January 2019 - Frederick County States Attorneys Office

Luis Privado Sentenced to Serve 5 Years for Human Trafficking of a Minor-Conspiracy

January 30, 2019/in Press Releases/by actualizestudio

FREDERICK – Luis Privado, 24, of Washington, DC appeared before Judge Theresa M. Adams and was sentenced to 25 years in the Division of Correction, with all but 5 years suspended. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be placed on 5 years of supervised probation, with the conditions of no contact with the victim, no contact with the co-defendant, and no unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 18. The defendant must register as a tier II sex offender.

On July 31, 2018, Luis Privado entered a guilty plea to Human Trafficking of a Minor-Conspiracy and Judge Adams revoked his bond at that time.

On December 30, 2017, Frederick Police Department Officers responded to the McDonald’s on Jefferson Street in reference to a reported abduction. Officers made contact with the co-defendant Abiathar Vance and the 16 year old victim who had previously been reported missing for two months. During a later interview the victim advised that she met Privado and co-defendant Vance in August of 2017 at Union Station. Co-defendant Vance induced the victim into becoming an escort. She described the “dates” as having sex for money. Vance arranged for the hotel rooms, clients and received the proceeds. Privado also arranged for hotel rooms, drove the victim and Vance from DC to Frederick, and provided a rental car for Vance to use to transport the victim while in Frederick. When interviewed by law enforcement, Privado admitted to driving the victim back and forth from DC to Frederick and leaving the hotel room when the victim had “dates”.

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Lindy Angel and Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsey Carpenter.

J. Charles Smith, III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland

Bernard Moore Pleads Guilty in Victor Cullen Riot

January 15, 2019/in Press Releases/by actualizestudio

FREDERICK – On January 15, 2019, Bernard Moore, one of the most violent offenders in the April 8th 2018 riot at the Victor Cullen Center in Sabillasville, pled guilty thus canceling his jury trial scheduled to begin later this month. Moore pled guilty to First Degree Assault on staff member and was sentenced to 20 years in the DOC with all suspended but 8 years to serve. Moore violently attacked the victim twice during the riot, using metal handcuffs to inflict harm, which left the victim with a broken jaw and head injuries at that time, and medical and dental issues that continue today. Moore also pled guilty to Second Degree Assault on the Superintendent of the facility, as well as, guilty to Riot. He was given a concurrent sentence of 10 years with all suspended but six months on those two charges. This sentence was agreed to by the State and the Defendant. Judge Theresa Adams presided over the case and before sentencing, read victim impact statements submitted by three employees. The State relayed additional information from a victim who couldn’t be present for the hearing. Eleven staff members were injured during the riot. Eight residents were charged with injuring staff during this riot, all to differing degrees; seven of the eight have now pled guilty for their roles in the riot.

The April 8, 2018 incident occurred at the Victor Cullen Center located on Cullen Drive, in Frederick County, MD. The Victor Cullen Center is a hardware secure, behavior modification facility that provides counseling, education and behavior modification for juveniles. The situation began between two youth residents and then escalated to youth refusing to comply with staff direction to separate. Staff attempted to work with the residents for over an hour before attempting to restrain them. When staff members walked in to begin restrain the residents and move them to the rooms, the Defendant Moore attacked the victim from behind, broke his jaw, and briefly knocked him unconscious. The other youths then began to attack the staff closest to them. Later, after escaping from that building, the victim approached to try and help another staff member who was being assaulted by Moore and co-defendant Daniel Ennos. Moore then attacked him again; this time punching him in the head while holding metal shackles. Multiple police agencies responded to the 911 calls for help from the staff. The Maryland State Police was able to get the facility back under control, and the victims were transported for medical treatment.

One defendant remains pending trial. The six other residents of the Victor Cullen Center were charged with riot and assaulting staff. All have pled guilty and are or have served sentences as adults.

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Corbett Wilt.

J. Charles Smith, III
State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland