October 28

Twenty-four-year-old Nelson Urbina died Tuesday morning after being beaten with a bat outside his O'Donnell Heights home in Southeast Baltimore on Monday night. He is the 224th homicide victim in Baltimore this year. A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

In Baltimore County, 21-year-old Parkville resident Montrell Dawaan Williams was shot to death at a party in Towson after arguing with another man. A suspect has been arrested.

James Carl Combs, who was found guilty of molesting two boys while an assitant Scoutmaster in the early 1980s, will not have to sign up with the sex offender registry. Cecil County Judge O. Robert Lidums declared that since Combs' crimes pre-dated Megan's Law, he does not have to join the registry. Combs was sentenced by Lidums to three months in the county jail and three months house arrest.

Despite the staggering estimates that about 10 percent of the Baltimore City population are drug addicts, it appears that drug and alcohol use is decreasing among Maryland teenagers, especially teenagers in the city. The Maryland Dept. of Education partially credits increased drug awareness programs of the past 15 years. The downside is that even though city teenagers aren't doing drugs, they are continuing to sell them in ever-increasing numbers.

Dan Rodricks continues writing about his plea for the city's drug players to go straight. Today's installment discusses how the BPD's more aggressive arrests helped inspire several dealers to consider leaving the game.

In the "beware of Trojans bearing gifts" department (or the "why are there so many freaky pervs in MD" dept) Glynis E. Neale won a $250,000 civil judgment against Anthony O'Neal, a friend who had given her a television and clock radio. It turned out that the gifts contained hidden cameras with which O'Neal monitored and videotaped Neale from a van parked outside her house.

Two teenagers were arrested for the vandalism at the Wicomico County Airport Civil Air Patrol office over the weekend.

And in other airport news, 46-year-old Olushola Oladapo was sentenced to five years in prison for her participation in an identity theft conspiracy based out of BWI. Oladapo's husband, a former baggage handler for Southwest Airlines, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for stealing mail from flights departing from BWI.

Lawyers for Akiba Matthews, the visionary director behind the Stop Snitchin' DVD, say that the police have a vendetta against him. Hard to imagine, isn't it?

Richard Palumbo, the PG County Judge who dropped the protective order against Roger Hargrave, has been reassigned to administrative duties. Three weeks after the order was removed, Hargrave walked into the T-Mobile store where his wife worked, poured gasoline on her, and set her on fire. She is still in the hospital.

As a result of a supposedly different kind of crime, funeral services were held for 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Norman W. Anderson III, a Marine and Parkton resident who was killed by a suicide bomber in Karabilah on October 19. Anderson's survivors include his wife Tori, to whom he was married for less than three months.

October 27

TFGawd, Cory McMillon is back behind bars after being arrested at 2 a.m. this morning at the Duke's Motel on Route 40.

Before his scheduled murder trial was to begin today, Ross H. Talp, 19, pled guilty to the second-degree murder of his mother, Margo Antoinette Baker, and to a deadly weapon charge. Under terms of the plea agreement announced in open court he faces a maximum prison term of 33 years when Judge John M. Glynn sentences him on January 4, 2006.

Say what? A jury acquitted Akiba Matthews on all counts.

A HoCo judge will rule in November if the interrogation video of Melissa B. Harton will be admissable in court. Harton is accused of strangling Natasha Bacchus to death in Columbia. Both women were persuing doctoral degrees in psychology at Loyola.

At a hearing today, Donald Washington, 20, of West Franklin Street, pled guilty to the second-degree murder of Andrea Butler-Carroll, age two. Judge Wanda K. Heard scheduled sentencing for January 18, 2006. On September 23, 2004 Washington beat to death Andrea Butler-Carroll, his girlfriend's daughter, at their residence in the 1900 bock of West Franklin Street.

I agree with Galt, sending juvenile offenders out of state is a great idea. To heck with Iowa, why not Syria?

The murder trial of Keith Garrett, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed at the request of the defense until January 31, 2006 before Judge John Glynn.

The Rogers Forge Perv has struck before, as evinced by two pre-teens' matching descriptions of an SUV-driving 30-something guy sporting excessive amounts of hair product.

October 26

Welcome to my new co-blogger Chuck!

The two people murdered on N. Belnord St. in East Baltimore on Tuesday, October 18, have been identified as 31-year-old Stanley Dorsey and 16-year-old William Kirkpatrick, and the man shot to death in a car on October 14 has been identified 32-year-old Jeffrey Skinner. Yesterday saw two more murder victims in Baltimore City, with the deaths of Dominic King in the Southeast district and an unidentified man in the 1800 block of Guilford. Murder Ink reports that the BPD has determined the October 13 death of Bruce Turner in the Northern district's Evergreen neighborhood to be homicide by beating, which brings the 2005 murder toll to 223.

After PG County's triumph in locating Pedro Guifarro, Baltimore City upped the ante by losing 28-year-old Corey Antwon McMillon. McMillon, who was under arrest for the murder of 18-year-old Jamel St. Clair (see October 20), escaped from central Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center after attacking the corrections officer who was escorting him. McMillon is considered extremely dangerous and extremely free.

William James Mitchell of Havre de Grace was sentenced to 70 years for attempting to murder his wife and a friend who witnessed the attack. It's difficult to summarize any news story that contains the phrase "Picasso of the devil", so just follow the link as you see fit.

A group of judges are criticizing policies regarding drug treatment for addicts who have been criminally detained. In some cases, there is an 18 month wait for treatment, which is often longer than some inmates' sentences. Ironically, the drug treatment can actually be less expensive than housing prisoners in a traditional facility.

Jason Lester Russell stole a $57,000 Mercedes from a holding lot in Southeast Baltimore where new cars arrive from Europe. After hitting an unmarked police car, Russell stopped at an apartment complex and ran off with what appeared to be a load of packages. Apparently, Russell learned an important lesson from Gregory A. Alston: never leave behind personal belongings when you've stolen a car.

The Sun Police Blotter has a butcher knife attack and a senior citizen carjacker.

A streak of vandalism in Salisbury resulted in several overturned mailboxes, broken driveway lights, and a spray painted swastika and "KKK" on a Civil Air Patrol office in Salisbury.

Theresa Williamson, a bank teller manager at Wachovia, pleaded guilty to embezzling over $35,000 from her employer since 2002. She returned the money, and now faces up to 30 years in prison.

Baltimore residents are pretty used to witness intimidation, but Anne Arundel attorneys are fighting a case of lawyer intimidation.

Upcoming Trials This Week
The murder trial of Keith Montrell Garrett, 34, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. before Judge John M. Glynn. A Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Garrett on January 15, 2004 for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abduction in connection with the disappearance of Timothy Antonio Washington, 7, who was last seen on September 11, 1992 in the 800 block of Hilton Parkway. The body of the victim has never been recovered.

Ross Talp, 19, of Park Heights Avenue, is scheduled for first-degree murder and deadly weapon trial at 9 a.m. tomorrow before Judge John M. Glynn. Talp was indicted on June 3 for first-degree murder and for the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the death of his mother, Margo Antoinette Baker. On April 27 Talp called police to report his mother had been missing since the day before. On May 5 an anonymous tipster contacted the Baltimore City Police Homicide Unit and informed them that Talp killed his mother and dumped her body in the woods. Talp then allegedly confessed to the murder and told detectives that the body was in Leakin Park.

Christopher Nathan Porter, 17, is scheduled for trial at 9:30 a.m. on Friday before Judge Wanda Keyes Heard. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Porter July 6 for first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony crime of violence, and handgun on person in connection with the fatal shooting of Damon Aldridge, 23. Court documents allege that on May 15 police officers with emergency medial personnel responded to 100 Diener Place for a shooting. Aldridge was found lying unresponsive on the pavement suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Porter was identified through eyewitness accounts.

October 25

At a hearing today Judge Glynn sentenced Richard A. Damon, Jr., 35, and Antoine Adams, 32, of the 500 block of Patterson Park Avenue for two counts of second-degree murder for the shooting deaths of Theresa Moore, 51, and Michael Mick, 40. Glynn sentenced Adams to two consecutive life without parole sentences and 40 years, consecutive, to the life sentences. Judge Glynn sentenced Damon to two 20-year prison terms, concurrent. A city jury convicted Adams in August of two counts of first-degree murder and handgun violations. Damon pled guilty last month to two counts of second-degree murder. On January 20, 2005, Theresa Moore and Michael Mick were shot and killed inside of their home in the 800 block of Bradford Street by Adams while he and Damon were participating in a robbery at that address. No news if they will also be tried for the murder of Justin Gaglione.

The felony narcotics trial of Akiba "Stop Snitchin" Matthews, 32, of N. Monroe Street, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John Themelis. The BC Grand Jury indicted Matthews March 25 for two counts of possession and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. If convicted on all counts, Matthews could face a maximum prison term of 40 years. Court documents allege that on February 28 police executed a search and seizure warrant at Matthews' address and confiscated heroin, cocaine and US currency.

The murder trial of Bryant Thompson, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed at the request of the defense until January 25, 2006.

The trial of Charles Carroll, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed by joint request for the bazillionth time to January 24, 2006.

A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Walter Robinson, 27, yesterday of one count of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 18; three counts of third-degree sexual offense; three counts of four-degree sexual offense; and four counts of second-degree assault. Sexual abuse of a minor carries a maximum prison term of 25 years and third-degree sexual offense carries a maximum prison term of 10 years. Court documents allege that Walter Robinson, Jr. sexually assaulted a 15-year-old student. The alleged assaults occurred during the time frame of August 2005 to October 2005 at the Benjamin Franklin Junior High School.

Edward Lee, 34, is scheduled for a first-degree murder arraignment 9:30 a.m. tomorrow before Judge Lynn K. Stewart in connection with the shooting death of Terrell Dinkins. Lee was indicted on September 30 for first-degree murder, handgun on person, and handgun used in commission of a felony and crime of violence. Court documents allege that on June 20, 2004 police found the body of Terrell Dinkins in wooded area around the 500 block of South Wickham Road, dead as a result of several shots. Through police investigation, Edward Lee was arrested and charged with Dinkins' murder.

And entires by Chuck! Maybe Chuck will be my new partner in crime.. ooh please say yes!

Anthony Heck was killed in South Baltimore as he and a friend were being robbed of $10.00.

In Baltimore County, Denise Lechner pled guilty yesterday to Child Abuse Resulting in Death with regards to her 3-year-old son, Roy. The cause of death wasn't clear, but the medical examiner "found the boy had an untreated strep throat infection, had not been fed properly and had injuries suggesting asphyxiation as a possible cause of death."

"What's frightening about this case, to me, is that if we have to worry about students like Javon Clark, then who shouldn't we be worried about?" A quote from Baltimore County Circuit Judge Dana M. Levitz about the 20-year sentence of Clark. Clark's strong academic accomplishments were mentioned during the trial, where he was found guilty of attempted armed robbery in the death of teacher William Bassett. In true Baltimore fashion, race became the issue of the day, with Clark's minister stating, "The only thing he didn't come right out and say is that African-Americans don't raise their children right, that we don't put morals in our children."

53-year-old Howard County high school teacher Nadia Eliasson was charged with shoplifting after trying to steal $850 worth of merchandise from Lord & Taylor in Columbia. There is no word yet from Eliasson's minister as to whether these charges are insulting to school teachers everywhere.

Way to go Ohio: After being mistakenly released by PG Circuit Court Judge Vincent J. Femia in early October, Pedro Guifarro was arrested while working in an auto repair shop in Cleveland under a fake name. Guifarro is charged with first-degree murder.

Cedric Stancil was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2003 shooting death of Edwin Boyd, a death that stemmed from an argument about "someone stepping on another person's foot."

Ground is being broken today on construction to turn the Dawson house into The Dawson House, a "drug-free haven for young people".

Robberies, arrests, and mistaken identity in the Sun Blotter.

An 8th grader in Middletown put together an 18-name hit list of fellow students.

The FBI is saying that there is, as of now, no evidence to indicate any truth to last week's terror threat that closed both Baltimore harbor tunnels. But four people got deported anyway.

An 8-year-old girl committed the season's first act of bearicide. She's going to make him into a rug. Awww!

October 23

Another murder in Parkville: 24-year-old Jason Booker.

Yikes, police are looking for a man in a black SUV tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl in Rogers Forge. The brave and plucky lass fought him off, kicking and screaming.

Ah, Carroll County and its poignantly proletarian pilferings warm my heart: lumber, a Honda hood-release cable, construction tools.

Wow, the Gaza strip is safer than Baltimore city!