JURY FINDS MONROVIA MAN GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, SECOND DEGREE CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT AND TWO COUNTS OF SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

JURY FINDS MONROVIA MAN GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, SECOND DEGREE CHILD ABUSE,

NEGLECT AND TWO COUNTS OF SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT

 

Frederick, MD – On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, a jury in Frederick County Circuit Court found 46-year old Christopher Kraft, of Monrovia, MD, guilty of First Degree Assault, Second Degree Child Abuse, Neglect of a Child, and two counts of Second Degree Assault.  The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle presided over the three-day jury trial.

On Sunday, March 3, 2024, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a request for a welfare check on a child.  Deputies made contact with the witness, the child, and the Defendant.  Deputies learned that just prior to their arrival, Kraft struck the child in the face, pulled the child to the ground and stood on the child’s stomach, threatening to crush the child.  Kraft also placed a lock on the outside of a door in order to lock the child in a room and failed to provide for the needs of the child.  Further investigation revealed that in a prior incident, the Defendant threw water on the child and then pointed a firearm at the child, threatening to shoot.

Kraft will be held without bond at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center until his November 26, 2024, sentencing date.

The State was represented by Erin Pearl, an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Special Victims Unit.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

 

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FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE ARSON; SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER REIMPOSED

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE ARSON; SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER REIMPOSED

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced 49-year old Byron Alton Bowie, Jr. to serve 30 years in the Department of Corrections for First-Degree Arson.  The Arson, committed in 2023, constituted a violation of the terms of the Defendant’s probation relating to a First-Degree Murder conviction from 1992.  The Court imposed a concurrent life sentence for the Violation of Probation.

On November 24, 2023 at approximately 9:00 pm, Frederick Police responded to 2203 Waller House Court for a possible domestic in progress.  A neighbor and witness told police that a male was in a verbal dispute on the rear deck and was threatening a female saying he was going to burn everything down and kill everyone inside.  Police did not find anyone inside the townhouse.  Frederick County Fire and Rescue arrived on scene shortly thereafter and observed flames on the roof and in the windows of the structure.  The Defendant was observed on home surveillance footage forcibly making entry by breaking glass on a rear door that allowed entry to the house from the deck.  Police arrested the Defendant around 10pm near Whittier Drive and identified him as the male who broke in prior to the fire starting.  The victim arrived on scene to find her home extensively damaged by fire and smoke.

On August 1, 2024, the Defendant pleaded guilty to 1st Degree Arson pursuant to a binding plea agreement for the November 24, 2023 incident and also stipulated to being in violation of his probation.

At the time of the arson, the Defendant was being supervised by the Division of Parole of Probation after having been released following a sentence modification hearing in May 2022 pursuant to a recently-enacted provision of law allowing for modification of sentences for crimes committed as a juvenile and charged as an adult.

Chief, Assistant State’s Attorney, Economic Crimes Unit, Jason Shoemaker and Assistant State’s Attorney, Tim Gilbert represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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FREDERICK MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

FREDERICK MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

 

 

Frederick, Maryland – Yesterday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced Jeffrey Whitney Bryan, Jr. to Life, suspend all but 40 years in the Department of Corrections for First-Degree Murder.

On July 1, 2023, at approximately 12:20 a.m., officers with the Frederick City Police Department (FPD) responded to a call for a male “shot in the face” at 170 All Saints Street in Frederick, MD.   Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious male, bleeding heavily from the side of his face.  Officers immediately requested EMS and began CPR on the victim.  The victim, identified as Tayquan Palmer, died at the scene from his injuries.  Detectives with FPD were assigned to the case and gathered evidence establishing the following:

An outdoor “get together” of approximately 20 – 30 people occurred on the evening of June 30, 2023 into the early morning hours of July 1, 2023 in and around the parking lot located between Gaithers Alley and 170 W All Saints Street, Frederick, MD.  Both the Victim and the Defendant were present at this event.  At some point during the event a disagreement occurred between the two.  The Defendant left the event at approximately 10:40pm and returned at 12:10am on July 1, 2023 wearing a hoody and full face mask.  The Defendant waited in Gaithers Alley until the Victim was away from the crowd at which point the Defendant walked up to the victim and shot him in the head.

Upon release from prison, Bryan will serve five years of supervised probation including mental health treatment/evaluations, abstinence from alcohol/drugs and all standard conditions.

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Violent Crimes Unit, Ricky Lewis and Assistant State’s Attorney William Grove represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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DVCC Event October 5, 2024 at Wayman AME Church

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Sacred Spaces: Engaging the Faith Community to End Domestic Violence

Join us Saturday, October 5, 2024, 10 am – 1 pm, at the Wayman AME Church on Liberty Road in Frederick, MD for an inspiring event focused on ending domestic violence. We believe that the faith community plays a crucial role in creating safe and supportive environments for survivors, but often these communities may not fully understand the dynamics of IPV and the needs of survivors when they disclose to trusted faith leaders.

This year, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we on the community advisory board wish to engage the faith community, leaders, community partners, and local government to create a platform for change and healing regarding IPV.

Sacred Spaces will be a casual meet-and-greet fellowship that includes presentations from local agencies who serve victims of interpersonal violence, follwed by a roundtable discussion with faith leaders.

Sacred Spaces: Engaging the Faith Community to End Domestic Violence Tickets, Sat, Oct 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite