Saturday, July 9, 2005

July 9

There is a motive in the Espinoza case: alien-smuggling snakeheads sending a message across the border. (*shudder*)

A murder arrest, a purse snatch and an armed robbery in the Blotter.

The cop who shot two would-be robbers has been identified as Antwan Boykin.

Friday, July 8, 2005

July 8

You have your stabbing weeks and your shooting weeks, but last week was more like a blunt-force trauma week in the city.

And so much for the city's "safe zone:" police recovered 17 shell casings from a murder scene in front of a church near Pulaski and Walbrook in broad daylight.

A Iranian, Abbas Tavakolian, got 57 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty in the federal court in Baltimore to charges he attempted to export aircraft parts and components for F-4 and F-14 fighter aircraft, and that he laundered money.

There's evidence but no motive in the Espinoza case, say prosecutors.

Ex- employee Bruce Alvin Miller of Mt. Airy went postal in the BGE office in Hanover, then killed himself.

There were two shooting deaths in PG County. Shia Yu Hwang and Paul Hill are the 84th and 85th murders in PG County this year.

And in Frederick, 18-year-old Terry Bruchey is charged with shooting a four-year-old with a BB gun.

Thursday, July 7, 2005

July 7

A girl who claims to have been raped by convicted murderer Charles Carroll is suing the Community Initiatives Academy and its principal Christina Phillips Holtsclaw.

John Joseph Zappola pled (or "plead" as ABC would say) guilty today to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He'll get a suspended 10-year sentence and then be on probation for five.

The trial of Tavon Wilson, 20, of the 3600 block of Bowers Avenue, is scheduled to begin 9:30 tomorrow morning before Judge Allen L. Schwait, 400 Mitchell Courthouse. The Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Wilson March 17, 2004 for first-degree murder and child abuse in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter. Court documents allege that on February 24, 2004, Tavon Wilson murdered Dajah Mckoy at the mother's apartment in the 3600 block Bowers Avenue.

At a hearing today, attorney for perverted practicioner Keith Jennings argued that Jennings should remain free on $250,000 bond while his case is appealed. The State argued that Judge Alpert clearly ordered that Jennings was to begin serving his prison sentence July 8 and should begin that term tomorrow. Judge John Glynn ruled that Jennings' turn-in date be moved to Tuesday, July 12. At that time, Judge Alpert can rule on the appellate bond motion filed by the defense.

In the Metro section: one-year-old Erika Alexander was reunited with her mom, a guy was stabbed in Abingdton, the homeless guy who stabbed the other homeless guy is being held without bail and a man-on-man rape at the Boatyard Bar and Grill in Annapolis.

A jury was chosen in (what I call) the Espinoza triple-child-murder case.

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

July 6

In Jessup/ Severna Park news, Marcus A. Christian, 46, was indicted for first-degree murder in the death June 4 of 38-year-old Michael Patrick Conway. And Douglas Mark Stephany, 40, in Severna Park was indicted for possession of child pornography and soliciting a minor for a sex act.

Big Brother is indeed watching (though he doesn't care about your grammar or who you fall in love with) Dept: Bmore's surveillance cameras have spotted a kidnapped one-year-old and a drug deal in progress. You know you're in baltimore when the Blunt was located in seconds but one-year-old Erica Alexander is still missing.

Tuesday, July 5, 2005

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.

Sunday, July 3, 2005

July 3

A hero cab driver prevented a three-year-old boy's kidnapping in Fell's Point.

In PG County police are looking for a hit-and-run driver in a Honda Accord who killed a man on a motorcycle.

Anthony "Tony" Lamont Johnson, 37, got eight years for assaulting two police officers.