FREDERICK, MD – Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at 2 pm, Dr. Ernesto Torres appeared before Frederick Circuit Court for a bond review regarding the indictment that resulted in an additional 65 charges. The Honorable Judge William R. Nicklas Jr. set an additional bond in the amount of $400,000 secured with the conditions of home detention, not to practice medicine until court proceeding determination, no contact with females under the age of 18, and to surrender his passport.

In response to the bond review, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “While we are disappointed that he was again granted bond, we were relieved to hear the judge revoke his ability to practice pediatrics or medicine.”

The Frederick Police Department believes there may be other victims in this case. Anyone with information about this case, including other potential victims should contact Detective Sean McKinney at 240-578-5683.

There are many resources available online and locally that provide tips on having these conversations. Local resources are available for victims of sexual assault including:

 Frederick Police Department, Victim Services Unit (301) 600-1356

 The Child Advocacy Center (301) 600-1758

 Heartly House (301) 662-8800

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. It is merely a formal charge until and if the defendant is found guilty in a future judicial proceeding. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Police Department and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office arrested 4 adult males for attempting to solicit children for sex following a multi-day undercover operation conducted the week of May 12, 2019.

These arrests resulted from investigations conducted by the Frederick Police Department, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the State’s Attorney’s Office as part of the Frederick County Cyber Crime Task Force (FCCTF). During this operation suspects chatted on several social media platforms with undercover investigators who posed as minors. Authorities arrested the suspects as they arrived at a pre-arranged meeting place for an encounter.

Detectives arrested and charged 4 people with Sexual Solicitation of a Minor. All defendants are being held without bond at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.

The mission of the Frederick County Cyber Crime Task Force (FCCTF) is to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute internet sexual predators who exploit children through the use of the internet and technology, consistent with Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force standards and procedures.

The Frederick Police Department and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received funding for these operations from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention funded this project under sub-award number ICAC-2019-0013. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of a State or Federal agency.

 

UPDATE Thursday 5/9/19 : Dr. Ernesto Torres posted bond late Wednesday night. He is now being monitored through the Frederick Co. Sheriff’s Office home detention program.

 

FREDERICK, MD – On Wednesday, May 8th at 2 pm, Dr. Ernesto Torres appeared before Frederick Circuit Court for a Bond Review. The Honorable Judge Martz-Fisher set the bond in the amount of $100,000 secured with the conditions of home detention, no unsupervised contact with patients or minors, and surrender his passport.

The State’s Attorney’s Office presented information regarding potential additional victims in this case. The Frederick Police Department is conducting additional interviews at this time. If you believe your child may have been a victim, please contact Detective Sean McKinney at (240) 578-5683. The Frederick Police Department Victim Service’s Unit is also available to provide support and they can be reached at (301) 600-1356.

In response to the outcome of the Bond Review, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated,” We believe based on the allegations that Dr. Torres poses a significant threat to the public, which is why we requested he be held without bond. To date, we have had 11 additional potential victims come forward. We will review each one independently of the other to determine whether they are sufficient to charge. We again encourage anyone with information regarding the case to contact authorities immediately.”

Both agencies are encouraging parents to talk to your children about body boundaries and safety. In understanding that these are difficult conversations to be had; The Frederick Police Department along with the State’s Attorney’s Office will be holding a Community Conversation on ‘How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations with your Children”. The presentation is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 at 7pm in the Frederick City Annex (140 West Patrick Street). This Community Conversation, geared for parents will feature two guest speakers from our community who are experts in having difficult conversations with children, as well as Frederick State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. This presentation will be open to the public. More information on this presentation will be available shortly.

FREDERICK, MD – Chris Lee Myers, 39, of Jefferson, Maryland waived his right to a bond review this afternoon in Frederick District Court. Maryland State Police have charged Myers in connection with the death of his girlfriend Wednesday in Frederick County.

Chris Myers is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault. He was arrested by Baltimore Police on Wednesday on unrelated traffic and drug violations. He had been held at the Baltimore City Detention Center until being transported to Frederick County.

According to a preliminary investigation, relatives of the victim, identified as Heather Williams, 24, of Jefferson, Maryland, had reported her missing at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when she did not arrive at her relatives’ residence as expected. Investigators said Williams’ vehicle, a 2017 Ford Fiesta, was not at her residence on the 4500 block of Jefferson Pike when relatives went to check on her and eventually found her deceased inside the residence.

Myers, who shared a residence with the victim, was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department at approximately 6 p.m. after being stopped for a traffic violation in the area of Frederick Road in the city. He was driving Williams’ vehicle at the time of his arrest. A search warrant of the vehicle revealed several items in the car with what appeared to be blood stains on them. MSP Troopers interviewed the Baltimore officer who made the arrest, who said that Myers was acting unusual and very nervous.

Williams’ body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.  The case remains under investigation. State’s Attorney Charlie Smith asks that “anyone with information that would aid in the investigation and a prosecution of this case please come forward”

 

 

FREDERICK, MD – Frederick County ranked #4 out of all Maryland counties for highest conviction rate of DUI cases in 2017, according to newly released statistics from the National Study Center of the University of Maryland. State’s Attorney Charlie Smith reacted, “These numbers show the importance we place on making our roads safe in Frederick County. Far too many people lose loved ones to drunk driving. Our prosecutors remain committed to aggressively pursuing these cases.” The study found that in 88.57% of cases, the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office succeeded in gaining a conviction. This latest achievement follows four previous years in which the conviction rates were 85.25, 86.20, 86.32 and 87.64. In state-wide rankings, Frederick was tied for 4th in 2017, 7th, 9th, 8th and 3^rd respectively. In all, 905 people were arrested for impaired driving in Frederick County during calendar year 2017. Of those, 109 cases were either still open for one reason or another or were Abated by Death. That left a total number of net cases disposed of at 796  out of the original 905. Of the 796, there were 174 Guilty findings and an additional 531 PBJ’s for a total of 705 “positive” outcomes. For statistical purposes, a “Probation Before Judgement” was considered a conviction.