Year: 2024

On December 20, 2024, Henry Joseph Rupinski, 53, of Lusby, was sentenced in Calvert County Circuit Court to 15 years, with 18 months of active time, for possession of child pornography.  Upon release Rupinski will be on 5 years supervised probation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, forfeit all devices, and have no unsupervised contact with children.  The sentence was imposed by Judge Mark S. Chandlee.

In January 2023, investigators from the Maryland State Police began an online investigation into the Bit Torrent file sharing network.  During the investigation, Rupinski allegedly shared a file containing child pornography.  Investigators obtained a search warrant for Rupinski’s electronic devices and uncovered numerous images of child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero.

On December 2, 2024, Marliana Zahedi-Mullis of Chesapeake Beach was convicted of animal cruelty in the District Court for Calvert County.  An investigation conducted by Calvert County Animal Control in May of 2024 revealed that Ms. Zahedi-Mullis was operating “3 Acres Rescue” out of her residence at 3910 Breezy Point Road.  A search warrant was executed with assistance from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office during which time 73 dogs were located within the residence.  The dogs were housed in cages covered in urine and feces.  Many of the dogs lacked clean food and water.  Several of the dogs were found lacking necessary veterinary care.  Ms. Zahedi-Mullis was sentenced to 150 days incarceration, which was suspended, and placed on three years of probation.  As a condition of her probation, Ms. Zahedi-Mullis is prohibited from engaging in animal rescue operations at her residence and is subject to routine inspection by Calvert County Animal Control.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Monte.  State’s Attorney Harvey wishes to commend the members of Calvert County Animal Control for their efforts in investigating and securing a conviction in this case.

Scammers are particularly active during the holiday season. Checks are being stolen from the mail and then altered to insert new payees and cash amounts. The practice is called “whitewashing” and the operation is pretty sophisticated. Scammers will access your bank account using the stolen check, determine how much money is in your account, and then alter the check to withdraw as much money as possible without raising suspicion. A far safer practice is to avoid paying bills by check entirely and use your bank’s bill pay app.

The Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the death of Angel Manuel Jimenez. Mr. Jimenez died on December 4, 2023, while in the custody of the Calvert County Detention Center. The State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed reports, witness statements, and audio/visual evidence compiled by the Homicide Unit of the Maryland State Police. It also conducted an independent interview with forensic pathologists from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Based upon its investigation of Mr. Jimenez’s death, the State’s Attorney’s Office has determined that the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges against any individual or group of individuals. A detailed report of the facts and legal analysis, along with the relevant video evidence, is being made public on November 19, 2024. The report and accompanying video evidence have been shared with Mr. Jimenez’s family and their attorney.

Declination Report Concerning the Death of Angel Manuel Jimenez on December 4, 2023 while incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center

Video Evidence Related to the Death of Angel Manuel Jimenez at the Calvert County Detention Center

Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa L. Weeks as Victim/Witness Advocate for active duty and former military service members.  Ms. Weeks will be responsible for insuring that victims, witnesses, and other individuals involved in the criminal justice system are directed to services and resources uniquely available to current and former military personnel.  She will act as liaison for the State’s Attorney’s Office to the Calvert County Veterans Affairs Commission, the Maryland Commitment to Veterans Program, the Veterans Administration, and other agencies.  Finally, she will assist current and former military personnel who qualify for placement in the Circuit Court Adult Treatment Program and the District Court Mental Health Docket.

Ms. Weeks has over 20 years of experience in the courts of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties.

State’s Attorney Harvey wishes to thank the Calvert County Commissioners and Chief Judge John Morrissey of the District Court of Maryland for their support of this worthwhile initiative.

Brandon Alexander Turner, 23, of Greenbelt, was sentenced on October 11, 2024, to life imprisonment, with 40 years of active time, for the attempted first degree murder of Calvert County Master Deputy Sheriff James Flynt.  Turner also received consecutive sentences for first degree assaults on Deputy Anthony Aranda and Deputy Tyler Bowen.  Turner’s total active period of incarceration equals 66 years.

On the evening of December 17, 2022, Turner led deputies on a high speed chase on MD Route 4 for nearly 10 miles.  During the chase, Turner produced a handgun and fired multiple shots at the pursuing deputies.  The chase ended near the Walnut Creek subdivision in Huntingtown when Deputy Flynt executed a maneuver that caused Turner’s vehicle to crash.  Turner exited the vehicle and shot Deputy Flynt in the leg, severing an artery.  But for extraordinary measures, Deputy Flynt would have died.

At trial in June 2024, Turner was convicted by a jury of 16 separate offenses.  The trial and sentencing were presided over by the Honorable Andrew S. Rappaport.

The case was prosecuted by Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey and Deputy State’s Attorney Timothy Maher.

Sentencing for Brandon Alexander Turner is scheduled for Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Andrew S. Rappaport, in Courtroom 1, Circuit Court for Calvert County.  Mr. Turner was convicted in June 2024 of the attempted first degree murder of Calvert County Master Deputy Sheriff James Flynt.  If you are planning to attend this hearing, you may wish to arrive early as a large crowd is anticipated.

On October 3, 2024, Stephen Louis Betz, 30, of Owings, was sentenced to 30 years incarceration, with 16 years of active time, for first degree assault and violation of probation.  The sentence was imposed by Calvert County Circuit Court Judge Mark S. Chandlee.

On September 10, 2023, Betz and two other men entered a home in Owings and confronted the residents about some medication that allegedly had been stolen.  An argument ensued and one of the unidentified men displayed a firearm.  The argument continued outside where shots were fired, striking the victim and a nearby house.  The victim survived his injuries.

Investigators from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office determined that Betz brought the gunman to the home to settle a dispute with the victim.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Allison S. Walton.

On September 16, 2024, Michael Patrick Hering, 40, of Prince Frederick, entered a guilty plea in Calvert County Circuit Court to the charge of CDS distribution (Fentanyl) large volume.  Hering was sentenced by Judge Mark S. Chandlee to 20 years imprisonment suspended to 5 years without the possibility of parole.

Based upon an investigation conducted by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), a court-ordered search warrant was obtained for Hering’s residence.  The warrant was executed on February 27, 2024.  During the search, detectives recovered approximately 9 grams of Fentanyl, a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, pressed into blue counterfeit 30 mg. Oxycodone pills.

State’s Attorney Robert Harvey wishes to commend members of the DEU and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lee Ann Bell for their outstanding work on this case.

On September 13, 2024, Theodore Frederick Harris, 65, of Lusby, received a sentence of 18 years in prison from Calvert County Circuit Court Judge Mark S. Chandlee.  Harris was convicted of two charges involving sexual abuse of a minor.

In February 2023, a child reported instances of sexual abuse to her mother.  The mother reported it to the authorities.  A joint investigation by Child Protective Services and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office developed Harris as the suspect.  Harris was interviewed by Detective Buck of the Sheriff’s Office and ultimately admitted to the abuse.  When the details became known, a second victim came forward and reported that Harris had abused her when she was a child.

Harris has an additional 12 years of prison time hanging over his head.  He will be on 5 years of supervised probation upon release and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero.