Jefferson Woman Enters Guilty Plea to 1st Degree Murder

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FREDERICK – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Hestina Lakeisha Harris, 24, of Jefferson, MD entered a guilty plea to 1st degree murder. Judge Scott Rolle sentenced Harris to life, suspending all but 60 years to serve. As part of the plea agreement, the State maintains the right to veto any modification of the sentence. Harris must serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release, with all standard conditions. “This has been a delicate situation where the victim’s family is also the family of the defendant. Quite frankly, we just haven’t seen eye to eye. Our obligation to the community always prevails, which is why we were not willing to go below the 60 year sentence,” stated State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. “Deputy State’s Attorney Kirsten Brown and Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Pearl worked very hard to gain a conviction in the first trial, and short of this substantial sentence, were willing to do so again,” Smith stated further.

On December 22, 2014 at 2:37 pm, the Frederick County Emergency Communication Center began receiving 911 calls regarding a stabbing in the 5400 block of Burkittsville Rd., Burkittsville, MD. Police and EMS were dispatched to the home.

The victim, Lillie Marie Morris, age 67, was discovered in the front yard of her home. A passing motorist saw Ms. Morris lying face down on the lawn attempting to lift herself off the ground. The

motorist turned around in her vehicle and parked in the Morris driveway. She honked her horn in an attempt to get the attention of someone in the home believing at first it was a medical emergency. She exited her car and attempted to call 911 as she approached the victim, Ms. Morris. The defendant, Hestina Harris, then exited from the home yelling in what the witness described as a “growl”. The motorist advised her to go inside and call 911. Witnesses stated that at no time did Harris render aid to the victim.

Lillie Morris was pronounced deceased by EMS personnel on scene, and her body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where the manner of death was determined to be homicide. The cause of death was sharp force injuries to several of her major organs.

 

UPDATE: FREDERICK FAIR WAIVER HEARING #2 JUDGE ISSUES WRITTEN OPINION IN 15-YEAR-OLD’S CASE

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FREDERICK, MD – In a written legal opinion released today, Frederick Circuit Court Judge William R. Nicklas Jr. ruled that the 15-year-old respondent charged in connection with the Great Frederick Fair attack on John Weed September 20, 2019, will remain in the juvenile system. The respondent is charged with manslaughter, 1st degree assault, and 2nd degree assault.

After reviewing Judge Nicklas’ ruling, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “Prosecutors Rebecca Clinton and Laura Wilt worked very hard to provide a compelling argument for waiver. However, we have to respect the Judge’s ruling while continuing to seek justice for Mr. Weed’s family. Smith added, “This has been a sad situation that unfortunately has divided our community. We will continue to fight for the victim’s family, while respecting the decision.”

A waiver hearing was held on February 21st in which the State and defense presented arguments. A waiver hearing is a hearing in which the Court decides whether to grant or deny the State’s request to waive the juvenile to adult court jurisdiction.    The State filed waiver petitions on both juveniles charged in this case which alleged that based on a number of factors the particular youths should be tried as adults, rather than in juvenile court.  The factors the court considers include the seriousness and nature of the offense, public safety, age of the youth, mental and physical condition, and the youth’s alleged amenability to juvenile rehabilitative measures.

Judge Julie Solt ruled that both respondents charged in the Frederick Fair incident would have closed courtroom waiver hearings, meaning anyone not directly involved in the case is not permitted inside.  Judges often close the courtroom to the public for juvenile proceedings to protect the confidentiality of matters about the youth.

 

 

Both respondents in this case have now had waiver hearings and it has been determined that they will remain in the juvenile system.