FREDERICK SAO RECEIVES GRANT-FUNDED ELECTRONIC STORAGE DETECTION (ESD) K9

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For Immediate Release

November 16, 2022

 

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office is pleased to announce the arrival of its new asset in crime fighting here in the County. Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Duke and his handler SAO Investigator Justin Walters recently returned from a two-week training in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they received certification as an electronic detection K9 team.

 

ESD K9s are trained to detect and alert their handler on the presence of a chemical compound found on all electronic circuit boards called triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO). Examples of electronics with circuit boards include laptops, cell phones, and hard drives.

 

The ESD K9 team will have a focus on investigations of the Frederick County Cyber Crimes Task Force, which handles Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases within the County. K9 Duke and his handler will be a tremendous asset in ensuring that digital devices are successfully recovered during the execution of search warrants. SAO Investigator Walters commented, “It is such a rewarding feeling to know that K9 Duke and I will help make a difference in bringing justice to some of the most innocent and vulnerable victims.”

 

Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a non-profit organization that works to protect children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, provided funding for purchase of the K9, training, initial certification fees, travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for the handler during the two-week training course. O.U.R. will continue to support the K9 team by funding annual recertification for the ESD K9, approved veterinary bills during the entirety of the dog’s service, equipment/gear, and a monthly food stipend for the life of the K9.

 

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith added, “We are grateful to O.U.R. for this partnership. There is no doubt that this team will help bolster investigations, which in turn will lead to convictions and ultimately holding internet predators accountable behind bars where they belong.”

45 YEARS INCARCERATION FOR BURGER KING MURDER

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 4, 2022

45 YEARS INCARCERATION FOR BURGER KING MURDER 

FREDERICK, MD – Sentencing occurred today for Darin Tyler Robey, age 21, of Frederick who was found guilty by a Frederick County jury in August 2022 of Second-Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence, and Possessing a Firearm Under Age 21.  The murder happened on December 26, 2021, when officers with the Frederick Police Department were dispatched to the Burger King located at 101 Routzahn Way for a report of a shooting. Responding officers located the victim laying in the front entrance to the Burger King with severe injuries as the result of two gunshot wounds. CPR was performed until EMS arrived on scene. Regrettably, the victim Jaion Penamon, age 21, died of his injuries at the scene.

The State believes that Robey came to the Burger King that evening to confront his then girlfriend who works there. The victim witnessed this confrontation and tried to intervene.  When Penamon asked Robey to take it outside, Robey abruptly shot him twice in the chest then fled from the scene.  He was later apprehended.  His gun and phone were never located.

At sentencing, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith argued for over an hour as to why Robey was deserving of the maximum allowable sentence of 60 years (40 years for Second Degree Murder; 20 years for Firearm/Crime of Violence).  Smith stated during sentencing that “the most egregious second-degree murders deserve the harshest sentences.  Robey lacked remorse from the second he pulled the trigger, to when he stepped over Jaion’s dying body and casually walked away, until today.”  Unfortunately, Smith’s presentation was interrupted when fights broke out in the courtroom between families of the victim and defendant necessitating a lockdown of the courtrooms and other parts of the courthouse.  The sentencing resumed an hour later when Judge Scott L. Rolle heard from members of the victim’s family and from the Defense.  Robey was then sentenced to a total of 60 years in the Division of Corrections, with 15 years suspended, for a total of 45 years active incarceration. Upon release, Robey will be under 5 years of supervised probation.

The State was represented by Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith and ASA Ricky Lewis.