PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

 

FREDERICK MAN TO SERVE 17 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR ARMED ROBBERY

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Julia Minner sentenced 42-year old Nicholas Albanes, of Frederick, MD to 20 years, suspend all but 17 years of active incarceration, to the Division of Corrections for Armed Robbery.  The Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge on January 7, 2025 and sentencing was postponed until today.

On 5/10/2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Frederick Police responded to Hillcrest Drive and Lancaster Place for a robbery and possible attempted abduction of a child.  Officers contacted the victim and her 8-year old daughter.  The victim told police they were walking along Hillcrest Drive when she noticed a vehicle parking along the shoulder of the road.  Shortly after, she felt the Defendant brush up against her and then attempted to grab her daughter.  The victim held on to her daughter while the Defendant forcibly grabbed the victim’s purse from her.  The victim told police that the Defendant attempted to grab for the child a second time, unsuccessfully, and the victim began screaming for help.  The Defendant then pepper-sprayed both victims and fled the scene in his vehicle.

Police reviewed available surveillance footage that captured the incident and identified the Defendant through matching motor vehicle registration, automobile records and forensically collected DNA off of the pepper-spray canister located at the scene.  Multiple witnesses, who heard the screaming nearby, also provided details to police.

Judge Minner addressed the Defendant, stating, “I am sympathetic to your addictions, however, you maced a little girl and her mother.  I must assure the community’s safety.”

Upon release from the Division of Corrections, the Defendant will serve three years of supervised probation with conditions as outlined by the Court.

Assistant State’s Attorney, Samantha Slattery, and Chief Assistant State’s Attorney for the Violent Crimes Division, 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

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 24, 2025

 

WASHINGTON D.C. MAN TO SERVE LIFE SENTENCE FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER

 

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced 40-year-old Ruben Terod Williams to a life sentence for First Degree Murder.  A jury found the Defendant guilty on November 22, 2024, in the Frederick County Circuit Court.

On December 31, 2022, detectives with the Frederick Police Department responded in the early-morning hours to Frederick Health Hospital (FHH) for a report of a female victim with a stab wound. The victim was later identified as Mary Alice Seward, then 41 years old. Medical staff, after performing life-saving efforts, pronounced Seward deceased at FHH.

Detectives through their investigation determined that the stabbing occurred on Linden Avenue in Frederick, Maryland, which is near the GetGo gas station on Route 40. Evidence presented at trial showed that a group of people in a Honda Civic met with Seward on Linden Avenue to purchase cocaine. The Defendant was with that group, as well his girlfriend Erin Davis.

After a dispute about the cocaine received in the transaction, the Defendant exited the Honda and approached Seward, who was still seated in the driver seat of a Ford Escape. The Defendant demanded that Seward give the money back. The Defendant pulled out a knife and told Seward that she had until the count of three to give the money back. When Seward refused, the Defendant stabbed Seward once in the chest. The knife pierced into Seward’s heart. Seward was then driven to FHH by her boyfriend, who had witnessed the murder while seated in the front passenger seat of the Ford.

“This was a horrible stabbing committed by a horrible person with a horrible record,” stated State’s Attorney, Charlie Smith. “We wanted Life Without Parole, but certainly respect the Judge’s decision to give a straight Life Sentence.”

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Swanson and Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty represented the State of Maryland.

The investigation was led by Frederick Police Department Detective Stephen Radtke, assisted by Detective Kyrie Yackovich, Sergeant Jonathan Shatlock, Detective Kyle Jones, and Corporal Jonathan Schultz.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 13, 2025

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY MAN TO SERVE 14 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE

 

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Judge Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced 47-year-old Tully Hamilton Washington to 14 years in the Division of Corrections for the offense of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine.  A jury found the Defendant guilty on June 27, 2024, in the Frederick County Circuit Court.

On July 8, 2023, members of the Frederick Police Department Tactical Investigations Unit served a search and seizure warrant at 618 North Maxwell Avenue in Frederick, Maryland. During the search of the residence, detectives recovered 15.9 grams of cocaine from a closet in the bedroom where the Defendant was staying. Among other evidence admitted at trial, the State presented the jury with text message conversations from the Defendant’s cellphone which were indicative of the Defendant being engaged in drug distribution. The search of the contents of the Defendant’s cellphone was authorized by a search warrant signed by the Circuit Court.

“Motivated by greed, these criminals destroy lives, tear apart families, and wreak havoc in our community,” said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.  “This sentence and the efforts of ASA Tumulty show that those who traffic in highly addictive, illegal drugs will be held accountable here in Frederick.”

Assistant State’s Attorney, Paul Tumulty, 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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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

 

PENNSYLVANIA MAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 20 YEARS IN THE MARYLAND DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR IN FREDERICK

 

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced 44-year old Rory Littleton Sanders, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, to 25 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections, suspending all but 20 years, which must be served in the Division of Corrections, for one count of Sex Abuse of a Minor for conduct that took place in Frederick County, Maryland between 2010-2014.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office investigation into this matter began in July 2021, following a report that was made to authorities in Pennsylvania regarding offenses that occurred in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  The Defendant admitted the offenses in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  He pled guilty in Pennsylvania to forcible rape and three counts of corruption of a minor and began serving his sentence of 13-26 years before being brought to Maryland to face the charges here.

Sanders entered a plea to one count of Child Sex Abuse of a Minor on July 31, 2024, before Judge Rolle, and sentencing was postponed until today’s date.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “These cases are really heartbreaking because they have a very long lasting effect on the victim. Prosecuting these people and sending them to jail is only the beginning of the recovery process for these victims.  At least we know that he will not hurt them again.”

Judge Rolle ordered that the sentence in Maryland must be served consecutive to (after) the Pennsylvania sentence.  In sentencing the Defendant, Judge Rolle stated, “No reasonable person could justify this behavior.”

Upon completion of his two, consecutive sentences, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation in Maryland and 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 as well as Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Special Victims Unit, Lindsey Carpenter.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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