Calvert County Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy L. Lafferty was recognized by the Optimist Club of Calvert – Prince Frederick at its annual Respect for Law ceremony on September 13, 2021. Ms. Lafferty was honored for her work on behalf of the children of Calvert County. She and her staff have collected over $45 million in child support payments since 2017. Ms. Lafferty was introduced by States Attorney Robert H. Harvey, Jr.
Robert Harvey, Calvert County State’s Attorney, has been appointed by Governor Larry J. Hogan to a position on the Maryland Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy. The Commission is responsible for supporting fair and equitable sentencing practices in the Circuit Courts throughout the State of Maryland. Mr. Harvey will serve a 4-year term as the representative of the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association. He thanks Governor Hogan for this opportunity to provide a voice for the citizens of Calvert County on this important Commission.
Not everyone knows that the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office is responsible for enforcing Maryland laws regarding child support. In fact, the Office has a division staffed by an attorney and 3 support persons, dedicated solely to this function.
Since 2017, this unit has collected over $48,000,000 in support payments for the children of Calvert County. Currently, the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office ranks #1 in the State of Maryland in the percentage of child support collected.
State’s Attorney Robert Harvey would like to congratulate Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Lafferty, Paralegal Kathy Bowen and legal secretaries Joan Helms and Christine Wells for their outstanding work.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that on July 19, 2021, the Calvert County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Rodney Carlton Rance, 52, of Lusby, and Charles Henry Hall, II, 44, of Chaptico, with felony animal cruelty charges for their alleged involvement in a dogfighting operation. Rance faces 40 counts of aggravated animal cruelty based on allegations that he engaged in dogfighting, maintained premises for dogfighting, and possessed equipment and dogs for use in fights. Hall faces 7 counts of aggravated animal cruelty based on allegations that he engaged in a dogfight and transported dogs for fighting. Trial dates have been set for January 10, 2022, in the Calvert County Circuit Court. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte.
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 investigation into the alleged dogfighting operation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Det. Sarah Jernigan of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office at 410-535-2800.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that on August 9, 2021, Brian Cullen Sheridan of Lusby, received a sentence of 20 years imprisonment for the crime of sex abuse of a minor. Sheridan also received an additional 4-year term for a violation of probation.
Sheridan was convicted by a jury following a trial in May. The jury found that Sheridan inappropriately touched a 7-year-old girl after placing her on his lap. The victim was able to get away and call her mother using the “Messenger Kids” app. The victim reported the abuse and Sheridan was immediately arrested by Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies and held at the Calvert County Detention Center.
Sheridan will have to serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The case reflects the strong commitment of the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office to aggressively prosecute individuals who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community, our children. Mr. Harvey wishes to commend Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Cordero for her outstanding work on the case.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that George Andrew Taylor, 36, of Waldorf, has pleaded guilty to committing a third degree sex offense involving a minor child. In 2019, the child disclosed to her mother that Taylor, a family friend, had been touching her inappropriately. During a forensic interview, the child also disclosed numerous instances of inappropriate contact that occurred in Charles County. The most recent incident occurred in Calvert on Thanksgiving Day of 2019. Taylor was charged in both counties.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2021, in Calvert County Circuit Court. The Defendant is facing a maximum penalty of 10 years incarceration. The case is being handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Cordero.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that Marco J. Decesaris, III, 72, of Prince Frederick, MD, has pleaded guilty to being involved in a felony theft scheme. Decesaris, the owner of Marco’s Quality Storage Buildings, LLC, took money from several County residents after agreeing to build them a shed. He never built the shed, pocketed the money, and refused to issue a refund. Through witness interviews and a review of bank records, the State’s Attorney’s Office was able to determine that since 2018, Decesaris stole a total of $14,995 in this manner.
Sentencing has been set for November 5, 2021, in Calvert County Circuit Court. Decesaris is facing a maximum punishment of 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine, plus restitution to his victims. The case is being handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Benjamin G. Lerner.
Robert Harvey, Calvert County State’s Attorney, wants to alert customers of AT&T/DirecTV to a possible scam that is occurring in our community. Some customers have received official-looking materials in the mail telling them that their bill is going to be increased by $12 per month unless they call a specified telephone number. When the number is called, the user is asked to provide a social security number. This is a scam! AT&T/DirecTV never asks for a social security number and is not sending these documents in the mail. If you receive such a letter, do not fall for this trick. You should immediately report postal fraud to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or by calling 1-877-876-2455.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that John Michael Anderson Wood, 21, of Lusby, has been sentenced for his role in a 2019 shooting that left a woman seriously injured. Wood received a total of 14 years active incarceration for felony first degree assault, use of a handgun, and related charges. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence.
In October 2019, Wood and co-defendant Dru Sultzaberger were at a party when Sultzaberger became involved in an altercation. They left, armed themselves with handguns, and drove to the victim’s residence. They fired several shots into the victim’s vehicle, one of which struck the victim in the face. Fortunately, she survived her injuries.
Sultzaberger previously pleaded guilty and received 17 years imprisonment. State’s Attorney Harvey wishes to commend Assistant State’s Attorney Lee Ann Bell and Detective Ted Yates of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding work on this case.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey announced that Christopher Fuller, 35, of Dunkirk, MD has pleaded guilty to Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, Causing Life-Threatening Injury While Under the Influence of Alcohol, and two counts of Second Degree Assault. He will be sentenced August 16, 2021.
On December 23, 2020, members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to West Chesapeake Beach Road and Journey Drive for a serious motor vehicle crash involving three vehicles. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Hyundai Elantra operated by Fuller was traveling west on Chesapeake Beach Road when it struck the rear of a 2012 Ford Escape operated by Kerri Lyn Clark, 50, of Chesapeake Beach, MD. The impact caused the Escape to lose control and cross into oncoming traffic. The Escape then rolled and struck a 2013 Honda CR-V operated by Lisa Ballard Porter, 37, of Owings, MD. The impact caused the Escape to become airborne and leave the roadway. The Escape went over the guardrail and down an embankment where it came to rest on the eastbound side of Chesapeake Beach Road. Fuller continued driving westbound until his vehicle was stopped by an off-duty Maryland National Capital Park Police officer. Paramedics responded to the scene and located Ms. Clark who had succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. Ms. Porter was transported from the scene by helicopter to the Prince George’s County shock trauma unit where she was treated for life-threatening injuries.
Deputies made contact with Fuller and immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. Members of the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department attempted to assist Fuller out of the vehicle during which time he became argumentative and spit in the face of a firefighter. Corporal Newcomer of the Maryland State Police attempted to restrain Fuller and in response Fuller spit in Corporal Newcomer’s eye. Fuller was eventually placed into custody and transported to CalvertHealth Medical Center where a specimen of his blood was taken. A forensic analysis of the specimen revealed the Fuller’s blood alcohol level was .17 – over twice the legal limit – following the crash.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Fuller’s vehicle was traveling 81 mph in a posted 50 mph zone at the time of the crash. Investigators also determined that Fuller was at fault for the crash which took the life of Ms. Clark and caused Ms. Porter to suffer life-threatening injuries.
The State’s Attorney’s Office wishes to commend members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. A special thanks is extended to Senior Deputy Hardesty and Corporal Bortchevsky of the Calvert County Crash Reconstruction Team for their efforts in leading this investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte.
