PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 7, 2024

Home Healthcare Worker Found Guilty of 1^st Degree Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, Resulting in Catastrophic Physical Injury

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Emmanuel Olaeken Owoyeye, 49, was ordered to serve twelve months in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center with another nine years suspended. That sentence begins today. Owoyeye was found guilty of 1^st Degree Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult following a bench trial before the Honorable William R. Nicklas on May 28, 2024.

On August 4, 2023, a resident of an apartment complex in Frederick was walking his dog when he saw a man lying on the ground beneath an open third-story window.  Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies and EMS responded. It was determined that the 55-year-old victim was a vulnerable adult as a result of his diagnoses of Down Syndrome and dementia.  A deputy went to the victim’s apartment and notified the Defendant, the victim’s caregiver, that the victim was on the ground.  The Defendant admitted to the deputy that he had not checked on the victim for over three and a half hours. The victim was in his bedroom with the door closed, while the Defendant remained in the living room.  While the victim was unsupervised, he removed the screen from his bedroom window and jumped out, falling three stories.  Because the victim was known to try to get out of the apartment through the balcony or the front door, the Defendant was instructed by his supervisors that he was required to have the victim in line of sight when the victim was awake and to check on him periodically if he was sleeping.  The Defendant, who was paid to care for the victim, failed to supervise the victim as required.   The victim was transported by Trooper 3 to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore.  As a result of the injuries sustained in the fall from the window, the victim is confined to a wheelchair and will not be able to live outside of a nursing home setting.

Upon release, the Defendant will serve 5 years of probation.   The first three years of probation are to be supervised, and the last two years are unsupervised.  All standard conditions apply. As a condition of his probation, the Defendant may not work with vulnerable adults or children.

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney, Erin Pearl, Special Victims Unit.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2024

Frederick Woman Convicted of 2^nd-Degree Child Abuse and 2^nd-Degree Assault, Bond Revoked

FREDERICK, Md. – Friday night, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Ana Cecilia Gonzalez, 50, was found guilty of 2^nd-Degree Child Abuse and 2^nd Degree Assault following a two-day bench trial presided over by Judge Julia Martz-Fisher.

In July 2023, at an elementary school in Frederick County, the minor victim told a teacher, a school counselor, and a school resource officer that she did not feel safe, and that Gonzalez hit her and verbally abused her on a regular basis. Following the disclosure by the child, an investigation was conducted by Child Protective Services and the Frederick Police Department.

Bond was revoked after the guilty finding, and Gonzalez will remain incarcerated at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center until sentencing.

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney, Erin Pearl, Special Victims Unit.

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

FREDERICK, Md. (May 8, 2024)

Baltimore Man Held Without Bond Today for 1st-Degree Murder, Conspiracy 1st-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Carjacking.

Today in Frederick County Circuit Court, Alonzo Michael Epps Jr., charged with First Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Kidnapping and Carjacking, appeared for a bond hearing and was ordered held without bond in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center pending trial.

The grand jury for Frederick County returned an original indictment on May 2, 2024 for the above charges against Alonzo Michael Epps Jr. for his role in the murder of Brice Wendell Boots.

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

April 3, 2024

Walkersville Man to Serve 30 Days in Jail for Two Felony Counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty

Frederick, Maryland – Anthony Houston Smith, II was sentenced to six years, suspending all but 30 days in jail (to be served by spending ten consecutive weekends in jail), this morning in the Frederick County Circuit Court by Judge Julie Solt for two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

On February 11, 2023, a Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to a call at 8313 Water Street Road in Walkersville,  describing “dogs being starved and possibly dead on the property.”  Animal Control was then called to the scene and subsequently searched the property after receiving permission from the owner, Anthony Houston Smith, II.  Upon searching the property, authorities found five dogs which appeared to be starved and struggling for water.  An additional three dogs were found deceased on the property. Two of the three deceased dogs were found discarded in trash bags.  Of the five surviving dogs, four dogs were taken to a shelter and one dog was immediately taken to a veterinarian for treatment.

In May, 2023, the defendant was charged with 23 counts of animal cruelty.  In August, 2023, the case was moved up to the Circuit Court by way of a Criminal Information filed by the State.  The defendant entered an Alford plea to two counts of Felony Aggravated Animal Cruelty on January 29, 2024 and was subsequently found guilty on both counts. The defendant also received three years of supervised probation, with the following special conditions:  1) do not acquire any additional pets, 2) compliance checks to be done by animal control, and 3) enroll into any other programs recommended by supervising agent.

Assistant State’s Attorney, Robert McCall represented the State.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Communications Specialist

JRottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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