Year: 2021

Baltimore, MD – A federal jury convicted Earl Leroy Griffin, Jr., age 45, of Sunderland, Maryland, late on December 17, 2021, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Washington Division; Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey.

According to the evidence presented at his four-day trial, on September 5, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence and on his vehicle as part of a drug investigation.  In Griffin’s locked vehicle, law enforcement recovered a stolen .40 caliber handgun, loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition; powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana; and three Maryland driver’s licenses bearing Griffin’s name and photo.  The vehicle was registered to Griffin.  When he was searched incident to his arrest, Griffin had the keys to his vehicle and $1,870 in cash in his pockets.

Griffin had four previous felony drug convictions and knew that as a result, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.  This conviction qualifies Griffin for armed career criminal status.

The jury acquitted Griffin on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

As an armed career criminal, Griffin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violence crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United State Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Morgan and Timothy F. Hagan, Jr., who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that Rodney Carlton Rance, 53, of Lanham, pleaded guilty on December 17, 2021, to 14 counts of felony animal cruelty relating to the use and possession of dogs for dogfighting.  The agreement includes a recommendation by the State that Rance serve 3 years, 6 months of active incarceration at the Maryland Division of Corrections.  As part of the plea agreement, Rance forfeited his ownership of the 22 dogs recovered at his property and will pay $84,056 in restitution to the Calvert County Government.  Sentencing is set for March 28, 2022 at 1:00 pm before the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee.

These charges are the result of a collaborative effort between the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s County Animal Control, Humane Rescue Alliance, and the Calvert County Animal Cruelty Task Force, comprised of members of the Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control, and the State’s Attorney’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte.

State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that Christopher Morgan Hynson, 34, of Saint Leonard, entered a guilty plea on December 16, 2021, in Calvert County Circuit Court, to two counts of vehicular manslaughter.  The two counts represented the lives of Gerard Fragman and Jessica Brady both of whom were tragically killed in a motor vehicle crash caused by Hynson on May 14, 2020.

Sentencing is set for January 24, 2022 at 1:00 pm before the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee.  Pursuant to the plea agreement, which was approved by the Court, Hynson will receive an active sentence of 10 years imprisonment.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte.

Robert H. Harvey, Calvert County State’s Attorney, announced that Tammy Marie Blasi, 44, of Lusby entered a guilty plea to felony animal cruelty.  She was sentenced by the Court to an 18 month suspended period of incarceration. As part of her sentence, Blasi is prohibited from owning, possessing, or residing with any animal. This represents the first felony conviction obtained in Calvert County due to extreme neglect of an animal.

In 2020, Calvert County Animal Control responded to a home in Lusby for an animal in distress. Upon arrival, officers discovered a white terrier dog in a children’s playhouse in the backyard. Officers examined the dog which was unable to move, covered in debris, and crying out in obvious pain. Officers made contact with Blasi who advised that the dog had been placed outside because it had been making a mess in the home. The dog was seized from the property and taken to Solomon’s Veterinary Medical Center. Providers discovered severe wounds and sores under the dog’s hair which were infested with maggots.  Providers determined that the wounds had developed after months of neglect. The dog was humanely euthanized given its poor condition.

This conviction is the result of the collaborative effort of the Calvert County Animal Cruelty Task Force, comprised of members of the Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control, and State’s Attorney’s Office.  State’s Attorney Harvey, wishes to commend Officer Hayden of Calvert County Animal Control and Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte and Investigator Cara Grumbles of the State’s Attorney’s Office for their work on this case.

Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO)

2021 Accomplishments

1. Significant Prosecutions
   1. 4 teens found guilty and sentenced for committing hate crimes at Calvert High School.
   2. David Harold Johnson sentenced to 2 consecutive terms of life imprisonment for 2020 rape and murder.
   3. Dru Michael Sultzaberger sentenced to 17 years incarceration for 2019 shooting.
   4. Craig Langrall, former Calvert County lawyer, sentenced to active incarceration for felony theft scheme and required to pay restitution.
   5. Matthew James Baker convicted of aggravated animal cruelty and sentenced to 2 years incarceration.
   6. Criminal jury trials resumed following COVID shutdown and Brian Cullen Sheridan convicted of sex abuse of minor and sentenced to 24 years imprisonment.
   7. Christopher Fuller convicted of auto manslaughter and received 6 years of active incarceration.
   8. Wilbur Richard Hawkins convicted of 2 counts sex abuse of a minor and sentenced to 18 years incarceration.
2. Community Outreach
   1. Sponsored summer internship with student from Northern High School
   2. Sponsored booth at the Calvert County Fair.
   3. SAO participated in numerous community events to include: National Night Out, National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month Red Sand Project, Calvert County Chamber of Commerce State of the County breakfast.
   4. State’s Attorney Robert Harvey was guest speaker at several Homeowner’s Association meetings, neighborhood watch meetings, and other Calvert County events.
   5. Created program with Calvert County Public Schools to permit criminal justice students to shadow attorneys in District Court.
   6. Robert Harvey spoke to “home-schooled” students at Day of Law event.
3. Training
   1. Provided monthly updates on developments in criminal law and procedure to Md. State Police, Barrack U, and to Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.
   2. Created mentorship program within SAO that paired junior attorneys with senior attorneys in prosecution of illegal handgun cases in the Circuit Court.
   3. Participated in Standard Field Sobriety training for Calvert County Sheriff’s Office rookie officers
   4. Provided instruction to Calvert County Sheriff’s Office rookie officers on role of State’s Attorney’s Office in criminal justice system.
   5. Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA) Lee Bell attended week-long training on forensic evidence sponsored by National District Attorney’s Association (NDAA); ASA Sierrah Beeler attended Trial Advocacy Training put on by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association (MSAA) and Human Trafficking Prosecution training by MAGLOGLEN; support personnel Teresa Weeks and Tammie Terrell attended staff administrative training sponsored by MSAA; and attorneys attended training at the MSAA Summer Convention in Ocean City, MD.

4. Technology
   1. Created a 3-person unit (1 attorney and 2 digital media specialists) to review, process, and redact all police body-worn camera videos and thereby fulfill our legal obligation to provide them to defense counsel in a timely fashuon.
   2. Established Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office Facebook page.
   3. In conjunction with Calvert County government implemented Executime automated payroll system for SAO employees thereby eliminating the need for paper recordkeeping.
5. Diversion Programs
   1. In cooperation with Calvert Behavioral Health, created a Youthful Offender Diversion Program in SAO District Court Division, to permit young, non-violent, first-time offenders an opportunity to keep their records clean if they successfully complete a 6-week counseling program.
   2. Continued to actively participate in Circuit Court Adult Treatment Program, which graduated 33 individuals who had undergone a minimum of 18-months of counseling and intensive court supervision. All of these individuals were drug and alcohol free at the time of graduation.
6. Awards and Appointments
   1. ASA Tammy Lafferty recognized by Optimist Club of Calvert County in Respect for Law ceremony.
   2. State’s Attorney Robert Harvey appointed by Governor Hogan to Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Policy Commission.
   3. Robert Harvey appointed as Secretary to Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association and Board of Directors, Calvert County Bar Association.
7. Child Support
   1. SAO Child Support Division ranked #1 in Md. for percent of child support collected.
8. Policies and Procedures
   1. Developed and issued written policy guidelines on the following topics: grand jury practice, disposition of expunged records, liaison with victims and witnesses, police use of deadly force, prosecution of criminal and serious motor vehicle cases, and charging decisions and plea negotiations.
9. Personnel
   1. Patrick Cathro hired as ASA.
   2. Tammie Terrell and Allison Baker hired as Victim Advocates.
   3. Sierra Shrawder promoted to Digital Media Specialist.
   4. Morgan Marquardt and Christine Wells hired as front desk receptionists.

Robert H. Harvey, Jr.

State’s Attorney

The Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office is a strong supporter of, and active participant in the Circuit Court Adult Treatment Program.  In 2021, this Program graduated 33 individuals.  These individuals underwent a minimum of 18 months intensive supervision counseling, drug-testing, and treatment.  They were required to maintain sobriety and stay crime-free.  At a time when the country is still reeling from the opioid epidemic, the Adult Treatment Program offers an effective path toward lifting people out of their addictions.  Further information about the Program may be found at circuitcourt.co.cal.md.us.  The Program is presided over by the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee, Administrative Judge of the Calvert County Circuit Court.

Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that James Eric Baugher, 56, of Lusby, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021, to the crimes of second degree sex offense, sexual abuse of a minor, and engaging in a continuing course of criminal conduct with a minor child.

Sentencing is set for February 11, 2022, before the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee.  Pursuant to the plea agreement, which was approved by the Court, Baugher will receive an active sentence of 30 years imprisonment.  Because the offenses are crimes of violence under Maryland law, Baugher must serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

The case is being handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero.

Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that on November 29, 2021, Donte Terrell Jones, 39, of Owings, MD, entered a guilty plea to First Degree Assault and Carrying a Dangerous Weapon Openly with Intent to Injure.  Sentencing is set for February 28, 2022, before the Honorable Mark W. Carmean of the Calvert County Circuit Court.  Jones is facing a maximum sentence of 28 years imprisonment.

On July 4, 2021, Jones initiated a verbal dispute with the victim in the parking lot of the Fastop in Chesapeake Beach.  During the altercation, Jones produced a knife and stabbed the victim in the chest and back and slashed the victim’s arm and abdomen.  The victim was unarmed during the altercation.  He was flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma where he underwent emergency surgery for life-threatening injuries.  Fortunately, the victim survived.

The case is being handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Lee Ann Bell.

When Captain John Smith sailed up the Patuxent River in 1609, he described a number of Native American settlements located along the shoreline.  The largest was located at the confluence of the Patuxent and Battle Creek, in what is now Calvert County.

In fact, Indigenous Peoples had been using these lands for thousands of years for hunting, fishing, oystering, and crabbing.  Artifacts dating back centuries can still be found on the shores of the Patuxent and the Chesapeake Bay.  Many are on display at Jefferson-Patterson Park.

Friday, November 26, 2021 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  For those wishing to learn more about the history of these peoples in Calvert County, I invite you to visit Jefferson-Patterson Park or to contact the Piscataway-Conoy Tribe, which was officially recognized by the State of Maryland on January 9, 2012.

Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that Donald Allen Hayes, 31, of Lusby, was sentenced to a total of 9-1/2 years incarceration for sex abuse of a minor and related charges.  The sentence was imposed on November 8, 2021, by the Honorable Mark S. Chandlee of the Calvert County Circuit Court.  Because the charge is a crime of violence under Maryland Law, Hayes must serve at least half of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Hayes pleaded guilty in July 2021.  In addition to his prison sentence, Hayes will be required to serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release and register as a sex offender.