Three Little Trees

Adan Espinoza Canela

The Espinoza/Canela case has been dragging on for nearly a decade, but is the end near? Adan Espinoza Canela has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder,* making him eligible for parole in 2019. We never really found out what happened to make him want to kill his three young cousins, but the prevailing theory is Adan's now-dead stepfather Victor Perez's spurned advances to Adan's mom ChaCha. To paraphrase my attempted summary in March, Adan "Canela is the son of Chacha and Victor, who is father of [former co-defendant] Policarpio. Adan's mom ChaCha was Victor Perez's prior babymom, and Victor and Guadaloupe [alleged mastermind] were the parents of Policarpio Espinoza Perez." Here's a chart.* Said Adan in court yesterday, "I thought that my family knew me, really that they would understand ... but I see that's not it. … They broke my heart."
Said the children's father, Policarpio's uncle, Mimi's husband, Ricardo, "They were three little trees that were growing. They were cut. They will never flower again."

Three people were shot yesterday*

Last year O'Malley's Executive Director of Crime Control told me there was no DNA backlog, now the state is claiming a backlog for 304 days in the city and 542 days in PGC.* But whatever, we'll take the money.

Robbery and burglary plaguing the southeast as per usual.

Ew, a city police officer, Frederick Allen, was indicted on charges related to sex abuse of a minor.*
In sexier news, the entire Towson University cheerleading team was suspended* for an entire year for hazing.. details please.

In goobernatorial news, Gansler wants to raise the minimum wage. In our poll (top right) enthusiasm for him is decidedly meh, with only 18% supporting. Where is our third party candidate?!

What price decency

No good deed dept: Antomar Jones convicted of killing his youth program mentor Corey Taylor whilst robbing him*

Henry Estrella-Cordova of Ecuador was arrested by ICE in Silver Spring for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl in the city two weeks ago.

Police canvassed the Forest Park area looking for leads in the murder of the mayor's cousin Joseph Haskins.

Police have released 911 tapes in the James Smith/Kendra Diggs barricade/murder situation/clusterfuck.

sup gurl.

I would rather hope not: officially no 4th trial for Policarpio Espinoza Perez.

OMG you guyz jail looks so fun! Just hanging out in front of the cells, fake-chatting on the phone. #livefromthecell, y'all.

Family of Sean Cannady approved to get $100,000 in their wrongful-death suit from the city. Officer Jemell Rayan shot three people in 18 months, and he's still working the streets. As a city officer.

Should Catholic Charities be running a city homeless shelter?

Civic-minded individuals protested the selling of the Sun to the Koch Bros.

Out in Parkville, some letter carrier was all like "fuckit."

Here's a head-scratcher: when it comes to the price per student of education, Baltimore city, at $15,400 per, is only second to New York, and MoCo is third. FWIW, Maryland spends $38, 383 a year for each prison inmate.

the officer who shot Cannady, Detective Jemell Rayam, was involved in three shootings in 18 months.

Read More at: http://foxbaltimore.com/news/features/featured/stories/family-man-killed-undercover-cop-gets-100k-1229.shtml#.UZwhhxgqnLY

the officer who shot Cannady, Detective Jemell Rayam, was involved in three shootings in 18 months.

Read More at: http://foxbaltimore.com/news/features/featured/stories/family-man-killed-undercover-cop-gets-100k-1229.shtml#.UZwhhxgqnLY

Plots thicken

Life for Policarpio Espinoza Perez, for three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. So he's 31.* At 40k a year if he lives to 70, that's $1.5 million to imprison him. Are we sure we don't want to outsource this to Mexico?

Daniel Nicholson, the lead detective in the Phylicia Barnes case, was officially charged with assault, burglary and making false statements to police.* Michael Johnson's appeal is set to start next month. Tweeted Fenton, Nicholson's charges are beyond the statute of limitations, yet his attorney agreed to them. Johnson's attorney says the charges prove that the police were sitting on the case, and it's kind of hard to disagree.

Oh my. Nick Mosby's wife, Marilyn, is planning to run against Bernstein for state's attorney,* blaming him for the (latest) BGF prison scandal, which, of all the things to accuse him of, makes the least sense, given that the state is in charge of the prisons. Also today, uberous inamorato "Bulldog" pleaded not guilty.* Scott Calvert Tweeted that he's being held in solitary in Hagerstown and is now moving to Cumberland.

And a guilty plea for malefactor mom Veronica Alford,* who helped cover up Monae Turnage's homicide.

A Co for Hoes

A road-rage murder on Erdman Ave,* the victim, homicide victim #68, was ID'd as Leon Cannady, age 26.*

Alleged child rapist John Merzbacher is petitioning SCOTUS to intervene in his case.* I'm sure they're all like, yeah, we'll get right on that. (Hey, Tricia Bishop's back!)

Sentencing scheduled for today for Policarpio Espinoza Perez.

Polygraphs for prison guards*? Aren't polygraphs admissible nowhere? Paging Byron Warnken! And is it just me, or is this prison scandal really only a scandal because of the four pregnant guards*? Four years ago we had a very similar scandal, with 24 indicted and tales of kitchen whoring, smuggled salmon, and oh yeah, cell phones. Lamentations were uttered, but it never made national news, I don't think. What I wonder: how do they know that these babies are all Bulldog's?

Report: city cocaine prices hit a high of $40k a kilo* last December.

The DOJ would like you to know that they are prosecuting the fuck out of some counterfeit-goods cases.

Anti-Semetic pamphlets in Timonium, a robbed Dunkin Donuts, a man kidnapped in Elkridge in the Patch blotter.

A man shot in the abdomen on Bonsal Ave*

A suspiciously dead body in a pool in the county*

Zeeshan Siddiqui

The G&M crab cake store was robbed. A guy was also stabbed to death there in 2007.

Eleven arrested in HoCo for running a HoCo, including the swarthy, squnity pimp at left.

Really? The circuit court is going to hear George Hughely's appeals (though only on a few small points).

Meanwhile in PGC, a teen allegedly set his house on fire because he was allegedly pissed at his family. Then he waited on the burning roof for the FD.

Two Acquittals and a Mistrial but Maybe Three Life Terms

So Policarpio Perez was acquitted of the murders-- but convicted of conspiracy to murder-- Ricardo Espinoza and Alexia Quezada, but a mistrial was declared for the murder count* for the death of Lucero (though he was also convicted of conspiracy in that case.  Just, what? Could there possibly in any way be a fourth trial for this guy? Says Cheshire, "I would like to note that Espinoza Perez was convicted of three counts of conspiring to commit first-degree murder. As a result, he faces a maximum sentence of three life terms in prison." ... which I take to mean no fourth trial because he'll already be as jailed as he's going to get.

Paige Croyder is back! and blogging about the "Stupid Trial" of the officer who recorded Judge Joan Gordon.

Here's the full transcript of Hollingsworth v. Perry at SCOTUS today, and some backstory from NYMag on the case they'll be hearing tomorrow.

Balling w Espantoons

Police are securing the West side with espantoons and basketball.*

The 2013 version State of MD vs. Policarpio Espinzoa Perez is to the jury.* Adan Espinoza Canela's trial is to start April 1. Notably, father of two of the children, Ricardo Espinoza, does not believe Policarpio is guilty and thinks the real killers are still at large.

No you did not, Baltimore City Zoning Commission! A jackassed bill has passed that will close down existing liquor stores in residentially zoned areas, which would include many long-running non-nuisance stores that are small and/or family-owned businesses (eg. Roland Park Wines & Liquors.) Burning question: why can't the city just enforce our existing loitering, littering or noise curfew laws? Why can't they just stop granting liquor licenses for stores in residential areas? and how is it legal to re-zone a business out of existence?

I'll be on the Dan Rodricks show on WYPR at noon talking hot topics; news of the day, if you will.
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) March 22, 2013

Yuck of the Irish

Busy all day, so what the hell happened?
Well...

Cham Green

Baltimore City homicide victim #41(march 18) an Unidentified Male had a disagreement at a home's doorway entrance in the 2700 block of Fox Street, which is in Remington between 26th and 2th street near Howard Street.

The third trial for one of the two guys accused of beheading three children moved ahead with a recording never before played in court*, which places Adan Canela on the scene at the time of the crime.  Fer fart's sake, does every reporter covering this case call these two by different names? So this is the trial now of Policarpio Espinoza Perez, who Justin George is calling Espinoza Perez. And he's calling Adan Canela Espinoza Canela. Anyway so who is Adan Canela to Guadaloupe? Fortunately there's a chart.* Sooo. Canela is the son of Chacha and Victor, who is father of Policarpio. Espinoza Perez or Espinoza-Perez or just Perez. Adan's mom ChaCha was Victor Perez's prior babymom, and Victor and Guadaloupe were the parents of Policarpio Espinoza Perez. So now Policarpio can testify against Adan since they're being tried separately for the first time, and even though three trials for illegal immigrants paid for by us is kind of a bitch, at least we are finally getting a clue to what happened and some justice for those poor children, Lucero and Ricardo Espinoza and Alexis Quezada.

Michael Wesley

Police have ID'd Rachel Curtis' killer as freckly Michael Wesley, left, who is out and about, so if you see him call police.

Gary Burton

Surly-looking Gary Burton was arrested* for the homeless shelter stabbing, and two more people were killed yesterday. Cham says ID on 1800 Ruxton Avenue victim is Terrence Rheubottom, 27, of Moreland Avenue. A guy on Manchester Avenue was found bullet-ridden in a car.

Just got off the phone w the father of one of the weekend homicide victims: Worked at Coast Guard yard,* may be mistaken identity situation
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) March 18, 2013

Safe Streets opened a location on Park Heights and they have their own hashtag, #stopshooting

The luck of the Irish was not with the County's Franklin Precinct Capt. Matthew McElwee, nabbed at a St. Patrick's day sobriety checkpoint,* and oo, the Deuce has a photo. Not a sloppy drunk photo, but it'll do.

In Parkville a drug-related stabbing*

Some rough-looking girls got into it at Anne Arundel High over some Instagram photos

Have a smart phone or tablet stolen on an MTA bus or rail car recently? Willing to talk about it for a story? Hit me back
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) March 18, 2013

Can't get out to that most recent shooting scene. If @baltospectator were here, I'd never hear the end of it
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) March 18, 2013

Live your life, hug your kids and go shopping

The Sun's Johnathan Amos covers the funeral of LaRelle Amos* (and finally, the correct spelling of her name)

Fenton identifies some recent homicide victims, and notes that victim Rudolph Horton (#148) was charged with killing a 3-year-old* in 1992. Doesn't sound like there are suspects or motives for any of these murders.

In Pikesville, an elderly couple was found murdered in their home in the 800 block of Olmstead Road with no signs of forced entry.  Tweeter @chrisinbmore says "Neighbors say a younger man had been living with them; he's nowhere to be found"

A man was mugged of $200 on Calvert St. (I assume this was last Friday-- why doesn't Patch date their articles?)

Jeremy Landsman,
via the CP via his web page.
Though this pic is way awesomer.

Remember that big poker robbery Greektown in 2006, that netted $23,875 and included among its victims the brother of dear departed Judge Prevas? In true Smalltimore fashion, another victim of the robbery, it seems, was a young up-n-coming real-estate tycoon, Jeremy Landsman, who would go on to own a bunch of local properties, including Sonar and the buildings that house McCabes and Johnny Rad's. Also included in his holdings a bunch of stash houses for his doobage collection as part of his alleged involvement in a $30 mil nationwide weed business. Now Landsman is embroiled in yet more drama, battling with his former business partner Remy Esquemet over some D.C. properties at risk of being forfeited to the gubmint.

Web find: the City courts has a "highlighted trials" page, where you can read certain selected tidbits from the state's cases against Gahiji Tshamba, Mark Castillo, Lipscomb, Dixon, and Holton, and Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela. Why just these?

Oh, way to give the vote-suppressers more ammo, Wendy Rosen! The prospective Democrat challenger to Andy Harris has dropped out of the race following reports that in 2006 and 2008 she voted in both MD and FL. Obviously now all citizens should now have implanted, bar-coded microchips in order to be able to vote.

Perry Hall High shooting victim Daniel Borowy is out of the hospital and craving football and tacos.

New law: MD schools must have EpiPens on hand to save the peanut-allergic children.

Media blabber: the Abell Foundation still wants to buy the Sun.  Also Justin Fenton has a web page now, which can only mean he's trying to escape like Bykowicz and Hermann. Those selfish bastards, wanting fripperies like "sane hours" and "decent working conditions." And the Police Copter is Tweeting (location: ALL UP IN YOUR SHIT).

WTF is wrong with prospective Attorney General Jon Cardin? Mr. Boat Proposal is holding a fundraiser for his campaign today. Who holds a fundraiser on a Tuesday?

And oh yeah, it's 9/11, let's all remember to "never forget." As in, never forget that the hijackers were Saudi Arabian, Egyptian and Lebanese, not Iraqi or Afghan. Or the CIA desperately, repeatedly warned G. W. Bush that al Qaeda was about to attack in the U.S., specifically telling him they were planning to hijack airplanes, and how he ignored the warnings and went fishing, and during the attack kept reading "My Pet Goat" with that dumb-monkey look on his face. Never forget how a mix of fear and hubris rallied the press to unquestioningly support pre-emptive war in Iraq, barely batting an eyelash as the Patriot Act was (and still is) used to round up dissenters. Two thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two people died as a result of the 9/11 attacks. But 4,486 Americans have died in Iraq and 2,114 so far in Afghanistan (not to mention thousands of Afghans and Iraqis, including an estimated 132,000 civilians). Terrorists are dangerous. But an unchecked, unquestioned government power is more dangerous. Never forget that. 

Here we go again

A date has been set for the third trial of Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela. Their previous conviction for murdering three children back in 2004 was thrown out on appeal this summer.

That's going to hurt

The Maryland Court of Appeals has overturned the convictions of triple-child killers Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Canela.

30

Charles Hopsan, 22, stabbed in 2010 in the 1100 block of Cooks Lane and recently deceased, was posthumously awarded the title of the city's 30th homicide victim.

One Terrance Sims, 30, was arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Olympic hopeful Ronald Gibbs.

Tiffany Bolner, 21, pled guilty in federal court to sexually abusing a minor to produce child pornography; surely one of the most barfulent stories in BCrime history.

And a guy named Derwin declared himself guilty of pimping

Ten years for Rosedale home-invasion robber Antowan Bell, 25

Crack and guns confiscated on the East side

"Bathroom Bandits" nabbed, and Hermann has pictures of one of the alleged perps and her nappy-azz fur coats

Pawn star gets 46 months for money laundering

Lawyers for Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela have asked the Court of Appeals to grant them a third trial. In 2006, the childrens' parents told an AP reporter that they don't believe police arrested the right guys, though DNA allegedly linked Canela to the killings. Here is the Sun's guide to the epic mystery and related stories on the case.

Fertilizer control: All kinds of issues being rassled over down in A-town this week, including, of course, the melee that is the same-sex marriage debate. Oh Brooke Murdock, why did you have to wuss out and stay your opinion? .. and here's an article on what all those National Organization for Marriage polls were about.

Dixon's doughy swain is out, but the State Center project goes on.

"Victims, Relatives To View Sniper Execution"
Accused sniper: "all you police and prosecutors can stand-down-’rushing’ to murder this innocent black man"

Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Espinoza Canela seek a third murder trial from the Court of Special Appeals

Helen Holton gets a stay

Robberies in Guilford and Charles Village, a stolen leaf blower, yet another robbery in the 300 block of E. University Parkway.

September 9

So far this weekend, two murders in Baltimore County: 45-year-old Eric Fountain was shot death in Dundalk, and an unidentified man was stabbed in the parking lot of a pool hall in Rosedale.

Also in the county, 16-year-old Franklin Leroy Smith is charged as an adult with the murder of Warren Porter, 24.

And another 15-year-old MD boy charged with murder. Zachary James is accused of killing Michael Freeman, 32, on the 3400 block of Park Heights Avenue on Labor Day.

A 26-year-old man was shot in the NW by a police officer early this morning.

Down in DC, Walter C. Anderson was found guilty of three federal tax-evasion charges, making him officially the Biggest Tax Cheat in American history.

Former head of the Guatemalan DEA pled guilty to atttmpting to smuggle coke into the US.

Baltimore health commissioner Joshua Sharfstein has banned lead-packed kohl Asian eyeliner after two toddlers were poisioned. (Were the parents putting eye makeup on the toddlers?)

Noemi Espinoza Quezada and Ricardo Espinoza Perez were interviewed by the AP. Backs up my theory that Guadelupe put the two guys up to killing the children to get back at Victor and Maria.

So that's the reason behind the hilarious campaign slogan, "vote from the bottom up." Speaking of, who are these judges? How are they doing? Anybody know? And did anyone know that there's an election for Baltimore City Sheriff, between one Shelton J. Stewart and one John W. Anderson? Who are these people? TG for the League of Women Voters and their info sheets, especially the ones that tell you where you are and what to think.

Accused spy Susan Lindauer sounds like an interesting character.

July 5

You know you're reading the Sun when the murder of two human beings is less important than reporting on railroad-track repairs and a zoning hearing about a parking garage. But if you scroll way down you might find out that Lamar Robinson, 26, and Donyae Bogues, 30, died last night of multiple gunshot wounds.

...and you know you're reading the Sun when the story's out of date. Kevin Dorsey and Dennis Bowers, 18 and 20, were scheduled to go on trial today for killing 15-year-old Kareem Hanks, but Dorsey and Bowers' trial has been postponed to July 20. The alledged murderers were supposed to be on home detention while out on bail, but the company that was supposed to be monitoring them either wasn't, or didn't report the fact that they were missing to the state. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted the pair on October 26, 2004 for first-degree murder, conspiracy to murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, armed carjacking and conspiracy to carjack.

The "Stop Snitchin'" cameraman, Akiba Matthews, was supposed to go on trial today for drug charges, but alas, the trial has been postponed (or po-stoned, as JZ would say) to September 12. Says the prosecutor's office, "Although the State and the defense were ready for trial, the case was postponed because no courtroom was available."

The murder trial of Adan Espinoza Canela, 18, and Policarpio Espinoza Perez, 22, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Thomas Ward. Canela and Espinoza are charged with three counts each of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon, (a knife), in the May 27, 2004 deaths of Ricardo Quesada, Jr., 9, Lucero Quesada, 9, and Alexis Espejo, 10. Canela and Espinoza remain held in the Baltimore City Detention Center without bail. Prosecutors say DNA evidence will figure prominently in the case. (Here's a link to a story about the killings from May 29)

A bail review today, Kevin Armen Jackson, 23, got $250,000 bail. Jackson is currently in the Baltimore City Jail, charged with alleged attempted 1st degree murder, 1st and 2nd-degree assault, and other charges. Don't know the details there, but will investigate.

And in today's bail review of Michael Ward, 28, dude got no-bail status. On December 9, 2004 Ward was involved in the beating of Kenneth Hurt, 45. Hurt was taken to Mercy Hospital for a head injury and was placed in the nursing home unit due to the severe head trauma. He reported that two unidentified black males beat him over the head around the 1500 block of North Eden Street. On January 4, 2004 Hurt died of his injuries. Ward was arrested over the weekend and charged with homicide.

At a hearing today, James Joyner, 27, pled guilty to first-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Judge Roger W. Brown sentenced Joyner to life in prison, suspend all but 20 years, the first five without the possibility of parole. On March 9, 2004 in the rear of a residence in the 900 block of Lemon Street, Joyner shot in the back and killed Antonio Izzard, 28.

Two robbers picked the wrong patsy in the Western last night: the intended victim turned out to be a plain-clothes police officer, who shot them both with his service revolver.