August 25

Nineteen members of MS-13 were indicted on federal racketeering charges in Greenbelt.

"Specific acts of violence charged in the indictment include six murders and six attempted murders in Maryland, as follows: the April 20, 2003 beating and murder in Langley Park of rival gang member Noel Gudiel; the June 10, 2003 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang outside of High Point High School in Beltsville; the November 22, 2003 stabbing and death of Eliuth Madrigal in Silver Spring; the November 22, 2003 shooting death of gang member Randy Calderon in Mount Ranier; the May 21, 2004 beating and murder of Ashley Antonio Urias at the Washington National Cemetery in Suitland; the September 17, 2004 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang outside of a nightclub in Langley Park; the October 25, 2004 kidnapping in Adelphi of two juvenile females, resulting in the murder of one and attempted murder of the other; the March 26, 2005 drive-by shooting in Hyattsville resulting in the death of a juvenile male; the June 8, 2005 attempted murder of a high school student outside his home in Langley Park; and the June 14, 2005 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang and his friend in Silver Spring."

A 15-year-old shot to death in Severn, Keisha Shardae Lane, was a runaway from Hagerstown.

The murder trial of Terrence Wynn, 21, and Christopher Minor, 21, iis scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Wynn and Minor September 23, 2004 for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Court documents allege that on August 30, 2004 Wynn and Minor shot to death Marshall Giles, 15, inside a home in the 3200 block of Lyndale Avenue.

At the juvenile transfer hearing of Percy Johnson, 17, Sean Howard, 17, and Antonio Williamson, 16, the boys were ordered to remain in the adult system. Court documents allege the defendants shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School.

Jurors deliberating on the E/C murder trial claim to be hung.

Here's the link to the New York Times story about Leonard Hamm's heroin-addicted stepdaughter, Nicole Sesker. Also interesting details about the police's public relations campaign to get people to "change their lifestyles." (And how Smalltimore that Cummings and Hamm live next door to each other and they both went to City College with Schmoke)

Are O'Malley and the gov's ideas of tracking sex offenders too out there?

In Timonium, Baltimore county, another report of a big black rapist.

In Elkton, the man charged with starving the mother of his children to death has asked for a change for venue from Cecil County.

Gilbert Sapperstein, owner of a boiler business and a liquor license broker, got 18 months in jail for trying to steal more than $3.3 million from the school system in a 12-year scheme. And in Stevenson, 40-year-old Daniel Llewellyn of Towson pled guilty to stealing more than $55, 000 from the Odyssey School (which serves dyslexic children).

The DOJ has reports of some recent coke and meth arrests in Annapolis and Severna Park, respectively.

Dirty bird dept: pugalistic pitcher Sydney Ponson was arrested on 95 for a traffic violation, DUI and DWI.

August 24

A shooting victim in the Northwest was identified as Derrell Mark Stanley, 46, a ticket scalper. There was also a on-fatal shooting on the 5500 block of the Alameda.

A man was shot dead late Saturday night/early Sunday morning near Patterson Park. Source' on the Sun News Talk says that the victim was a white man named Richard Boroughs and one indivdual reports:

... just got back from visiting the parents of the young man. He said it happened around 3:00a.m. around Eastern Ave & Patterson park ... From talking to the girl who was assaulted here is what he told me: Around 3am his son was taking a shower when three black men in ski masks broke in through the back door. His girlfriend was then pistol whipped and basically beaten the **** out of her. She was on the floor trying to cover her face with a blanket as they repeatedly kicked her about the head and face. My neighbor's son came out of the shower and they proceeded to shoot him in the face 3-4 times. What, was taken, I don't know. I'm sure there is more to it.

I talked to Officer Troy Harris with Public Affairs, who confirmed that the victim's name was Richard Paul Boroughs, a white man age 25, born June 14 1980. He was pronounced dead at Hopkins shock trauma at 3:52 a.m. Said Harris, "he was in the house with his girlfriend and in ths shower, three black males entered the home, beat her, asked her where the money was, then they went into the bathroom and shot the victim multiple times. That's all we have right now."

Note to the people who are outraged that there's no coverage of it in the Sun: I'm outraged also about the lack of coverage of murder and violence in general, that's why I do this job (that and to avoid my other job). But have you heard anything about any of this week's other murder victims other than in the ink either? Did you hear anything about 20-year-old Tavon Granger? There's no conspiracy-- that's just how common and unremarkable murder and death is in our and so many other American cities.

The juvenile transfer hearing of Percy Johnson, 17, and Sean Howard, 17, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge John M. Glynn. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Antonio Williamson, 16, November 12, 2004, Johnson November 22, 2004 and Howard December 1, 2004 with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and handgun violations. Court documents allege the defendants shot two teenagers on October 21, 2004 in front of Thurgood Marshall High School at 5700 Moravia Drive. A juvenile transfer hearing motion has been heard and denied for Williamson. A trial date will be scheduled once the transfer hearing motions for Johnson and Howard are heard. All three defendants are currently being held on a no bail status at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Nine years later no one knows who killed Johns Hopkins graduate student Alicia Showalter Reynolds, but police believe it was part of a string of attacks on women by the so-called Route 29 Stalker, who may or may not be 37-year-old Darrell D. Rice.

It's day seven of deliberations in the Espinoza/Canela trial. The AP reports that these jurors are asking a lot of questions.

Andre Staton was arraigned Tuesday. He is accused of stabbing 26-year-old Beverly Yohn to death in Pennsylvania, and was arrested 18 months ago after fleeing to Baltimore and standing off with city and federal authorities.

Last Saturday cops found a collection of 69 "strange" guns, including an Uzi, MAC-10 and big game rifle, from the home and garage of Anthony Felicetti. (Thanks Jay. Is Delwood down in the area the realtors call "West Virginia?").

Police Commish Leonard Hamm revealed that his daughter is a drug addict.

August 23

Jurors in the Epinzoa/Canela trial were reprimanded for not participating in deliberations.

In the trial of Javon Clark and John Kennedy, Clark tried to put the blame on his younger co-defendant for the shooting of St. Paul's dean William Bassett at the Towsontown Mall.

A bail hearing will be held this afternoon for the third defendant in the Smoot murder case.

John William Smith, 40, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Wanda K. Heard in connection to a stabbing at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church on June 18. Smith was indicted by the Baltimore City Grand Jury on July 25 for first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and weapons counts. Court documents allege Smith stabbed Rodney Dickerson, 42, once in the chest. Smith and Dickerson allegedly began arguing in the church's dining area while eating dinner. Police arrested John William Smith on July 1.

Murder arrests, a gunman on the loose and a thirty-year sentence for home invasion in the Sun's Metro digest.

Stolen cell phones and cash in the blotter.

August 22

A Howard County District Court judge set bail for alledged Smoot murders James Hatcher and Nathan Colbert this morning at $100,000.

August 19

A man was arrested in the body-in-the-safe case.

On Tuesday the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted former correctional officers Dameon Christopher Woods, 33, of Baltimore County, Nathan Delmont Colbert, 42, of North Loudon Avenue and Leonard Hatcher, 43, of Thomas Avenue, for second-degree murder in connection to the beating death of Raymond K. Smoot, 51. Second-degree murder carries a maximum possible prison term of thirty years. Smoot was in custody in his cell May 14 at the Central Booking and Intake Facility. Colbert and Hatcher were arrested today and are in custody. There is a warrant issued for Woods' arrest. At the time of the indictment, arrest warrants were issued. A bail review will be scheduled for next week in Baltimore City Circuit Court. An arraignment will be scheduled at a later date.

Shane Burton, 20, of North Clinton Street, Ronald Sturgiss, 21, of Parkton and Dominic Warren, 21, of Parson Avenue were scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 this morning. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted all three men for first-degree murder and conspiracy to first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jerry Evans. If convicted, the maximum sentence the defendants could face is life in prison. Court documents allege that on June 16 police officers responded to the 1100 block of McAleer Court for a shooting. Evans was later pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The defendants were identified through eyewitness accounts.

Crazy shit in the countryside dept.: Sixty-seven year-old Ralph Manna was convicted of trying to solicit the murders of his ex-wife and his own son from jail (Myersville is out west between Frederick and Hagerstown). There's a big black rapist on the loose in Hebbville. And in Elkton, Kathleen Zeman was acquitted after being accused of starving her boyfriend's wife to death.

The CP covers Bmore's surveillance cameras, and the murder ink includes some gruesome tales.

Maryland is the second stop in sniper John Muhammad's four-state court tour.

August 17

At a hearing today, Bradford Mulcahy, 25, of Towson, pled guilty to automobile manslaughter before Judge Lynn Stewart. Under terms of the plea agreement announced in open court, Mulcahy will receive four-years in prison when formally sentenced October 12. On February 15, 2005 Baltimore City Police observed Bradford Mulcahy engaged in a possible narcotics violation and attempted to pull his vehicle over to investigate. Mulcahy failed to stop and proceeded the wrong way in the 1500 block of West Baltimore Street where he struck and killed a pedestrian, Stephen Cage, 46. Mulcahy crashed into a building in the 1200 block of West Baltimore Street and was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

A peek behind the petticoats of Baltimore's liquor license trade.

Suprise to no one Dept.: in Cumberland a guy the neighborhood kids called Mr. Tickles has been arrested for trying to abduct and eight-year-old.

August 15

Two men in their early 20's were fatally shot in separate incidents in South Baltimore and Edmonson Village.

Closing arguements went down today in the Espinoza/Canela trial, and the jury has begun deliberations.

A 17-year-old Marcus Bradford of Bowie has been charged as an adult in connection with a shooting the buttocks of a 21-year-old student on campus at the University of Maryland.

In Salisbury six-month old hit-and-run victim Briana Braxton died, and both her father Brian and her mother are under arrest.

Robert Manger of South Baltimore got 15 years for child sexual abuse.

A former Jessup corrections officer, Rasheem Jamal Robinson, is under arrest for dealing coke.

Two attempted-murder arrests, a stabbing and lots of stealing in the blotter.

Maryland's juvenile offenders may be sent to Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Trial starts tomorrow for Patrick Walsh, accused ringleader and cheeky monkey in the Charles County arson case.

August 14

Frank McCreary of Crofton and Carmelo Vizzi of Perry Hall got one and two years for bribery. McCreary was a Realty Specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Baltimore who steered property repair contracts to Vizzi in exchange for kickbacks of $250 to $600 per contract.

"Hello, Finksburg police? Rascals have purloined my latex gloves and back issues of Black Inches from my Ford Probe!"

Escaped convict Eric Curley was captured in Camden, Delaware.

Ed Norris gave an interview to JZ.

Teenagers buying drugs were stabbed at Laurel Mall.

The Mid-Atlantic Cold Case Homicide Investigators Association held its first convention in Annapolis.

August 12

Today the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Euerildo Vasquez, 27, of Belair Road in connection with the kidnapping of a two-year old boy. Court documents allege that Vasquez took the boy from the El Salvadore Restaurant located at 207 South Broadway, hailed a cab, and forced the child inside. The taxi driver became suspicious and signaled two Baltimore City police officers that were in the area. They arrested Vasquez and the boy was retuned to his parents in the restaurant. Vasquez is currently being held on $500,000 bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

James Smith and Jason Mack will get a new attempted-robbery trial because the defense was not allowed to present evidence to the jury proving that some white people can't tell one black guy from another.

Willies Dept.
The body of 37-year-old Robin Hoey was found in a safe in a South Baltimore business, and there's a "person of interest" being sought in the case. "The owner of Safes and Security Systems on Lorena Avenue called police Tuesday evening after he noticed a strange smell and found a pool of blood."

Richard E. Kyle, a public school teacher in Frederick, was found guilty of second-degree assault for kissing and touching a 17-year-old who was one of his daughter's friends.

An arrest in the shooting of Sharrice Cabbagestalk, six stolen crabs, domestic assault etc. in the blotter.

Reports of an escape attempt at Jessup on Wednesday that was thwarted. And in OC the manhunt continues for an escaped prisoner, 34-year-old Eric Curley.

What is with these hit-and-run drivers? In Salisbury a man fled the scene of a two-car crash where his six-month old child and his babymomma were injured.

Speaking of crappy fathers, Maryland's 12 days of child support amnesty ends tomorrow.

August 11

I'm glad to hear that the hit-and-run killer of 11-year-old Damon Jackson Jr. has turned herself in.

In Baltimore, local police helped tarheels get their man. Jesus Rios, 24, was arrested for a murder three years ago in Charlotte, NC. He was on Charlotte's 10 most wanted list but he's now awaiting extradition.

The defense rested in the Espinoza/Canela trial.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Steven Richie Craft, 39, for the attempted first-degree murder of Baltimore City Police Officer Edward Mendez via striking him with a stolen vehicle. Craft was also indicted for first-degree and second-degree assault and car theft. Court documents allege that on July 16 Officer Mendez Edwards approached the stolen 2005 Toyota Camry at a gas station when Craft put the vehicle in reverse and at a high rate of speed struck Officer Mendez, sending the officer into the air. The officer was transported to Shock Trauma due to head, back, and shoulder injuries. Craft was later arrested on July 17.Craft is being held at the Detention Center on a no bail status. An arraignment is scheduled for September 11 before Judge Lynn Stewart.

In the always-saucy Hometown Annapolis beat, some loud-partying women, some crack, attempted murder and a jailbreak.

August 10

Added to the tally this week: six murders, all shootings, all black. Total so far this year: 171.

A Baltimore City jury convicted Antoine Adams, 32, of the 500 Block of Patterson Park Avenue yesterday on two counts of first-degree murder for the murders of Theresa Moore, 51, and Michael Mick, 40. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Adams on February 22. Judge John M. Glynn will sentence Antoine Adams on October 25. He faces a possible sentence of life without parole. On January 20, Adams murdered Theresa Moore and Michael Mick inside of their home in the 800 Block of Bradford Street. You may also recall that Adams and his crime partner Richard Damon were also charged for the execution-style murder-robbery of Justin Gaglione, 29, on January 14. I know at some point the pair were also wanted for robbing two other men and for the murder of Penelope Medina, don't know what happened to those charges.

The trial of Cedric Stancil, 30, is scheduled to begin at 9:00 this morning before Judge Allen L. Schwait at the Mitchell Courthouse. On March 1, 2004, the Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Stancil for the July 9, 2003 shooting death of Edwin Boyd, 17, in the 2300 Block of E. Oliver Street. Stancil was also indicted for conspiracy to murder.

And Marvin Moore, 24, is scheduled for jury trial at 9:00 this morning before Judge Joseph P. McCurdy at Courthouse East. The Baltimore City Grand jury indicted Moore March 15 for child labor and illegal outsourcing, aka counts of hiring a minor to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin on February 21 in the 1500 block of West Baltimore Street. Moore and the minor were both arrested by Baltimore City Police.

This could be interesting: Ed Norris will host the WHFS noon show.

Stolen this week in Maryland
Doors, a paddleboat, a chainsaw, a flying model airplane, bicycles, scooters, a toilet tank, the life of one 22-year- old Darnell McCoy, a radar detector, cash from the Hardee's, a license plate, a digital camera, a pop-up trailer.

August 9

Police are seeking a hit-and-run driver in a green American sedan that killed an 11-year-old boy. Also an arrest for attempted murder.

Police are seeking information about the fatal shooting of Paul Talley, 18, in the Better Waverly neighborhood. He was shot while sitting in the front passenger seat of a red Ford Taurus in the 800 block of E. 30th St Sunday night.

Eighteen-year-old Baltimorean Shawn J. Harding is wanted in Williamsburg, Virginia accused of giving a 14-year-old gin and raping her.

In Annapolis a nurse's aide got probation for spitting on a 98-year-old woman.

In Ocean City there was mayhem when a fight broke out among 150 attendees of the Funkmaster Flex Car and Boat show featuring Biz Markie. Nobody beat the Biz.

August 8

Bloody gloves were in the spotlight in the Espinoza/Canela trial.

In Moscow, Pravda writer Igor Parfnenko is outraged that a story of eight-year-old Harford County boy, Denis Uritsky, starved to death by his Sunday-school-teaching foster parents, didn't even make the front page of the Sun.

Carl Preston Evans, who I as reported on July 26 was wanted by police for killing his 13-year-old stepdaughter and settliong her house on fire, was caputured.

21-year-old Theodore N. Ross was fatally shot Saturday night at a party in east Baltimore.

A man on the national Terrorism Watch List was arrested in Baltimore County during a traffic stop on Reisterstown Road.

It's a postponeathon down at the courthouse this a.m.: the murder trial of Tyrone Beane, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed until October 7 before Judge Sylvester Cox because no courtroom was available.

The murder trial of Kenneth Worrell, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed at the request of the State until October 24 before Judge Sylvester Cox, for unknown resaons.

The trial of Charles Carroll, originally scheduled for this Thursday, was postponed at the request of the defense until October 25.

How many drug addicts are on the streets of Baltimore? What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Six teenagers were stabbed in two incidents on Friday, and there's suggestion that the stabbings may be related to a Salvadorean branch of MS-13.

August 5

Christopher Nathan Porter, 17, is scheduled for arraignment 9:30 Monday, August 8. A Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Porter July 6, 2005 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.

At a hearing today, Dana (a man) White, 36, pled guilty to attempted second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Judge John M. Glynn sentenced him to 20 years in prison. On November 26, 2004 White broke into his "girlfriend's" West Saratoga Street home through the rear basement window armed with a butcher knife. During the course of the ensuing argument, White stabbed the victim 11 times all about her body. The victim went to a neighbor, who called for help, and she was transported to shock trauma.

An arrest in the murder of 23-year-old Angel Simms, a drug arrest and various theiving in the blotter.

Baltimore's surveillance cameras were indespensible in identifying the murderer of 21-year-old Darrell Winston.

A 21-year-old rapper called D-Rack racked up a 10-year sentence for selling the yayo.

August 4

Five murders this week, 164 this year.

EW, a human torso was found bobbing in the harbor in front of the Cheesecake Factory last night after a paddleboat employee saw crabs having a feeding frenzy by the dock. "When he it with a pole the object flipped over and revealed ribs. That's when he called police .. a mystery in the water ... a body part in the crown jewel of Baltimore" says JZ's Sharon Lee in the video. Who writes those scripts? I would have led with "Tourists in town for the Maryland Precious Angel Pageant are going Kosher tonight after seeing some unexpected scenery at the harbor..." and wrapped with "certainly something for diners to think about, Bob, before they order the fried crab rangoon."

A forensic scientist was cross-examined this morning in the Espinoza trial.

Kenneth Earl Barnes, Jr., 43, of the 500 block of West University Parkway, is scheduled to be re-arraigned 9:30 Friday morning 2005 before Judge Wanda Keyes Heard, 523 Courthouse East, 111 North Calvert Street. Barnes is charged with failing to register as a sex offender and trespassing on school property. The criminal information alleges that on April 14 Barnes trespassed on school property and failed to maintain his registration by providing accurate address information that is required by Maryland law. The maximum prison sentence Barnes is facing three years for failing to maintain his registration by providing accurate address information and one year for trespassing on school property. Meanwhile Howard county police are vowing to perform spot checks to stay on the trail of sex offenders who give false addresses.

In Edgewood this week cops found <63k of green and white stuff. Alan Lyall, Justin Feronti and Stephen Carpenter presumably do not have Pell grants in their futures.

August 3

Florida's toughest soap salesman (and Baltimore's most famous Victoria's Secret shopper) Ed Norris will be released from home detention Friday. Welcome back, big spender... thanks again for sending the musical panties at Christmas. Speaking of musicals, are the rumors true that you and John Waters are in talks for a biopic? Lunch on me, the least I can do after all those lap dances you picked up over the years? Anywhere but the Polo Grill.

In the Espinoza trial, jurors heard evidence of a second knife.

Unless you've been living in a cave you know that our Dirty Bird Raffy tested positive for steriods, but claimed that he took them 'unintentionally.' The lastest is that said steriod was a powerful anabolic-- not something easily slipped into a cocktail.

Blogger Matthew Yglesias poated a noteworthy link: the press release from the Mayor's Office from nine months ago that claims Baltimore has a dramatic reduction in violent crime. So my questions are, first, are these numbers accurate? Second, how do they compare to the per-capita reductions in other American cities? And finally, how do these facts relate to the Freakonomics abortion theory? Discuss.

August 1

We're up to 159 murders, says the ink. Twenty of the murders this year have been in the Northern.

A Baltimore City jury convicted Kevin Scott, Jr., 15, today of first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and armed robbery after eight days of testimony and one and a half days of deliberation. Judge Paul A. Smith will sentence Scott September 20. He faces a maximum prison sentence of life plus 45 years. On September 13, 2004 Scott attempted to rob the victim, Christopher Richardson, 15, in the 2800 block of West North Avenue. A struggle ensued over the gun Scott wielded, a .22 caliber handgun, and Richardson was shot twice during that struggle. Scott then ran several feet away, returned, and shot Richardson three more times before taking an unknown amount of money from his pocket. Richardson was shot a total of five times, four times in the head.

July 26

Carl Preston Evans, 35, is wanted for killing his 13-year-old stepdaughter, Breaunna Floyd, and setting her house on fire, with her and Evans' 8-month-old son, Mosett K. Evans, inside.

Were the Quezada and Espinoza children killed because their mother rebuffed an advance from 18-year-old Adan Canela?

In the Blotter, 17-year-old Shane Burton was arrested for murder. And there was burglary, assault, robbery, theft.

July 25

Following the arrests of a Baltimore man and two York PA guys for a heroin ring, the York Daily Record took readers on a soul-searing ride through the underworld of high school drug use. No, the kids aren't getting "high" on walking over Route 372 any more, and fishermen and eagles aren't the focus. Now they're "car surfing" and possibly smoking something called "skunkweed." And "in the cloak of night" there are rumors of some kind of Asian candy, and maybe a meth trailer in the woods.

Angel Simms, 23, was stabbed to death in the neck last Monday, and an unidentified man was shot, both in the Northeast.

Thanks to DNA evidence, the Severna Park rapist is facing some serious time.

I see Dan Rodericks and I have outrage in common.

Qué día es él? Es el día 12 del ensayo de Espinoza y de Canela.

Blottertime: in Baltimore City, lots of robberies. Stolen bicycles and steaks, prostitution and assault in the Anne Arundel County blotter. Stolen in Carroll County: Marlboros, floodlights, a $40 Victoria's Secret gift card. In Harford County, a meth lab in a trailer by the cow pasture. And in Howard County 23-year-old 23-year-old Nyema Wilson was shot in the bum.

July 24

Ogden Coleman, 21, was found guilty of killing 15-year-old Quartrina K. Johnson.

In the Metro Digest, police are seeking a suspect in a murder in 1992, and there's an update on the Espinoza case.

Was it one of the city's biggest cop/drug dealer conspiracies, or was a cop trying to get an informant's help? That's the question in the case of the feds vs. Sgt. Jeremiah Kelly.

Baltimorean David Burton, 50, is under arrest in Shrewsbury Township, PA, charged with running a heroin ring.

Rodericks is getting strident. And another Sun article, "Criminal, Victim are Often One."