On March 23, 2026, Ronald Truman Wathen, 71, of Lusby, received an active sentence of 25 years in prison for the crimes of second degree rape and sex abuse of a minor. The sentence was handed down by Calvert County Circuit Court Judge Mark S. Chandlee.
Evidence revealed that Wathen, in August of 2025, engaged in illicit sexual relations with a child under the age of 13. Maryland law provides that a person convicted of such an act must serve a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Given his age, it is likely that Wathen will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Calvert State’s State’s Attorney Robert Harvey would like to commend Detective Christopher Murphy of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero for their outstanding work on this case.