OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man indicted in U.S. District Court on child pornography charges in 2012 after an extensive investigation into his illicit activities dating back to 2010 pleaded guilty last week to one count of receipt of obscene material and now faces five years in jail and a fine of as much as $250,000.
In December 2012, Ocean City Police arrested Laurence John Bode, now 61, of Ocean City, after a Worcester County grand jury indicted him on 16 child pornography possession and distribution charges. The county grand jury indicted Bode after a nearly two-year investigation into his alleged activities dating back to June 2010. However, before Bode’s case came to trial in Worcester, a Maryland grand jury indicted him in U.S. District Court on five counts ranging from possession to distribution of child pornography, moving the case to the federal level.
Police began investigating Bode in July 2010 after being contacted about his alleged activities by a Homeland Security special agent in charge assigned to the Ocean City office. The special agent informed OCPD detectives Bode was allegedly distributing images of child pornography over the Internet.
At the conclusion of the investigation, a Worcester grand jury indicted Bode on 16 counts, but the case was later forwarded to U.S. District Court where the suspect was indicted on five counts, including two for distribution of child pornography, two for knowingly receiving child pornography and a fifth for possessing child pornography over a two-year period from January to October of 2010.
The federal indictment explicitly described how Bode received and saved images of child pornography on his computer. For example, one count describes pictures discovered on Bode’s computer of a prepubescent female posing naked on the beach. Another example describes a video of a minor female engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The plea arrangement to which Bode agreed this week described how the defendant joined a website called “Free6” with an Internet-based chat room that also facilitated the transfer of images and videos of young girls in compromising positions.
In October 2010, agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a search warrant on Bode’s Ocean City residence and seized his computer, a forensic analysis of which revealed 29 depictions of minors in various states of undress and engaged in sexual activity. After pleading guilty this week to one count of receipt of obscene material, Bode now faces a maximum of five years, largely because he has been cooperative and acknowledged his wrong-doing. He also faces a fine of as much as $250,000.
Three Injured In Bypass Crash
SALISBURY — Three people were injured, including a 7-month-old child, in a single-vehicle accident on the Salisbury bypass near Coulbourn Mill Rd. last Sunday morning.
Around 8:35 a.m. on Sunday, a Maryland State Police trooper responded to the Salisbury bypass in the area of Coulbourn Mill Rd. for a reported single-vehicle accident with injuries. The investigation revealed a Ford Expedition was heading south on the bypass when the rear passenger side tire blew out, causing the vehicle to veer off the roadway.
The vehicle struck the center median guardrail and overturned before coming to rest in the median right side up. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Khayree Hamid Jackson, 21, of Philadelphia, was ejected during the crash and was transported first to PRMC and later flown to Shock Trauma by MSP Trooper 4.
The female passenger, identified as Lakeisha M. Sherman, 25, also of Philadelphia, occupied the front seat and was entrapped in the vehicle. After being removed from the vehicle by the Salisbury Fire Department, she was transported to PRMC. The victims’ seven-month-old son was secured in a child safety seat fastened to the rear seat of the vehicle. The child was also transported to PRMC for evaluation and was later released to family members.
Both adult passengers were listed in serious but stable condition as of mid-week. The crash is still under investigation.
Stop Nets Major Pot Bust
POCOMOKE — Maryland State Police made a significant marijuana bust last weekend after stopping a vehicle for a routine traffic violation in the south end of Worcester near Pocomoke.
Shortly after 6 p.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers from the Berlin barrack stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on Route 13 north of Tulls Corner Rd. in Pocomoke. A K-9 search resulted in a positive alert for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A subsequent search resulted in the seizure of over 20 pounds of marijuana.
The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, identified as Dante Antionne Horne, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Horne was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on a $75,000 bond.
Jail For Hitting OC Bus
OCEAN CITY — A Stevensville man arrested in June after crashing into an Ocean City municipal bus while driving drunk before fleeing the scene pleaded guilty this week to driving under the influence and possession of marijuana and was sentenced to four days in jail.
Around 2:45 a.m. on June 2, Ocean City Police and EMS responded to the area of 7th Street and Philadelphia Ave. for a reported motor vehicle collision involving a municipal bus and a car which had fled the scene. The initial investigation revealed a municipal bus was heading south on Philadelphia Ave. when a vehicle heading west on 7th Street ran a stop sign and struck the bus. The vehicle, driven by Maxwell J. Mosscrop, 20, of Stevensville, Md., then struck an unoccupied parked vehicle and fled the scene.
OCPD officer broadcasted a description of the vehicle involved in the crash and a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy patrolling in the area located Mosscrop a short time later near 13th Street. Mosscrop was stopped and is suspected of being drunk at the time of the crash. In addition to assorted alcoholic beverages, OCPD officers recovered suspected marijuana from Mosscrop’s vehicle.
Mosscrop was arrested and charged with 17 different counts related to the incident including failing to remain at the scene of an injury accident, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle in violation of an alcohol-restricted Maryland license, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. This week in District Court, Mosscrop pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and possession of marijuana and was sentenced to four days in jail. He was also fined $300 and placed on probation for one year.
Theft Suspect Tracked
By Phone Convicted
OCEAN CITY — A Washington, D.C. man arrested in June on theft and other charges after swiping I-phones and credit cards from victims who then used the phones’ technology to help police track the suspect pleaded guilty this week to theft under $1,000 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Around 2:15 a.m. on June 2, Ocean City Police responded to the 49th Street area for a report of the theft of three cell phones and credit cards. OCPD officers met with the victims who told police their cell phones, which were all I-phones, had been stolen and they were tracking the stolen property’s whereabouts by using the cell phones’ GPS tracking features.
During the search for the stolen phones, which had been tracked to the 25th and 26th Street areas and the Crystal Beach Hotel, one of the victims was able to activate the audible alarm feature on a stolen cell phone. OCPD officers in the area heard the alarm and located the source of the sound emanating from Room 303.
OCPD officers located a suspect, later identified as Stanley Darnell Harris, 52, of Washington, D.C., in Room 303. The phone with the alarm still activated was found in Harris’ pants pocket. Officers recovered the phone and determined it was one of the three reported stolen. While on the scene, OCPD officers also recovered two other cell phones reported stolen along with two wallets belonging to the victims.
In addition to the stolen phones and wallets, Harris was found to be in possession of a fictitiously-altered military identification. He was charged with three counts of theft over $500 and under $1,000, theft scheme, theft under $100 and possession of a fraudulently altered military identification. This week, Harris pleaded guilty to theft under $1,000 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Plea Nets 10-Day Sentence
SNOW HILL — A Connecticut man arrested in March on drug and weapons charges after getting his vehicle stuck in a water-filled ditch along Route 113 pleaded guilty this week in Circuit Court to one count of wearing or carrying a handgun in a vehicle and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all but 10 of which were then suspended.
On March 8, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the area of Route 113 and Porter’s Crossing to assist a motorist who had gotten his 2013 Ford truck stuck in a ditch with the engine area of the vehicle submerged. While the vehicle was being pulled out of the ditch and loaded onto a tow truck, deputies observed the owner of the vehicle, identified as Brett Baczek, 27, of Connecticut, was wearing a gun holster on his right hip.
Further investigation revealed Baczek was carrying a loaded handgun and what appeared to be cocaine. Baczek was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. This week, Baczek pleaded guilty to one count of wearing or carrying a handgun and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all but 10 of which were suspended. He was also fined $500 and placed on probation for two years.
Bike Week Safety Urged
OCEAN CITY — With the arrival of the OC BikeFest Motorcycle Rally next week, the Ocean City Police Department is urging local motorists and visitors to use extreme caution on the town’s roadways during the event.
Starting next weekend, from Sept. 12-15, Ocean City will see a huge increase in the number of motorcycles making their way into the resort area for the fall Bike Week event. OC BikeFest will take place at various locations throughout the resort and motorcyclists will be sharing the roadways with other motorists in and around Ocean City.
The OCPD is reminding citizens of a few important safety tips in advance of the event next week. First of all, be aware of increased motorcycle traffic. Drivers often can’t see motorcycles because of blind spots in their mirrors, so motorists are advised to be extra cautious, especially when changing lanes. In addition, it residents or visitors witness any criminal activity, including racing or dangerous driving, they are encouraged to get a description of the vehicle or a tag number if possible.