Chris Lee Myers Indicted by Frederick Grand Jury

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FREDERICK, MD – Chris Lee Myers, 39, of Jefferson, Maryland was indicted by the Frederick County Grand Jury on one count of 1st Degree Murder in the homicide of his girlfriend. Myers waived his right to a bond review on May 3rd, and is currently being held at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center without bond. “Grand Jury is just the first step in the process of pursuing justice for this horrible domestic violence homicide. We are continuing our investigation, and I look forward to proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” stated State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.

Relatives of the victim, identified as Heather Caitlin Williams, 24, of Jefferson, Maryland, reported her missing at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 1st, when she did not arrive at her relatives’ residence as expected. 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. Her relatives entered the home, and found Ms. Williams deceased inside the residence with evidence of substantial head injury.

Myers, who shared a residence with the victim, was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday May 1st after being stopped for a traffic violation 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. The items presumptively tested positive for blood. The Victim’s cell phone and purse were also found in the vehicle.

Williams’ body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where an autopsy was performed and will determine the manner of death.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is urging anyone with information concerning the events or the parties to contact the Maryland State Police, Frederick Barrack.

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.

UPDATE: Dr. Ernesto Torres Out on Bond

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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.

Grand Jury Indicts Frederick Pediatrician, Dr. Ernesto Torres

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FREDERICK, MD – On April 26, 2019, the Frederick Police Department began an investigation into the allegations that a Frederick Pediatrician, Dr. Ernesto Torres, sexually assaulted an 18-year-old female during an examination at his medical practice. Charges were recommended to the States Attorney’s Office which was then presented to the Grand Jury on May 3, 2019. The Grand Jury found there was sufficient evidence to charge Dr. Ernesto Torres with 2nd Degree Rape, 2nd Degree Assault, and 4th Degree Sex Offense.

Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued for Dr, Ernesto Torres, age 68, of Frederick, Maryland. On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at 7:30 am, Dr. Torres was arrested at his residence, 7600 block of San Di Gan Drive, Frederick, Maryland and transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center where he is being held awaiting an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

We understand that this is an emotional incident that not only affects the victim in this case but also patients and families entrusted to his care. Both the States Attorney’s Office and the Frederick Police Department would like to commend the victim for coming forward in this case.

There is no information to indicate that there are additional victims, but we would encourage parents to please talk to your children about body boundaries and safety. 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 Heartly House and the Child Advocacy Center. Additionally, the Frederick Police Department’s Victim Services Unit will be available to provide support. To contact the unit, please call (301) 600-1356.

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.

 

Jefferson Homicide Suspect Held Without Bond

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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”

 

 

Rudolph Smith Indicted For Additional Victims

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FREDERICK- The Frederick County Grand Jury returned additional indictments against Rudolph Jericho Smith, age 36, of Frederick. The indictments were filed in Circuit Court and allege Three Counts of First Degree Assault, Three Counts of Reckless Endangerment, and Three Counts of Knowingly Attempting to Transmit HIV. These charges stem from disclosures of three additional victims made following an initial indictment that was filed April 5, 2019. State’s Attorney Charlie Smith continues to encourage anyone with information to come forward stating “this conduct is malicious and will obviously have a lifelong impact on the lives of these women.”
The Frederick Police Department began an investigation into Rudolph Smith during the summer of 2017, when separate women disclosed their belief that Rudolph Smith had infected them with HIV. Considerable time in the investigation was spent trying to determine whether or not Mr. Smith was HIV positive, and whether he was aware of that fact. It was eventually established that Rudolph Smith was aware that he was HIV-positive.
After several conversations with Mr. Smith, the Frederick Police Department executed a search warrant for Mr. Smith’s blood, and confirmed with him that he was HIV positive. Following that conversation, the Department became aware that the Defendant continued to meet women on dating sites and have unprotected sexual relations with them without disclosing his diagnosis.
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 COUNTY SEES 88.57% DUI CONVICTION RATE IN 2017

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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 3rd 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.

Mongolian Delegation Visits SAO

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The Frederick State’s Attorney’s Office was honored to host a delegation from Mongolia today. The group came as part of the IJET program. The International Justice Sector Education and Training (IJET) Fellowship is a program that brings small groups of justice sector professionals to the U.S. for month long programs to empower them to become agents of change in their countries. State’s Attorney Charlie Smith and Chief Counsel Joyce King covered many topics including specialty courts, sentencing guidelines, plea negotiations, and structure of a State’s Attorney’s office.

Computer-Generated Child Pornography Bill Signed

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Yesterday in Annapolis, Gov. Larry Hogan signed SB 736/HB1027. The new legislation is a “prohibition against possessing, distributing, and creating child pornography; prohibiting a person from knowingly possessing and intentionally retaining a certain representation showing a computer-generated image that is indistinguishable from an actual and identifiable child under the age of 16 years portrayed in a certain manner; defining “indistinguishable from an actual child”; and applying certain penalties. The new legislation expands the current child porn laws to include the prohibition of child erotica.

This bill was formulated as a direct response to the growing issue of computer-generated child pornography in recent years.

Chief Counsel for the Frederick SAO, Joyce King, played an integral role in helping to shape this piece of legislation. She joined legislators yesterday for the bill signing.

Photo Courtesy: Executive Office of the Governor

Melvin Alfaro Sentenced to 7 Years For 1st Degree Assault

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FREDERICK-  Melvin Alfaro, 35, of Frederick, MD was sentenced today by the Honorable Theresa Adams for violently beating his fiancé in June of 2018. He pled guilty in January, 2019 to the sole count of 1st degree assault. He was sentenced today to 25 years, suspending all but 7 years in the Division of Correction. Upon his release, he will be on 5 years of supervised probation.

On June 24, 2018, Frederick City Police were called to the 1800 Blk. of Pinecroft Court for a domestic assault. They encountered the Victim with significant injuries to her face and body. Mr. Alfaro, her fiancé, was identified as her attacker. The Defendant admitted to the police that he had assaulted her because he felt that she had ‘disrespected him.’

The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office encourages anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help, if you are in immediate danger, dial 911. For additional help and resources, contact Heartly House at 301-662-8800. Heartly House provides comprehensive services for victims and survivors of intimate partner abuse, rape/sexual assault, and child abuse.

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney Brett Engler.

Monrovia Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

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FREDERICK- Joshua David Scalera, 36, of Monrovia, MD pled guilty on April 22nd to 4 counts of possession of child pornography. The charges came as the result of the execution of a search and seizure warrant in early 2018. He received a total sentence of 20 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections, with all but 18 months suspended. Prior to this offense, the defendant had no criminal record. In favor of the suspended portion of the sentence, the defendant was put on 3 years of supervised probation, and ordered to continue counseling and required by statute to register as a sex offender for 15 years. The investigation began in 2016 by the Maryland State Police following a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.