Restitution, Jail Ordered For OC Vehicle Break-Ins

OCEAN CITY – A man arrested in July for stealing from vehicles in Ocean City pleaded guilty last week to two counts of rogue and vagabond and was sentenced to three years in jail.

Two local men were arrested for allegedly stealing from vehicles in Ocean City in the same area just over an hour apart in late July, leading police to believe they were working together. Just before 1 p.m. on July 25, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers arrested Christopher Fitzpatrick, 38, of Ocean City, after nabbing him going through unlocked cars in the area of 20th Street and allegedly stealing various items. While Fitzpatrick was being processed at the Public Safety Building, OCPD officers arrested Matthew Donoway, 35, of Bishopville, for breaking into vehicles and stealing goods nearby. OCPD officials believe Fitzpatrick and Donoway were working in concert in the vehicle theft scheme.

OCPD officers interviewed at least three individuals whose vehicles had been broken into. A search of Fitzpatrick revealed many of the items reported stolen by the victims, according to police reports. While he was being processed at the Public Safety Building, more reports of thefts from vehicles in the same area came in.

Around 2:20 p.m. the same day, OCPD officers responded to a hotel at 22nd Street for reports of thefts from vehicles. Multiple OCPD officers observed the suspect, later identified as Donoway, run into a nearby parking garage where he allegedly removed his sweatshirt and hat and continued to flee on foot.

After a brief pursuit, Donoway was nabbed at a restaurant parking lot at 25th Street and was detained. The investigation revealed two hotel guests called the front desk to report Donoway was walking through the parking lot and pulling on car door handles.

The witnesses reported they saw Donoway enter a vehicle and grab multiple items in a white plastic shopping bag, which was later found in the parking garage where Donoway ran initially. The combined value of the items stolen is estimated at over $1,600, which moves Donoway’s charges into the felony range of over $1,500 and under $25,000.

Last month, Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to rogue and vagabond and was sentenced to two years in jail. Last week, Donoway pleaded guilty to rogue and vagabond and was sentenced to three years. He was also ordered to pay around $1,300 in restitution to the victims.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.