SNOW HILL — A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty this week to five counts of possession of child pornography following an incident in July when an off-duty Ocean City police officer observed him taking pictures of the officer’s child with his phone at a Boardwalk arcade. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of about 100 images of youth in sexually compromising positions on the man’s phone.
Andrew Theodore Robinson, 20, of Mountville, Pa. appeared in Circuit Court on Tuesday morning to face 25 counts of possession of child pornography following his arrest in July in Ocean City. Robinson pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography and prosecutors were recommending a sentence of five years in jail with all but 18 months suspended, but given the circumstances of the case, Judge Thomas Groton ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
Around 11:30 p.m. on July 11, an off-duty OCPD officer was with his young son at the Sportland Arcade on the Boardwalk when he observed a suspect later identified as Robinson taking pictures of his son with his phone. The off-duty officer called for an on-duty officer, who arrived on the scene and questioned Robinson and confiscated his phone.
The phone was confiscated and turned over to a Delaware State Police lab for analysis, which revealed about 100 images of pre-pubescent males roughly ages 8-13 engaged in sexual conduct with other male children and adults.
On Tuesday, Robinson pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography and the prosecutor was prepared to offer a sentence of five years in jail with all but 18 months suspended, but Groton ordered a pre-sentence investigation after more details emerged during the proceeding. The prosecutor voiced some concern about other images found on Robinson’s phone including photos not considered pornography that the defendant apparently took himself of other young boys in the area filed under a folder called Beach albums.
With roughly 100 images of child pornography on the phone and others of young boys not considered pornographic, Groton said he wanted a pre-sentence investigation and a psychological examination of the defendant before accepting the recommended sentence. No sentencing date has been set and Robinson was allowed to return to Pennsylvania where he works and lives with family.
The cause of a fire on a boat in Ocean Pines last Saturday is currently being investigated. Photo by Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office
Boat Fire Cause Unknown
OCEAN PINES — The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office this week is investigating a boat fire in Ocean Pines last weekend.
Around 11 a.m. last Saturday, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Company responded to a residence on Teal Circle for a reported boat fire. Upon arrival, firefighters observed a boat on a lift over the water well involved in fire. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the vessel without spreading. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is still listed as undetermined this week.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-632-5666.
Hunting Violations
POCOMOKE — Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) late last month cited three Worcester County men for hunting violations after observing them shooting waterfowl on a baited bond.
Thomas Joseph Wall, Jr., Thomas Joseph Wall III and Sean Ashley Benson, all of Pocomoke, were cited for hunting waterfowl before legal shooting hours and hunting waterfowl over bait. Two of the hunters were also found to be hunting with unplugged shotguns.
NRP officers placed the farmland under surveillance after they saw a large number of ducks and geese gathered at the pond and noticed a significant amount of shelled corn in and around the water. On Dec. 28, NRP officers saw the three hunters on the land, approached them and issued citations. Their harvest from that morning included seven Canada geese and two mallards. The harvest was confiscated and hunting activity on the pond has been suspended until the area is clear of waterfowl bait.
CO Exposure Reported
OCEAN PINES — A malfunctioning furnace is believed to be the source of a carbon monoxide exposure at an Ocean Pines residence last week that sent two individuals to the hospital.
Around 4 p.m. last Thursday, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Company was alerted to a possible gas leak at a residence on Dockside Court in Ocean Pines with two occupants injured. Upon arrival, firefighters observed two occupants in the dwelling who were suffering from carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. The occupants were transported to AGH by Ocean Pines EMS and their condition was not known as of this week.
The cause of the CO exposure was believed to be from a malfunctioning furnace. Often called a silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, natural gas, oil and methane burn incompletely. Anyone with information or additional questions is urged to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 410-632-5666.
Drug Dealers Plead Guilty
SNOW HILL — Two more of the dozen or so suspects rounded up during a buy-sell narcotics sting operation conducted by the OCPD in June appeared in court this week and each pleaded guilty and were given jail time.
Throughout the summer, the OCPD conducts undercover drug enforcement operations in and around the resort area with officers posing as prospective drug buyers or sellers. During one particularly busy week in early June, OCPD officers rounded up a dozen dealers around the Boardwalk and downtown areas. Two more of the suspects appeared in court this week with varying outcomes.
Justin Andrew Parsons, 18, of Narvon, Pa. pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to two years with all but six months suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years and was fined $500.
Desmond Acha, 18, of Westminster, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and was sentenced to one year with all but 21 days suspended. Acha was placed on probation for two years and fined $500.