NDAA President Charlie Smith Meets with Senators Durbin and Graham in Support of VOCA Funding

March 12, 2024

NDAA President Charlie Smith Meets with Senators Durbin and Graham in Support of VOCA Funding

National District Attorneys Association President Charlie Smith met with Senators Durbin and Graham yesterday in an effort to secure VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funding, which fuels the Crime Victim’s Fund (CVF).  A lack of funding would result in millions of crime victims losing critical resources which provide them with support, safety, justice and healing.   With impending budget cuts and the decline of deposits into the CVF, Smith stressed the importance of sufficiently funding the VOCA grants as millions of crime victims benefit from programs in prosecutors’ offices supporting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking and drunk driving.  In addition, the grants assist survivors with medical bills, lost wages and funeral costs.

Charlie Smith with Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

 

Charlie Smith with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Baltimore Man Waives Bond Hearing, Continues to be Held Without Bond Today for 1st-Degree Murder, Conspiracy 1st-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Carjacking.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREDERICK, Md. (March 12, 2024)

The National District Attorneys Association’s Spring Board Conference In Dallas Addressed Community Safety As Well As Education and Support Initiatives for Prosecutors Nationwide

Press Release

For Immediate Release

March 8, 2024

The National District Attorneys Association’s Spring Board Conference In Dallas Addressed Community Safety As Well As Education and Support Initiatives for Prosecutors Nationwide

Dallas, Texas – Saturday, March 2, 2024 – Led by NDAA President J. Charles Smith, The National District Attorneys Association, the premier professional organization representing prosecutors across the United States, successfully held its quarterly board meeting in Dallas, Texas.  This gathering brought together NDAA members to deliberate on key issues facing the prosecutorial profession, share insights, and chart the course for the association’s future initiatives.

 

The NDAA board discussed comprehensive strategies to enhance the support system for prosecutors nationwide, focusing on education, training, and advocacy efforts.  The meeting also highlighted NDAA’s commitment to fostering community safety and judicial fairness, underscoring recent collaborative efforts with retailers and other stakeholders to address organized retail crime.  The NDAA also continues to prioritize educational initiatives for prosecutors as well as professional development, with plans to expand its offering of webinars, in-person training sessions, and on-demand learning resources.

 

Press Contact:

Natalie Harrell

Director of Communications

nharrell@ndaajustice.org

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Frederick Man To Serve 12 Years in Prison Upon Pleading Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, 2 Counts of Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Conspiracy to Participate in a Firearm Straw Purchase, and After Entering an Alford Plea to Another Count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Press Release

For Immediate Release

March 1, 2024

 

Frederick Man To Serve 12 Years in Prison Upon Pleading Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, 2 Counts of Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Conspiracy to Participate in a Firearm Straw Purchase, and After Entering an Alford Plea to Another Count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

 

Frederick, Maryland – This morning, the defendant Israel Herman Logan pled guilty in one case to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, two counts of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Prior Conviction for a Crime of Violence, and Conspiracy to Participate in a Firearm Straw Purchase. In another case, Logan entered an Alford plea to another count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Conviction for a Prior Crime of Violence.

Judge Julie Solt of the Frederick County Circuit Court sentenced Israel Logan, across the two cases, to 50 years, with all but 12 years suspended, to be served in the Division of Corrections.  The first 10 years of the Defendant’s sentence are mandatory minimums, which will be served without the possibility of parole, pursuant to Public Safety Article § 5-133(c). The State and the defense agreed upon the sentence to be imposed, except as to the charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. The Court heard argument regarding the sentence for that charge.

On May 3, 2023, members of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section and the Frederick City Police Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search and seizure warrant at 5203 Black Locust Drive, Apartment 410, in Frederick, Maryland, where Logan was residing with co-defendant Melany Marchun. Detectives obtained the search warrant as part of an investigation into the Logan’s drug dealing.  Investigators seized from the apartment, among other contraband, 195 tablets, which were shown by laboratory testing to be fentanyl. A Glock Model 20 handgun, a Glock Model 30 handgun, and a Bersa .380 handgun were also seized from the apartment.

Detectives also obtained a search warrant to review Logan’s cellphone, which had been seized. A video was located that showed the defendant in front of a mirror counting a large amount of money with two handguns in front of him. Later in the video the defendant pulled out a third handgun from his pocket. The defendant is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for Second Degree Assault.

A total of $7,448.95 was seized from Logan.

Through the investigation it was also discovered that while Logan was incarcerated at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, he had a video call with co-defendant Melany Marchun, with whom Logan was in a relationship. On the video call Logan instructed Marchun to purchase Glock handguns for him. Logan also conveyed that he was asking Marchun to do this because he was aware that due his prior felony conviction, he could not purchase firearms. Records obtained showed that Marchun then purchased two Glock handguns in West Virginia. These were the two Glock handguns recovered during the search warrant at 5203 Black Locust Drive.

In the narcotics case, Logan received a sentence for the Illegal Possession of a Firearm of 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, those being a mandatory minimum without the possibility of parole. For the other Illegal Possession of Firearm charge, Logan was sentenced to 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, another mandatory minimum, to be served consecutive to the previous count. For the Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, the defendant was sentenced to 20 years, suspend all but 2 years, consecutive to the other counts. The State recommended 5 years, to be served consecutively. The defense argued for concurrent time for this count. For the Conspiracy Straw Purchase, Logan was sentenced to 10 years, concurrent to the other counts.

In the other case, Logan entered an Alford plea to another count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm with a Conviction for a Prior Crime of Violence.

On October 15, 2022, officers of the Frederick Police Department were dispatched for a reported firearm discharge in the area of 187 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Frederick, Maryland. Bullet holes were observed in the side of a building. It was later determined through video surveillance that three individuals fired numerous rounds at several unidentified people that were standing outside of vehicles in Hope Circle.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office detective leading the narcotics investigation into Israel Logan later discovered that Logan and the other two suspects involved in the shooting went to the 5203 Black Locust Drive address afterwards. The detective reviewed security footage of the suspects entering the Black Locust Drive building, as well as the footage from the shooting incident, and was able to identify Logan as one of the individuals involved.

In this case, Logan received a sentence of 15 years, suspend all but 5 years, a mandatory minimum, to be served concurrent to the sentences in the narcotics case.

The investigation into Logan’s drug dealing and illegal possession of firearms involved the collaboration of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section, the Frederick Police Department Tactical Investigations Unit, and Frederick’s HITDA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) team. The shooting incident was investigated by members of the Frederick Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigation Section. The State of Maryland was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty in the narcotics and firearms case, and Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Slattery in the case concerning the shooting on October 15, 2022.

 

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

JRottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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Frederick Man To Serve Seven Years In Department of Corrections For 2nd Degree Rape of Minor

Press Release

For Immediate Release

February 13, 2024

 

Frederick Man To Serve Seven Years In Department of Corrections For 2nd Degree Rape of Minor

Frederick, Maryland – Yesterday, Administrative Judge, Richard Sandy, sentenced Jonatan Daniel Corado-Moscoso for the 2nd Degree Rape of a minor.  The Defendant was sentenced to 20 years, suspending all but 7 years to serve in the Department of Corrections with credit for time served beginning 5.17.2022.

In January, 2022, the 12-year old victim ran away from home.  When located by Frederick Police, the victim disclosed that the Defendant was sexually abusing her.  A forensic investigation was conducted by Child Protective Services.

Upon release from incarceration, the defendant will be place on five years of supervised probation through COMET supervision with all standard conditions, plus special conditions to include submitting to drug and alcohol treatment, receiving a mental health evaluation and a psycho-sexual evaluation and complying with all treatment recommended, polygraph testing, and internet and GPS monitoring. He is ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s immediate family and to have no unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 18. He is required to register as a Lifetime Tier III Sex Offender.

The arrest, investigation and conviction of the Defendant was a joint effort by the Frederick Police Department, Child Protective Services and the State’s Attorney’s Office.  The state was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney, Erin Pearl.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

JRottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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Victims of Nonfatal Strangulation – SB 398/HB 482

February 6, 2024
Brett Engler, Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit, testified in favor of SB 398/HB 482: Criminal Injuries Compensation Board – Victims of Nonfatal Strangulation. The legislation would provide funding for life-saving emergency room care for victims of strangulation.
Strangulation is a deadly form of assault, and a victim of domestic violence who has been strangled, even once, is 750 times more likely to be killed by their abuser in the future. Many victims of non-fatal strangulation will avoid seeking critical care because of the expense, and/or out of fear that their abuser will learn that they reported the abuse to medical professionals through shared billing. This legislation would remove direct billing of patients for strangulation care, and instead fund the examinations through direct state reimbursement to medical providers.
Thank you to Senator William Folden, Delegate Karen Simpson for sponsoring the bill, and to the survivors, medical professionals, and advocacy organizations such as the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, who testified alongside us.

Frederick Man to Serve 50 Years for First-Degree Murder, Attempted First-Degree Murder, Narcotics Distribution, Gang Involvement and Illegal Possession of a Firearm.

Press Release

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2024

Frederick Man to Serve 50 Years for First-Degree Murder, Attempted First-Degree Murder, Narcotics Distribution, Gang Involvement and Illegal Possession of a Firearm.

 

Frederick, Maryland – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Scott Rolle sentenced Lavonte Darnell Nash to Life, suspend all but 50 years, in the Department of Corrections after the Defendant plead guilty on December 27, 2023, to first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to participate in a criminal gang, participation in a criminal gang, and distribution of cocaine.  The Defendant received credit for time served from September 24, 2019, when he was first held without bond pending trial.

On June 27, 2019, Lavonte Nash shot and killed Mr. Gregory Knight and severely injured Ms. Camryn Wilson while Mr. Knight and Ms. Wilson were in Mr. Knight’s car, parked at the 1000 block of Columbine Drive. The Defendant murdered Mr. Knight after learning that Mr. Knight would be a witness against the Defendant regarding a drug distribution offense committed by the Defendant.

The Defendant was a member of PA-32, a criminal street gang originating in Frederick City. As part of the murder investigation, law enforcement and the State’s Attorney’s Office obtained authority from the Circuit Court to wiretap the Defendant’s cellphone communications. During the period of the wiretap investigation, a gang-related shooting occurred on August 31, 2019, outside of Café 611. The Defendant’s guilty plea included admitting his involvement in this shooting, in association with PA-32.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Despite the complex nature of the investigation, all levels of teamwork proved extremely effective and provided justice to the victims.”

 This investigation was a coordinated effort between the Frederick Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, Frederick Police Department Tactical Investigations Unit, and allied agencies of the Frederick HIDTA, under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN).  The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services provides grant funding and strategic support to MCIN member sites to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services funded this project under sub award number, MCIN-2024-0013. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any Maryland State office or agency.

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen K. Swanson, Chief Counsel Joyce R. King, and Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

 

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Sykesville Man Sentenced To 10 Years for Multiple Burglaries in Frederick County, Targeting Churches and a Commercial Establishment

Press Release

For Immediate Release

February 1, 2024

Sykesville Man Sentenced To 10 Years for Multiple Burglaries in Frederick County, Targeting Churches and a Commercial Establishment

Frederick, Maryland – On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Scott Rolle accepted the guilty plea of four counts of 2nd Degree Burglary of Vittorio Franco Rocco Lane and sentenced him to 28 years, suspend all but 10 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections.

The Frederick Police Department, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police investigated a series of 2023 Burglaries committed in Frederick County by one suspect.  As a result, Vittorio Franco Rocco Lane was charged with burglarizing seven churches and a convenience store, all in Frederick County.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Whether you’re targeting vulnerable people, or more vulnerable organizations like churches, you should be punished more harshly.”

Upon release from incarceration, the defendant will serve four years of supervised probation.  The defendant is mandated to pay restitution and must obey no-contact conditions regarding the victims, among other conditions of probation.

The arrest, investigation and conviction of Lane was a collaborative effort by the Frederick Police Department, The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland Lottery.   Frederick County Assistant State’s Attorney, Tim Gilbert of the Economic Crimes Unit represented the State.

 

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

JRottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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Frederick County Circuit Court Jury Finds Thurmont Man Guilty on 10 Counts, Including 3 Hate Crimes, Harassment and Trespassing

Press Release

For Immediate Release

January 26, 2024

Frederick County Circuit Court Jury Finds Thurmont Man Guilty on 10 Counts, Including 3 Hate Crimes, Harassment and Trespassing

 

Frederick, Maryland – Yesterday in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Julie Solt presided over a three-day jury-trial involving defendant, Michael David Burns.  The jury found Burns guilty of three counts of Hate Crimes, Trespassing on Posted Property, Trespassing on Private Property, two counts of Disorderly Conduct and two counts of Harassment.

The victims, a same-sex couple who are neighbors of the defendant, reported the trespassing and harassment last year directly to the State’s Attorney’s Office.  Beginning in March 2023, Assistant State’s Attorney, Carly Gibson, investigated the case by visiting the home of the victims and reviewing the evidence thoroughly.  ASA Gibson’s findings warranted numerous charges including the defendant’s continually trespassing onto the victims’ property while in possession of a rifle, verbally harassing the victims with hate-based threats, throwing large rocks on the victims’ driveway to prevent them from accessing their property, and physically blocking the entrance to the property.  The defendant has been placed on home detention, monitored by A1 Trusted Monitoring, until his sentencing on April 4, 2024.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities, regardless of race, sexual orientation, faith, or other status.  When hateful words turn into hateful actions, the State’s Attorney’s Office will work diligently to protect the public and secure a just outcome.  Hopefully these convictions send a strong message that hate will not be tolerated in Frederick County.”

The charging, prosecution and conviction of Michael David Burns was a result of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office’s investigation led by Assistant State’s Attorney, Carly Gibson.

 

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

JRottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Testimony

State’s Attorney and President of the National District Attorneys Association, Charlie Smith testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary on January 17, expressing the NDAA’s support of the #FirstStepAct. The Act’s implementation significantly reduced recidivism from 46.2% to 12.4%. The First Step Act improves the lives of low-risk offenders while protecting our communities from violent, high-risk criminals.

 

Hearings to examine five years of the First Step Act, focusing on reimagining rehabilitation and protecting public safety. (Official U.S. Senate photo by John Shinkle)

Hearings to examine five years of the First Step Act, focusing on reimagining rehabilitation and protecting public safety. (Official U.S. Senate photo by John Shinkle)

Hearings to examine five years of the First Step Act, focusing on reimagining rehabilitation and protecting public safety. (Official U.S. Senate photo by John Shinkle)

Hearings to examine five years of the First Step Act, focusing on reimagining rehabilitation and protecting public safety. (Official U.S. Senate photo by John Shinkle)

Hearings to examine five years of the First Step Act, focusing on reimagining rehabilitation and protecting public safety. (Official U.S. Senate photo by John Shinkle)