are being held accountable. I thank Assistant State's Attorneys Mary Herdman and John Lalos for their work in this matter." 

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

June 27, 2022
The Maryland Court of Appeals handed down its opinion yesterday in the case of Rony Galicia, 30, of Boyds. This reverses an opinion from the Court of Special Appeals and reinstates Galicia's convictions on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and armed robbery.

"The opinion from Maryland's highest court reaffirms what the State believed from the beginning. Roby Galicia is, indeed, responsible for the violent deaths of these two teenagers along with his co-defendants. We are pleased to learn the jury's decision will be upheld and Galicia will continue to serve out his sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Our hearts are with the families of the victims today," said State's Attorney John McCarthy. 

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

May 13, 2022
The Honorable Harry Storm sentenced Dontaye Hunt, 21, of Silver Spring, to 19 years in prison and three years of supervised probation upon release. Hunt pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery for the deaths of 23-year-old Jordan Radway and 24-year-old Christian Roberts. He cooperated in the case, testifying against co-defendant Andy Panton. Hunt is one of three co-defendants in this case.

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

April 6, 2022
The Honorable Harry Storm sentenced Kevin McGuigan, 24, of Potomac, of Rockville, to life in prison suspend all but 80 years.

"Sometimes cases take time and require a mixture of law and medicine. I commend Assistant State's attorneys Donna Fenton and Lauren Turner for their work in the competency hearings leading up to today. Kevin McGuigan has continued to exhibit violent behavior, pleading guilty to first degree assault for attacking a fellow detainee while he was in custody receiving medical treatment. We thank Judge Storm for imposing an absolutely appropriate sentence today," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.

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

April 6, 2022
A jury has found defendant Joshua Toure, 26, of Boyds, guilty of first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, for the death of 28-year-old Joseph Davis. Toure faces life in prison plus an additional 20 years.

"This sort of senseless violence within our neighborhoods is unacceptable. It is a reminder about how dangerous and potentially life threatening the buying and selling of drugs can be. Thanks to the work of Assistant State's Attorneys James Dietrich and Kelly McGann, the defendant now faces life in prison plus additional time. Our hearts go out to the family of Joseph Davis as they continue to grieve, and we look forward to a significant sentence in this matter," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.

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

April 1, 2022
The Honorable Jeannie Cho sentenced Ruel Francis Dempster II, 34, of Silver Spring, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years and five years of supervised probation upon release.

"I thank Judge Cho for imposing 40 years of incarceration time in this case. This defendant fled the country after committing murder in our community, but will now be held accountable for his actions and prevented from endangering the life of anyone else," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.

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

In the matter of the May 7, 2020 police-involved shooting in Silver Spring, Maryland.

REPORT - May 2020 Event
Police Body Worn Camera Video - Warning Graphic in Nature - Viewer Discretion is Advised

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