SNOW HILL — One of two sisters charged in the stabbing death of a local man outside a Pocomoke convenience store last October pleaded guilty last week in Worcester County Circuit Court and now awaits her fate pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation.
Kaniesha Johnson
Shortly after 1 p.m. last Oct. 26, Pocomoke Police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic dispute at a gas pump outside the Duck Inn convenience store. Arriving officers found the victim, identified as Derrick Collick, 25, of Pocomoke, with a stab wound to his upper body. Collick was transported to PRMC in Salisbury with an apparent stab wound and later succumbed to his injuries.
The preliminary investigation indicated Collick was inside the store at the time the incident began. Investigators believe he went outside the store to help break up a domestic dispute at the gas pump when he was stabbed. Detectives also believed at the time Collick knew the individuals involved in the dispute.
Witnesses were able to provide police with information about the suspects involved in the incident and the vehicle they were driving, touching off a manhunt throughout the afternoon and into the evening on across the Lower Shore throughout the afternoon on October 26.
Two of the suspects were identified by witnesses as Kaniesha Johnson, 22, of Pocomoke, and her sister, Latoya Johnson, 30, of Salisbury. That evening, Kaniesha Johnson was located at a residence on South East Railroad Ave. in Hebron and was taken into custody without incident by the Maryland State Apprehension Team. Latoya Johnson was also located at her residence in Salisbury on Monday evening and was taken into custody without incident.
Kaniesha Johnson was charged with first- and second-degree murder, assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder. Last week, Kaniesha Johnson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and second-degree assault. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing has been set for April 1. Meanwhile, Latoya Johnson has been charged with 10 total counts including first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact and assault among others. Her trial is scheduled to begin on March 8 and is laid in for two days.
First-Degree Murder Verdict
SALISBURY — One of three Lower Shore men arrested last August for their roles in the death of a Fruitland teen gunned down in a Salisbury motel parking lot was found guilty last week of first-degree murder after a five-day trial while the other two are scheduled to appear next week.
The 17-year-old Fruitland teen was shot while in the parking lot of the America’s Best Value Inn on N. Salisbury Blvd. as he left a party just after midnight last Aug. 1. The investigation revealed the suspects, who were allegedly involved in an earlier altercation at the party, returned to the motel and fired multiple shots into a crowd of people congregating in the parking lot.
The investigation identified three suspects, including Jarrett Vaughn Stokes, 18, of Delmar, Larry Allen Ennis, 20, of Salisbury, and Ky’Shir Tariq Connally, 18, of Delmar, each of whom was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of the Fruitland teen. Ennis, a former Wicomico High School basketball star, was the first of the main three suspects to go to trial in the case, which ended last week with guilty verdicts across the board.
After the five-day trial last week, which included dramatic testimony from several witnesses about the events leading up to the fatal shooting, Ennis was found guilty on all 14 counts including first-degree murder. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing has been scheduled for April 21.
A fourth suspect, Marquel Devante Pinder, 21, who drove the suspects back to the party, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and other charges and has not yet been sentenced. The trial for Stokes, who is believed to be the shooter, began on Tuesday and had not been completed as of press time.
Connally, who was arrested in Ocean City just two weeks before on burglary charges after breaking into a downtown condo, is scheduled to appear for trial on first-degree murder and other charges next week beginning March 1.
Just last week, Connally pleaded guilty in Worcester County Circuit Court to third-degree burglary for breaking into a downtown Ocean City condominium last July and was sentenced to 18 months, all but six months of which was then suspended.
Theft, DUI Charges
BISHOPVILLE — A Rockville, Md. man was arrested on theft and drunk-driving charges last week after allegedly first swiping items from the Bishopville residence and late getting stopped by police after a description of his vehicle was broadcast.
Around 10:30 p.m. last Thursday, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from the area of Daye Girls Rd. in Bishopville for a reported theft. A description of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle was broadcasted, and prior to arrival at Daye Girls Rd., deputies located the suspect vehicle on Bishopville Rd. and initiated a traffic stop.
The driver, Eric Evans Eschenberg, 50, of Rockville, was positively identified as the suspect and stolen items were located in the vehicle. Deputies observed an open can of beer in the passenger compartment and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Eschenberg, according to police reports. After performing poorly on field sobriety tests, Eschenberg was placed under arrest for theft under $100 and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Wrong Way On Route 113
BERLIN — A Milford, Del. woman was arrested on drunk-driving charges last week after allegedly driving the wrong way against oncoming traffic on Route 113 near Route 90.
Around 10 p.m. last Saturday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy was traveling south on Route 113 near Route 90 when he observed a vehicle driving the wrong way directly in front of him. The deputy was able to get the vehicle stopped before it collided with oncoming traffic.
When the deputy approached the driver, later identified as Maria Barber, 32, of Milford, he detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath. Barber did not complete field sobriety tests to the officer’s satisfaction and was subsequently arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released pending trial.
Probation, Fine For Cocaine Possession
SNOW HILL — A Virginia man arrested in November on drug charges after a routine traffic stop on Route 113 pleaded guilty this week to possession and was fined and placed on probation.
Around 3:40 p.m. last Nov. 29, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle on Route 113 near Snow Hill for exceeding the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Justin Henkel, 37, of Portsmouth, Va. and learned he was driving on a suspended out-of-state license and wanted in Michigan for failing to appear for a court date on a marijuana possession charge.
During the stop, Henkel was asked to step from the vehicle and the odor of marijuana was detected on his person. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana and cocaine along with numerous items of paraphernalia. On Tuesday, Henkel pleaded guilty to possession-not marijuana and was fined $300 and placed on probation for one year.