Girl Admits to Bus Beating

A 14-year-old girl admitted Thursday in juvenile court that she was "involved" in the attack on Sarah Kreager. She was sentenced to 40 hours of community service, ordered to undergo an evaluation and counseling, to attend school every day and arrive on time, not speak publicly about the incident and to write a letter of apology to Kreager. Prosecutors said Kreager's left eye may be permanently damaged.
The Sun has excerpts from ASA Alfred Guillaume's statements yesterday, names juvenile who was allegedly spit on as Nakita McDaniels.

Convicted murderer and rape suspect Charles Carroll will be released from jail this month.

Murder victims Cumberland Richardson Jr. and Murriel Chew were named, plus a man shot in the legs on Wednesday in the blotter.

The officer who shot Edward Hunt told homicide detectives he feared for his life.

In the county, Rodney Moore, one of four men accused of shooting an African immigrant for his iPod, was convicted of a gun crime.

More on the Anthony McCarthy story: the alleged victim stayed in McCarthy's home "for a few nights." According to Olesker, "McCarthy declared himself 'guilty of stupidity, and nothing more.'"

"Weeping and wailing and organ music": WYPR on the (not very enlightening) lessons learned from their series, "The Toll."

Baltimore City firefighter unions are asking a court to stop the mayor's order that firefighters must retake promotional exams following suspicions of cheating.

"Dixon said she is putting in place new security procedures for the March 15 retest, including assigned seating, new test monitors, increased standards for subject matter experts and restricted access to old tests."

Here's an idea-- how about changing the test questions?!

Jurors rejoice: the courts are closed today!

Themelis Sentences Probation Violators

From the SA's office (edited a bit for typos and clarity):

Garfield Redd, DOB 8/15/70 was originally convicted of assault in the first degree and assault in the second degree against two individuals. He was sentenced in the assault second degree to 5 years' incarceration and on the [first-degree] assault to 18 years with 10 years suspended [and] 5 years' probation upon his release by the Honorable John C. Themelis. While incarcerated, the defendant was found guilty of assault in the first degree [of] stabbing another inmate. Based on this new offense, a violation of probation hearing was conducted and the defendant was found to have violated his probation and sentenced to the balance of the time of 10 years.

Anthony James, DOB 11/4/63, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a CDS [Controlled Dangerous Substance?] on 4/9/03. He was sentenced to 10 years, suspended, and placed on five years' probation by the Honorable John C. Themelis. On 2/20/08, Anthony James appeared for his violation of probation hearing [and] was found to have violated his probation after he was found guilty of a new offense of distribution of a CDS. He was sentenced to 9 years 6 months on his violation of probation. Sentencing is still pending for the new offense.

On 1/4/07, Malik Carter, DOB 10/11/77, appeared before the Honorable John C. Themelis and was found guilty of possession of a CDS. He was sentenced to 4 years, suspend all but time served, and placed on 2 years' probation. At the time that the defendant was sentenced he was on parole for another narcotics charge.* His plea resulted in his parole being revoked. Mr. Carter was referred to the home detention unit however he escaped from that unit on or about 5/7/07. This violated his probation and Judge Themelis imposed a sentence of 3 years and 6 months for violating his probation.

Hernandus Moody, DOB 1/12/58, was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute a CDS on 2/16/06. He was sentenced to 10 years with 8 years suspended and placed on 3 years' probation upon his release by the Honorable John C. Themelis. He was released from incarceration on 12/29/06.* Mr. Moody was subsequently arrested on 5/31/07 for distribution of a CDS and subsequently found guilty of that offense on 10/24/07. This resulted in an allegation against Mr. Moody violating his probation. A hearing was conducted on 2/20/08 in which he was found to have violated his probation and was sentenced to 7 years.

Darrell Britt, DOB 5/7/08, was convicted of robbery on 5/3/07. He was sentenced to 6 years with 5 years 6 months suspended and placed on 5 years probation by the Honorable John C. Themelis. On 2/20/08 a violation of probation hearing was conducted were he was found to have violated his probation by testing positive for narcotics and failing to go to drug treatment. As a result of this violation he was sentenced to 4 years incarceration with a recommendation for drug treatment within the department of corrections.

*WTF?!?!?!

Middle East Murder

A man was shot to death last night in the Middle East. (The Sun has the murder at 1100 N. Chester, other reports say the 100 block.)

25-year-old John Linton, who admitted watching an associate push an 18-year-old Abdul Rahim Azzie into the Patapsco River in South Baltimore and "then fatally beat him in the head with a stick as the victim tried to stay afloat" pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault and conspiracy to commit assault.

Sun: legislators are hard at work on bad jokes, dumb laws and cake.
They do other stuff too, though, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is working to abolish drug-sentencing minimums, and today they're talking about a few other things.

What's the opposite of sex with a 14-year-old?
Whatever it might be, that's what the DC police stand for.

Questions to ponder, from my new favorite blog: "Why Aren't There More Old Criminals?"

Guilty Plea for Murder of Darren Mebane

...from the SA's office, edited for style...

Lorenzo Speight, 33, of the 700 block of Mt. Holley St., pleaded guilty yesterday to first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. Under terms of the plea agreement, announced in open court, Speight faces a prison sentence of "life suspend all but 30 years" when Judge W. Michel Pierson sentences him February 28, 2008.

On October 18, 2007 at approximately 2:20 p.m. in the 1800 block of Walbrook Ave. Baltimore Police were in the area on patrol when they saw the victim running from an unknown male, later identified as Lorenzo Speight. Officers saw Speight firing a handgun at Darren Mebane, 21. Speight fatally shot Mebane, and police saw him get into a waiting vehicle. Officers pursued the car and eventually police apprehended Speight, who had jumped from the vehicle, in an alley near Dukeland and Baker Streets. A .357 revolver was located on the roof of a nearby address, 1501 Dukeland St., and ballistics later showed it was the murder weapon.

Police also apprehended the alleged driver, co-defendant Aaron Davis. The vehicle is registered to Aaron Davis. Davis is scheduled to stand trial on April 30, 2008. Assistant State’s Attorney David M. Grzechowiak of the Homicide Division prosecuted this case.

February 20

Updates in this week's Murder Ink.

IBJIM? No, more like IBICKY.

Terrell Watson / Terrence Washington has got to get some credit for sticktoitiveness. (There's a Successory in there somewhere, like maybe a prison fence with an eagle soaring above it at sunrise.)

An Aberdeen cabbie (would that be a Caberdeen?) was robbed at gunpoint.

Police want to question a New Yorker about Jeff Payne's murder.

NY college student Nicholas Dudley Pinderhughes Weaver waived extradition.

You can get out of jail (almost) free, but even that may be too high.

Beware of IRS phishers.

A new chapter in the Sun's slow, painful death: after the demise the London and Beijing bureaus, now they're closing Towson! The extra office space will make space for a publication called "b," that will be "reader-generated" and "user-generated."
More on this from the S itself.
(A prescient article from the WSJ from two years ago: "Do New Free Dailies Mean Sun Is Setting For Paid Newspapers?")

Victims of Pervert Sought

County police are seeking anyone who's had inappropriate communication or contact with sex offender James Willnecker of Essex, right, who was arrested for trying to get all up in a 14-year-old Michigan girl.

Not Guilty Plea from Methadone Mom

At arraignment this morning, Vernice Harris, charged with murder and child abuse resulting in death, pleaded not guilty. A trial date was scheduled for 11 a.m. April 22, 2008, 226 Mitchell Courthouse.

February 19

The Sun's Annie Linskey reports that before 22-year-old Jeff Payne was fatally shot at a party near Morgan State, he had been shot during the civil war in Liberia.

"He was young at the time," (his mother) said. "He talked about the dead bodies he had to walk though. He had to go hunting in the forest for food."

She said that Payne and his grandmother were always on the run. "They were going from one village to another," she said. "When the rebels got there, they'd have to leave again."

(His mother) tried to find Jeff and another son, but she couldn't. "They were running from to place to place. His father was trying so hard to find him. I thought he was not alive. I thought he had been taken by rebels."

At some point, during a raid, Jeff was apparently shot. His half brothers, Michael Gillies, 19, and Wilmot Daye, 25, both remembered him saying that he had been shot and showing them the scar.

City police yesterday arrested Darnell Jeter, 42, and charged him with the murder of Theresa Parker last March 25.

You've gotta love a Baltimore "high school night" where two 20-year-olds get shot, one fatally. I wonder if they were seniors yet?

A cutting in the Southeastern, and some broken flower pots in the county.

Saturday's shootout at a Laurel motel left (alleged) attempted-cop-killer Aaron Mason Lowery dead.

Timothy Marsh's German Shepherd misses him, and Annapolis' Mayor Moyer's fears that guns and drugs are "running rampant in the city." Meanwhile, WBAL uses the last paragraph in a story about Marsh to report on a non-fatal BB gun incident in Annapolis.

Alleged AAC carjacker Scott Corey Coale was arrested in California after trying his mad jacking skills in the parking lot of a motel.

Carl O. Snowden is the civil rights director for the Maryland attorney general's office; his kid, Kojo, was arrested on gun charges.

February 18

There was a double shooting at the Paradox Nightclub in the Southern that left one person in "pretty bad shape." A shooting and/or assault at Lombard and Paca might be related.
UPDATE: One of the victims has died.

A man was shot inside his car yesterday afternoon on the corner of W. Saratoga St. and Arlington Ave.

The man who was murdered in Morgan State student housing on Friday was not a Morgan student.

The Volunteers of America Comprehensive Sanction Center on E. Monument St. is apparently a pretty great place to be if you're a recently released inmate who doesn't want to bother with all of that pesky supervision.

Annapolis had its third murder of the year yesterday when Timothy Marsh was shot to death in his car in the 1300 block of Tyler Ave.

Darwin lives!

Somebody's a cranky fussypants! New footage shows Officer "I am not a dude" Rivieri kicking a remote-control car with way too much intensity. (Thanks Lucid!)

February 17

A woman (or teenager) was found fatally shot early yesterday in a vacant lot in the 3400 block of Woodland Avenue.

The man shot by police after (allegedly) stabbing Shenera Lanera Norris was identified as Dale Rodney Jones, 38.

Juanita Robinson, 27, was convicted for the murder of Andre McBride, 21. You may recall that Robinson previously served six months for killing 16-year-old Derrick Colbert. (Here's the link from the archive... though the original Sun link has departed to Internet heaven.)

PGC race neighbors: each time they called police about street races, they "heard a different story as to who was responsible for patrolling that stretch of road."

WBAL: Mover stole clients' belongings, drove drunk, ended up under 18 inches of ice.

In case you haven't noticed...

... snark and outrage are what we do best!
(thanks Colin)

February 16

Murder
Charles H. Davis and Nicholas Dudley Pinderhughes Weaver were arrested for the 2002 murder of 16-year-old David L. Baskin Jr.

Death-scene details from Annie Linskey in yesterday's murder of Shenera Norris.

"Norris ran through a neighbor's open door. The man crashed through a window to follow her, according to the witness. "I heard him say, 'I'll pay for the window, ' ... She died in her underwear, running for her life.

Drugs
Former drug dealer Fred Brooks: "when I encountered the joke of the state legal system I really felt untouchable."

Arkansas police stopped 31 pounds of cocaine en route to Baltimore.

Perversity
Remember the Liberian guy who avoided child sex abuse charges because Maryland court officials couldn't find an interpreter for him? He's being deported, at least.

Women's Wear
AG Doug Gansler has gotten David's Bridal to stop charging excessive layaway fees.

Another Murder and Skeevy Accusations

A man was shot to death at a Morgan State U. party.

Thank you Fritze! The intrepid reporter wrangled the documents revealing the accusation that got Dixon spokesman Anthony McCarthy placed on leave from his position:

... a 16-year-old boy who belonged to a Baltimore church where McCarthy preached, Unity Fellowship, told a Department of Social Services worker that McCarthy had engaged in improper sexual contact with him when he was 15.

All together now... eeeeeewwwwwww!

More ew: A grand jury indicted Roy Edward Hoover, Jr., age 37, of Baltimore, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography.

And more! Sheez! Hagtown state delegate Robert A. McKee is under investigation for child porn. He's resigning his positions as delegate and as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County. Said McKee, "my primary focus is to get well and stay well."

Bad news for the news: the Sun plans to cut about 45 jobs in the near future, and the Tribune plans to cut about 2 percent of its total workforce overall. The NYT is also planning to cut about 100 newsroom jobs, and The Washington Post is closing its College Park production plant.

#19

A woman was stabbed to death at a Northwest apartment complex this morning, and the alleged stabber got a police bullet as a reward for his hard work.

February 15

It wasn't gang related, he hadn't stolen their girlfriend, and he didn't owe them money for drugs. Nope, looks like 16-year-old Dundalk resident Joshua Gibson was a victim of the dreaded random attack. At least it happened in the county, so perhaps the douchebags who killed him will get more than a stern talking-to.

Stephen Todd Nelson awoke from his coma and confessed to throwing his little boy off the Bay Bridge.

Leroy Wooden was arrested in the Southern and charged with murdering Barry Newman in August. The beauty of it all is that if somebody had told Leroy that he shouldn't beat up his woman, he might still be free.

A man was shot in the parking lot of the Rite-Aid on Frederick Ave. in the Southwestern. Police are looking for a heavyset male with a black shirt and blue jeans, a description that fits me perfectly.

First he beats up skateboards, now we learn he's beating up boxes.

AAC Sheriff "Flowers by Ron" Bateman is a pretty clever guy. Not so romantic, maybe, but clever.

Eric Griswold doesn't quite understand the whole drug-dealer-handshake thing.

Witness Intimidation Indictment

The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Raymond Sheppard, 35, of the 1100 block of N. Carey Street for witness intimidation and harassment. Court documents allege on November 19, 2007, Raymond Sheppard threatened a witness in a pending felony criminal case. The victim reports on three subsequent occasions Sheppard threatened to kill her and family members if she gave testimony in an armed-robbery case. An arraignment is scheduled for March 7, 2008 before Judge John P. Miller, Room 428, Mitchell Courthouse East.

February 14

Shootings, shootings, everywhere! A Hopkins employee was shot outside a food store on Greenmount Ave., a man was shot in both legs on Biddle St., a teenager was shot outside a Chinese restaurant on Belair Rd., a man was shot in the foot on Herndon Ct., and some dude was robbed at gunpoint of his lottery ticket in Owings Mills (but not shot).

Four people-- three teenage boys and a girl-- were arrested for the murder of 16-year-old Joshua Gibson in Essex. The suspects and the victim did not know one another, and police say Gibson was attacked for "no apparent reason."

Headline that sounds dirty but isn't: "O'Malley urges DNA collection"

No criminal charges will be filed against Anthony McCarthy, Mayor Dixon's former communications director who was accused of "inappropriate" behavior. So we'll probably never find out what he was accused of.

The skateboarder is getting his 15 minutes.

Hey, Carl the carjacker, maybe you should'a thought about getting a lawyer before the day your trial started. Guess the courts beat you again!

The city is working with other cities to... get this... create a database! (Didn't see that coming, didja?) This time, gun offenders are the target.

A couple of New Yorkers got caught stealing in Annapolis.
Handy tip: "The women ... had 'boosting bags,' or shopping bags lined with aluminum foil, to avoid setting off security scanners at store exits."

A 12-year-old Mazda got stolen because the owner was (allegedly) too damned lazy to turn that little thingy that sits on the side of the steering column. Fortunately, the thief crashed the car almost immediately afterwards.

Wow. Unless we start doing some crimes, I'm going to be stuck linking to articles about restaurants who leave customers with useless gift cards.

February 13

What's Fred's secret? Says the Ink, "the city has had almost half as many homicides as it did at this time last year."

A teenager shot in the stomach Monday, a man shot in the leg Tuesday.

A nurse who had contact with Bryanna Harris as an infant took it upon herself to visit the family about 30 times and bring diapers and formula.
WTF?! Now, "prior to a birth, a nurse who has concerns about the future safety of an infant will be able to alert Social Services." They couldn't do that before?!

Somebody stoledid a ambalance! It was "last seen on I-495 heading into Virginia with its lights and sirens on." Whoo whoo!

Hey, Annie Linskey is back! Today finds our intrepid reporter reporting on watchers watching the watchmen.

Baltimore on the global scene! The cop v. skateboarder clip made CNN's "American Morning," (and is the fifth most-watched video of the day) and the BBC asked some choice Baltimore voters which candidates they prefer.
(thanks Simon)

Counties
County police are looking for a blurry burglary suspect.

In Towson, a man whose pit bull mauled two children got probation.

Hagtown: "Fists Swing At MD Trooper Child Porn Sentencing"

E-mail from the DNC

"The AP has reported an Anne Arundle County Judge has expanded voting hours in Maryland from 8:00pm to 9:30pm due to weather conditions."

"Arundle"?!
Well, you get the idea, anyway!

Freakonomics does The Wire, episode 6

The latest post from Sudhir Venkatesh and the Thugs is up at Freakonomics.