Juvenile Busted For Break-Ins

Juvenile Busted For Break-Ins
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BERLIN – A Berlin juvenile was arrested on theft and other charges this week after county investigators were able to connect him to a spree of vehicle break-ins in the Glen Riddle community last fall.

The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI) this week concluded a four-month investigation into a rash of vehicle break-ins in Glen Riddle last October with the arrest of a 17-year-old who lives in the community. After identifying the suspect, WCBI detectives were able to get a search and seizure warrant for the youth’s residence and seized several stolen cell phones. Among the stolen items seized from the juvenile’s bedroom was a Blackberry reported stolen on Oct. 20, 2009 during which eight unlocked cars in the community were ransacked.

The juvenile has been charged with five counts of theft under $1,000, theft scheme, and rogue and vagabond.

Crack Dealer Gets Six Months

SNOW HILL – A Snow Hill man arrested in October after selling crack cocaine to an undercover police informant was found guilty last week of possession of crack and was sentenced to six months in jail.

On Oct. 10, 2009, members of the Worcester County Narcotics Task Force were conducting a buy-bust operation in the Snow Hill area when a confidential informant the task force was using as their buyer parked his car in a convenience store parking lot and set up shop. The informant observed a suspected dealer, later identified as Donte L. Dale, 28, standing in front of the store.

Dale walked up to the undercover informant and asked what he wanted, and the informant told the suspect he was interested in buying a “forty.” Dale got into the vehicle with the phony buyer and handed him a quantity of loose rocks of suspected crack cocaine for which the informant handed Dale two $20 bills. Task force members immediately tried to apprehend Dale, but the suspect fled the scene and was caught a short time later.

As the officers attempted to detain Dale, he resisted arrest and ultimately had to be tazed. At the time of his arrest, Dale was still in possession of the two $20 bills used to make the purchase. Last week in Circuit Court, Dale entered an Alford Plea to possession of crack cocaine. In an Alford Plea, a suspect does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case successfully. Dale was sentenced to six months in the Worcester County Jail. He was then given credit for the 117 days he spent in jail awaiting trial.

Boardwalk Pot Bust Nets Jail Time

OCEAN CITY – A Mechanicsville, Md. man, one of two arrested on drug and weapons charges last June after selling marijuana to undercover Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) narcotics agents in a deal that began on the Boardwalk, pleaded guilty last week to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Shortly before midnight last Friday, OCPD narcotics agents conducting a buy/bust operation on the Boardwalk met two individuals later identified as Rolando O’Haran, Jr., and Joel Shawn Mitchell, both 23 and of Mechanicsville. At some point in the encounter, both suspects agreed to sell a quantity of marijuana to the undercover detectives.

O’Haran and Mitchell led detectives to a car parked on 10th Street just off the Boardwalk and the marijuana deal was completed. OCPD detectives subsequently stopped the suspect’s vehicle in the area of 17th Street and Baltimore Ave and both Mitchell and O’Haran were placed under arrest for drug violations. During a search of the vehicle, police recovered a fully loaded .38 handgun, a second loaded magazine and several rounds of ammunition. O’Haran was found to be carrying a fixed blade fighting knife. More marijuana was also found in the vehicle.

Both suspects were charged with drug violations and handgun charges including possession a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The vehicle was seized, as was $118 in currency. Last week, Mitchell pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. In December, O’Haran pleaded guilty to distributing marijuana and was sentenced to six months in jail with all but one month suspended. 

Charges Dropped In

Convenience Store Rant

WEST OCEAN CITY – A Berlin man arrested in November on disorderly conduct charges after allegedly unleashing a stream of profanities in a West Ocean City convenience store had the charges against him dropped last week in District Court.

Around 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2009, Maryland State Police troopers were at the Wawa in West Ocean City speaking with employees when a man later identified as Lawrence Williams, Jr., 29, entered the store and allegedly began yelling profanities. Troopers confronted the suspect, who allegedly continued to raise his voice and use profanity for no apparent reason, according to police reports.

Williams was warned, but he continued to yell profanities and raised his voice, becoming visibly agitated. At one point, he allegedly approached one of the troopers with clenched fists. Williams, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, was taken into custody without further incident and charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. Earlier this month in District Court, the charges against Williams were not prosecuted.

Store Bust Nets 30 Days

SNOW HILL – A Selbyville man arrested last March on drug possession charges after an altercation with a north-end convenience store employee pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to two years in jail, all but 30 days of which were suspended in favor of probation and a fine.

Last March 31, an OCPD officer responded to a north-end convenience store for a reported disorderly suspect. Upon arrival, the officer observed a suspect later identified as Charles J. McMillen, 27, yelling and flailing his arms at a group of four people outside the store. The officer learned McMillen had started a verbal argument with an employee who had just gotten off work.

The employee told police McMillen had attacked him and punched him in his shoulder and the employee responded by punching McMillen in his eye. The employee told police he was fine and did not want to press charges. Meanwhile, other officers who responded to the scene learned McMillen was being detained at the rear of the store. The officer made contact with McMillen and asked the suspect if he had any drugs on his person.

McMillen responded he did not, but a search revealed a plastic baggie of suspected marijuana in his jacket pocket. Another officer located a cigarette pack containing marijuana and cocaine on the ground near the vehicle in which McMillen was a passenger. McMillen was then arrested on drug and disorderly conduct charges. Last week in Circuit Court, he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to two years in jail with all but 30 days suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years, fined and forced to forfeit $367 to the OCPD.

Suspended Sentence

For Pot Conspiracy

OCEAN CITY – One of two Selbyville men arrested in Ocean City last November following a two-month narcotics investigation by the OCPD pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of a hefty fine and probation.

On Nov. 4, 2009, narcotics agents secured a search and seizure warrant for Deshawn Cornelius Handy, 26, of Selbyville, after an undercover OCPD detective was able to purchase crack cocaine from the suspect on two separate occasions during a two-month investigation. OCPD detectives served the warrant on Handy and the vehicle he was occupying, and he was taken into custody without incident. The vehicle was seized during the investigation and is pending forfeiture.

Also in the vehicle was another suspect, identified as Benny Marion Mullins, Jr., 31, also of Selbyville, who was also arrested. Handy was charged with two counts each of felony crack cocaine distribution and crack cocaine possession, along with one count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Mullins was also charged with felony conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

Last week in District Court, Mullins pleaded guilty to the latter charge and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. The sentence was then suspended and Mullins was placed on probation for two years and fined $1,000, half of which was also suspended. Meanwhile, the case against Handy has been forwarded to Circuit Court and it set in for trial in March.

Pot Possession Yields Fine, Probation

SNOW HILL – One of two Pennsylvania men arrested in Ocean Pines on drug charges after getting pulled over for a routine traffic stop pleaded guilty last week in District Court to possession of marijuana and was fined and placed on probation.

On June 7, 2009, Ocean Pines Police conducted a routine traffic stop when a probable cause search revealed suspected marijuana. As a result, Zachary Abraham Clouse, 18, of Temple, Pa., has been charged with possession of suspected marijuana and Kyle Anthony Kiedeisch, 19, of Reading, Pa., was charged with possession of suspected marijuana and possession of suspected marijuana with intent to distribute.

Last week in District Court, Clouse pleaded guilty to the possession charge and was placed on probation for one year and fined $300. Kiedeisch received a nearly identical outcome during his trial in August.

Pot Dealer Escapes More Jail

SNOW HILL – A Berlin man arrested last spring after he was targeted by a task force investigation into illegal drug sales in the Ocean City-Berlin areas pleaded guilty last week to distributing marijuana and was sentenced to a year in jail, all but two months of which were suspended.

In February 2009, a Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) narcotics task force officer initiated a investigation into the sale and possession of illegal drugs in the Berlin-Ocean City areas when he was contacted by a confidential informant about the activities of Brandon M. Krieger, 20, of Berlin. The informant told the investigating officer he had purchased marijuana from Krieger on several occasions in the past.

On March 19, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search and seizure warrant on Krieger’s residence and recovered a digital scale, a 12-gauge shotgun and a 1996 Ford Mustang. A similar warrant was served in West Ocean City where Krieger was located. Last week, Krieger pleaded guilty to distributing marijuana and was sentenced to a year in jail with all but two months suspended. He was then given credit for two months already served, placed on probation and also fined.

Bridge Not Open To Anyone

SNOW HILL – A Berlin woman arrested on drunk-driving charges in October after attempting to drive on the closed Route 90 Bridge pleaded guilty to driving while impaired last week in Circuit Court and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, all but two of which were suspended.

On Oct. 27, 2009, an OCPD officer driving north on Coastal Highway in the area of 65th Street observed a vehicle heading south without its lights on. The officer turned around and followed the vehicle, which attempted to turn onto Route 90, which was closed for repairs and was clearly blocked off. The officer made contact with the driver, identified as Kelsey A. Waller, 22, who exhibited signs of intoxication. Waller was eventually arrested on various drunk-driving charges after performing poorly on field sobriety tests.

Last week in Circuit Court, Waller pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, all but two of which were suspended. She was also placed on probation, fined and ordered to seek alcohol counseling.

No Jail Time For Crack

BERLIN – A West Ocean City woman arrested in November on drug possession and resisting arrest charges after a routine traffic stop on Seahawk Rd. pleaded guilty last week in District Court to possession of controlled dangerous substance and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, all of which was suspended.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, Berlin police officers patrolling in the area of Seahawk Rd. observed a 2003 Ford Expedition traveling 41 mph in a post 25 mph zone. The officer initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Wendy Joan Ichniowski, 42, of West Ocean City. At first, Ichniowski provided police with a false name, but the officer was able to determine her true identity and that her Maryland driver’s license had been revoked.

When the officer attempted to take Ichniowski into custody, she resisted arrest. A subsequent search revealed a crack pipe in the suspect’s purse. Icniowski was arrested and charged with possession of CDS and driving on a revoked license. Last week in District Court, Ichniowski pleaded guilty to possession of CDS and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was then suspended. She was then placed on probation for six months.

Clarification

BERLIN – It was reported last week an Ocean City man convicted in 2003 on a robbery charge was sentenced to 12 years in jail during a violation of probation hearing in Circuit Court.

According to a release from the State’s Attorney’s Office, John K. Mason, 30, of Ocean City, was sentenced two weeks ago to 12 years in jail in connection to a 2003 robbery conviction. Mason was convicted in 2003 and did serve a significant portion of the jail term. He was later arrested on possession charges, which violated the terms of his probation for the 2003 incident, but he was sentenced two weeks ago to four years in jail for the probation violation, not 12 years as was reported last week. We regret the confusion.