Rocky Ridge Man Enters Guilty Plea, Sentenced for Felony Domestic Violence

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FREDERICK, MD  – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Michael Anthony Simpson, age 34, of Rocky Ridge, entered a guilty plea to two counts of 1st Degree Assault and one count of Violating a Protective Order. The Honorable Judge Julie Stevenson Solt sentenced Simpson to a combined 50 years with all but 10 years suspended. He must also serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release.

 

On September 14, 2022, officers with the Frederick Police Department were dispatched to the Woodspring Suites hotel located at 341 Ballenger Center for the report of a domestic assault. The female victim told officers that the defendant strangled her that day at the hotel as well as the day prior during their drive to Frederick. The Victim addressed the Court and advocated for the sentence that was ultimately imposed, detailing her fear of the Defendant and her long journey toward understanding the impact that the cycle of domestic violence had on her.

 

Following the sentencing, Domestic Violence Unit Chief Brett Engler commented, “Unfortunately, we see cases of strangulation on a daily basis, and assaults by strangulation are a huge risk factor toward future lethality. It is critical that victims know that there are resources in the community to help them, and that the State’s Attorney’s Office will work tirelessly with our agency partners to hold offenders accountable for their actions–with serious consequences where appropriate.”

 

The State’s Attorney’s Office encourages anyone experiencing domestic violence to reach out to law enforcement and/or the Heartly House at (301) 662-8800 for assistance.

 

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Brett Engler.

 

Michael Anthony Simpson

 

WINCHESTER, VA MAN FOUND GUILTY OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN BRUTAL 2020 STABBING DEATH

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

 

 

 

WINCHESTER, VA MAN FOUND GUILTY OF 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN BRUTAL 2020 STABBING DEATH

 

 

FREDERICK, MD This afternoon in Frederick County Circuit Court, a jury returned a guilty verdict for 1st degree murder in the trial of State vs. Lemuel Lee Roberts, age 34, of Winchester, VA. The Honorable Judge Julie Stevenson Solt scheduled sentencing for Friday, April 21, 2023 at 9:00 am.

 

Shortly after 2:00 am on January 11, 2020, a 911 caller reported finding a body in the roadway at English Muffin Court and English Muffin Way in Frederick, MD, deceased. The victim was identified as Kaitlin Nichole Roberts of Winchester, VA.

 

Investigators determined that Lemuel Roberts traveled to Frederick, Maryland with his ex-wife Kaitlin Roberts and stabbed her 32 times and ran over her body while driving a Buick Enclave. At trial, prosecutors presented video footage from a nearby business showing the defendant’s car approach the area of English Muffin Way and English Muffin Court around 11:49 pm on January 10, 2020. Investigators believe the victim exited the vehicle and was subsequently run over by the defendant.

 

Afterwards, Roberts went back to Winchester where he was shown on surveillance camera footage at a Sheetz Gas Station driving the Buick Enclave through a car wash. The defendant proceeded to dispose of evidence including the victim’s work nameplate and purse at a Sunoco gas station dumpster in Winchester. Roberts then returned to his home on Oakmont Circle in Winchester.

 

Through cellular phone tracking analysis by FBI Special Agent Michael Fowler, investigators determined Roberts then returned to the area of the victim’s body in Frederick around 2:00 am. SA Fowler also presented tracking data through cellular phone records and trackers the defendant had on vehicles that confirmed his movements in the late hours of January 10th into the early morning of January 11, 2020.

 

The defendant then went back to Winchester where he set the Buick Enclave on fire at Woods Mill Rd. and Red Bud Rd. Former Frederick County, VA Fire Marshall’s office investigator Kenneth Scott testified that it was the result of an intentional “incendiary” fire originating in the front passenger area of the vehicle.

 

 

The State was represented by Deputy State’s Attorney Kirsten Brown and Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Clinton.

 

Following the verdict, Deputy State’s Attorney Kirsten Brown commented, “This joint investigation between the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland made this prosecution successful.  We were equipped with a team of professionals who assisted us with getting justice for Kaitlin.  We appreciate the support of Kaitlin’s family and the law enforcement agencies.”

 

The State’s Attorney’s Office would like to recognize the hard work of investigators with the Frederick County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County, VA Fire Marshall’s Office, Frederick County, MD Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Baltimore, and the Montgomery County, MD Police Department.

 

Lemuel Lee Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR

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FREDERICK, MD – Yesterday in Frederick County Circuit Court, Celestino Lopez-Aguilar, age 37, of Frederick, MD, was sentenced to a combined 105 years with all but 50 years suspended for 9 counts of Sex Abuse of a Minor. Lopez-Aguilar was found guilty by a Frederick jury on December 14, 2022 following a two-day trial. The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle also ordered that Lopez-Aguilar serve 5 years of supervised probation upon release and register as a Tier-III sex offender, which is a lifetime registration, due to the victim’s age.

 

On December 31, 2020, a then-18-year-old disclosed to her mother that she had been sexually abused by Lopez-Aguilar, who was the former live-in fiancé of her mother. The defendant was seen as a father figure in the household. The victim stated that the abuse began when she was 7-years-old shortly after the defendant moved into the family home in 2008 and lasted until 2016.

 

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “This was an egregious case where a man used his role as a father figure to sexually abuse a young girl over the course of many years. We are pleased that the defendant received a long sentence and hope that the victim and her family can find closure with this outcome.”

 

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Leache. The criminal investigation was led by Frederick Police Detective Rebecca Skelley.

Celestino Lopez-Aguilar