PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 28, 2025

HAGERSTOWN MAN TO SERVE 20 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Richard Sandy imposed the agreed-upon sentence of 35 years, suspend all but 20 years in the Division of Corrections for 57-year-old Arcelius Dunbar Lyle after his September 26, 2024 guilty plea to sex abuse of a minor and sex trafficking in Frederick, MD.

On June 29, 2023, A Multi-Agency Prostitution/Human Trafficking Operation resulted in Lyle’s arrest, based on the evidence detectives collected from the operation.  Investigation revealed that the Defendant met the victim at work and began grooming her shortly after meeting her.  The Defendant trafficked the victim for approximately 7 months prior to officers making contact with the victim.  After a bond hearing, Lyle was ordered to be held without bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victim in the trafficking case.

On July 10, 2023 Frederick County Sheriff’s Office investigators were made aware of an almost 30-minute jail call from the Defendant to the victim in the trafficking case, in which the Defendant instructed her to sexually abuse her four-year-old child.  That case was referred to Washington County, where the abuse occurred.

“Unfortunately, these cases are much more pervasive than the public realizes,” said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.  “Fortunately, Frederick County has taken the lead in developing interagency task forces to aggressively seek out these predators, and has prosecutors like ASA Carpenter that obtain lengthy sentences for these terrible offenders.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve 5 years of supervised probation with all standard conditions and special conditions, including Lifetime Sex Offender Registration and Lifetime Sex Offender Supervision.

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Special Victims Unit, Lindsey Carpenter represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

####

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 22, 2025

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 10 YEARS IN THE MARYLAND DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR TWO COUNTS OF SECOND-DEGREE RAPE IN FREDERICK

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced Alan Verdeja Martinez, of Frederick, MD. Martinez entered a guilty plea to two counts of Second-Degree Rape and one count of Violation of a Protective Order on January 13, 2025. The Court followed the State’s sentencing recommendation and ordered the Defendant to serve 10 years in the Division of Corrections with an additional 30 years suspended for the two counts of Second-Degree Rape.  A conviction was also entered for one count of Violation of a Protective Order.

On July 31, 2024, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office detectives forwarded a report of a rape that occurred in Frederick, MD.  Investigation revealed the Defendant, who was 19 years old at the time of the offense,  picked the juvenile up at her parents’ residence late at night or in the middle of the night on multiple occasions and took her to his home in Frederick County for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with her.  The victim’s family obtained a protective order on behalf of their daughter, but the Defendant continued to knowingly violate the order.  Police interviewed the Defendant, and he admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim at his residence on four separate occasions.

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation.  The Defendant will have to register as a sex offender for life and be subject to lifetime sex offender supervision.

The State was represented by Erin Pearl, an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Special Victims Unit.  The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick City Police, the Department of Social Services, the Child Advocacy Center, and the Caroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

####

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 4, 2025

GERMANTOWN MAN TO SERVE 15 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF A MINOR

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Joanmarie Raymond Brubaker sentenced 33-year old Tre Anthony Garrett, of Germantown, MD to 30 years, suspend all but 15 years in the Division of Corrections for First-Degree Child Abuse and Neglect of a Minor.

On January 5, 2024, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Frederick Health Hospital for a report of child abuse of a severely injured 2-year old child suffering from injuries to his body as well as multiple brain bleeds and skull fractures.  The child was flown to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. where he was treated.  Medical staff concluded the injuries were highly suspicious of non-accidental trauma.  Detectives interviewed the child’s mother, who told police she went to run errands while the Defendant (the child’s father) had the child.  When she returned, she observed the Defendant walking with the child wearing clothing inappropriate for the weather.  The mother confronted the defendant and attempted to obtain the child from the defendant and when she was unable to, the mother called 9-1-1.  Police later found the Defendant, without the child, when responding to a different 9-1-1 call in the area.  Approximately ten hours after the initial 9-1-1 call by the child’s mother, the child was brought to Frederick Health Hospital by the Defendant’s mother.  Through the collaborative investigation between detectives and medical personnel, it was determined that the child’s injuries were in fact acute and occurred during the time he was in the care of the Defendant.

Judge Raymond Brubaker addressed the Defendant saying, “You must get a handle on your drug issues to establish a healthy relationship with your son.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation with special conditions including no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with any minor child.

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsey Carpenter and Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Pearl represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

####

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

LITTLESTOWN MAN TO SERVE 5 YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE ELIGIBILITY IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced 30-year-old Bryant A. Paradine, of Littlestown, PA, to 25 years in the Division of Corrections suspending 20 years with 5 years to serve for First-Degree Assault and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime after the Defendant pleaded guilty.  The Defendant is not eligible for parole consideration as part of the plea agreement and will be required to serve the entire 5 years in prison.

On August 14, 2024, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Maryland State Police responded to a call for a shooting near Route 15 SB/Tippin Drive.  The 911 caller reported that a man shot a firearm from his driver’s side window at another motorist passing him before exiting U.S. 15 onto Tippin Drive.  The victim of the shooting also called police to report that he had been shot at.  Police recovered one projectile from the victim’s vehicle.  Both the witness and the victim described the Defendant’s vehicle as an early 2000’s red/maroon chevy Tahoe with PA registration and the operator as a white male with a beard.  Thurmont Police surveillance cameras picked up the Defendant’s SUV at 7:27am turning onto Frederick Road and vehicle registration information confirmed the Defendant’s identity as Bryant Paradine.  Troopers located and interviewed Paradine at his nearby place of employment where he admitted to being involved in the road rage incident and firing a round at the other motorist.  Paradine was placed under arrest and his vehicle was searched.  Troopers recovered a Canik 9 mm handgun with a loaded magazine as well as one spent 9 mm casing from his vehicle.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Road rage is a real danger to our community.  While many of these cases are first-time offenders, they present too great of a public safety risk to not put them in prison.  We must send a message that if you are willing to jeopardize someone’s life, the repercussions will change your life forever.”

The victim, who was in agreement with the sentence, addressed the court stating, “He was tailgating me, cut me off, brake checked me, pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger.  Why did he think he had the right to decide that my family would never see me again and make my wife a widow?”

Upon release from the Division of Corrections, the Defendant will serve 3 years on supervised probation with all standard conditions, including anger management classes.  The firearm and ammunition were ordered forfeited as part of the sentence and the Defendant is prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of his life.

The investigation was handled by the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division with assistance from the Thurmont Police Department.  Chief, Violent Crimes Unit, Ricky Lewis, represented the State of Maryland.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

####