FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND FIREARM POSSESSION

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2022

FREDERICK, MD – This afternoon in Frederick County Circuit Court, Jason Paul Havelt, age 44, of Ijamsville, MD plead guilty to 3 counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, 1 Count of Possession of a Shotgun with a Prior Conviction and 1 Count of Possession of a Rifle with a Prior Conviction.  He was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Scott L. Rolle to 39 years suspend all but 12 years to serve in the Department of Corrections. Upon release, Havelt will be on 5 years of supervised probation with special conditions.

In November 2021, Detectives from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office were forwarded a complainant of a possible bestiality case from Animal Control. Detectives observed numerous screenshot pictures of a male subject conversing with another individual regarding having sexual contact with dogs. The male subject was identified to be the defendant, Jason Paul Havelt, of Ijamsville Maryland. Detectives obtained a search warrant to seize the defendant’s cellular devices to investigate the allegations further. Upon review of the defendant’s cellphone, detectives located numerous chat conversations regarding performing sexual acts on a dog, identified as the defendant’s German Shepard dog named Zeus. Detectives also located numerous videos saved and sent to others displaying the defendant performing fellatio on his dog. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located several firearms. The defendant is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for a crime of violence. The Defendant’s two German Shepard dogs were removed from his home by Animal Control. A civil agreement was reached returning the dogs to the Defendant’s parents as it was determined they have a healthy relationship with the dogs.

Havelt will serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release, with all standard conditions and certain special conditions such as a psycho-sexual evaluation, mental health evaluation/testing/treatment as directed, computer monitoring, forfeit the firearms and ammunition, he cannot own or possess any animals, and animal control is allowed to conduct random checks. The replevin agreement says he is not allowed within 100 feet of his parents’ home where the dogs are now.

GRANT AWARDED TO STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR DIVERSION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON YOUTH WITH PROBLEMATIC SEXUAL BEHAVIORS (YPSB)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 26, 2022

 

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office has been awarded a grant of $100,000 exclusively to fund treatment services for Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors (YPSB).   This Grant comes from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention and is the first step in a larger program envisioned by the State’s Attorney’s Office to provide evidence-based rehabilitative services to youth without the need of prosecution.

Problematic Sexual Behaviors are a set of child-initiated behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate and potentially harmful to themselves or others. Obtaining treatment services for YPSB is vital in addressing the root causes of this behavior and educating youth as to what healthy sexual interactions look like and what is inappropriate.  In the last ten years, State’s Attorney’s Offices across the State have seen a rapid increase in the number of sexual offenses committed by youth and have recognized the lack of therapeutic providers specifically trained to help these youth.

This program will provide youth in Frederick County, Maryland with evidence-based intensive early intervention treatment. Research has demonstrated that sexual recidivism decreases substantially when effective treatment is provided. The program’s mission is to divert these youths from the juvenile justice system by providing evaluative and treatment services, regardless of a delinquency finding, and minimizes the likelihood that a youth will recidivate and/or become involved with the juvenile justice system.  The State’s Attorney’s Office will chair a task force of community partners who will work together to facilitate training for Maryland providers that will improve PSB treatment options for Frederick County Youth.

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED IN 1989 FOR MURDER OF MARC UHER HAS MODIFICATION DENIED

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2022

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED IN 1989 FOR MURDER OF MARC UHER

HAS MODIFICATION DENIED 

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, John Paul Sexton had his request to modify his sentence denied by Judge Julie Solt.  Sexton is currently serving a sentence of life plus forty years in prison for the October 1988 murder of his classmate 16-year-old Marc Uher.  Over the Governor’s veto, the Maryland Legislature passed the Juvenile Restoration Act which allows all those who have served at least twenty years of their sentence to seek modifications if they were under 18 years of age at the time of the offense.

In October 1988, Sexton used his friendship with the victim to learn how the money from the Urbana Exxon was secured every night at the close of business.   The victim, Marc Uher, had just started working at the Exxon and told his friend Sexton that when the business closed up, the employee would drive the bank bag with all the cash to the owner’s house a short distance away. On the date of the murder, Sexton came to the Exxon and hung out with Uher while Uher worked.  Sexton asked for a ride at the end of the night.  The investigation, the autopsy, and ballistic evidence proved that the gun was placed within two to three inches of Uher’s head and he was executed.   Sexton told police his hand was bumped as he was exiting the car and the shooting was an accident.   The evidence however proved that was not possibly the scenario.  After killing Uher, Sexton took Uher’s car, dumped Uher’s body and then over the next three days pretended to help look for the missing 16-year-old until he was arrested.

Many friends and Linganore classmates gathered today at the courthouse.   They reminisced about the good times they had with their friend, and how devastated they still are by the crime that shattered the community.   Numerous victim impact statements from the Linganore Community were shared with the Court by the State’s Attorney’s office.   Uher’s brother was able to participate in the hearing and shared his requests and feelings with the court as well.   Knowing what effect this this kind of modification hearing has on the victims of violent crimes is a primary reason the Juvenile Restoration Act was opposed by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “Many people believe that these sentence reduction motions under the Juvenile Restoration Act should be automatic.  However, there are some homicides committed by juveniles that are so senseless and heinous that life sentences are very appropriate.  Sexton is one of those cases.  Juvenile Chief ASA Laura Wilt put it best, it was a carefully planned murder to merely ensure there was no witness to his robbery.  That’s cold-blooded.”

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

EXECUTIVE WORKING GROUP ON PROSECUTORIAL RELATIONS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2022

Executive Working Group on Prosecutorial Relations

FREDERICK, MD – Founded over 40 years ago, the Executive Working Group on Prosecutorial Relations was attended by members of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), and the National Association of Attorneys General. Extensive discussions covering topics such as excessive force issues, organized retail crime, FBI behavioral analysis, and attacks on forensic science disciplines were at the forefront.  Notable attendees U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta joined the group in fostering productive dialogue among the attendees. The Executive Working Group provides a forum for open and candid exchange of ideas and concerns among federal, state, and local agencies. Frederick County, Maryland State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, President-Elect of NDAA, is one of several NDAA members, including Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and Buffalo District Attorney John Flynn.

Smith provided comments about recent developments and admissibility challenges within forensic science and what impact this has for local prosecutors. “The interplay between DOJ, Attorneys General, and State and local prosecutors can be profound, often directly affecting the outcome of cases.  That’s why this working group is so important to foster cooperation and exchange of ideas critical to good policy,” stated Smith.

Promoting cooperation and information sharing among the various levels of government is paramount in fostering an understanding of the different approaches taken by federal, state, and local law enforcement.

 

Frederick Caregiver Sentenced in Murder of Elderly Woman

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For Immediate Release

September 2, 2022

 

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Maria Gloria Vasquez-Mebo AKA Maria Gloria Vasquez-Mego AKA Maria Gloria Vasquez Mego, age 37, of Frederick was sentenced to Life with all but 35 years suspended in the Division of Corrections by the Honorable Judge Richard Sandy. She must also serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release.

 

Vasquez-Mebo entered a guilty plea to one count of first-degree murder in the death of 81-year-old Dolores Casas Perez-Colon on June 9, 2022. The plea agreement included a sentencing range of Life suspend all but 25 to 45 years suspended, with the State recommending an active sentence of 45 years and the Defendant seeking a sentence of 25 years.

 

On September 13, 2020, officers with the Frederick Police Department were dispatched to the 400 block of N. Bentz Street for the report of a cardiac arrest. First responders found the victim on the floor face up with traumatic injuries to her face. Following an autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, it was determined that the victim died from blunt force injuries sustained by multiple strikes to the head with a rolling pin. The defendant lived at the residence and was the caregiver of the victim’s wheelchair-bound husband.

 

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “I am pleased that Ms. Perez-Colon’s family can find comfort in knowing that this defendant will serve decades behind bars for this heinous crime. Her family has indicated this outcome has provided closure, as it spared them the additional trauma of having to sit through a difficult and emotional trial.”

 

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Clinton and Chief Counsel Joyce King.

 

Maria Gloria Vasquez-Mebo