FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED FOR ARMED CARJACKING, ARMED ROBBERY AND FIREARM DISCHARGE INCIDENTS IN THE CITY OF FREDERICK

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Titus Lamont Diggs Jr, age 20, of Frederick was sentenced by Judge Scott Rolle to a combined 40 years suspending all but 20 years active incarceration. Diggs entered a guilty plea May 31st, 2022 to Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, Assault, Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Loaded Handgun on Person.

 

These charges stem from four separate incidents in the City of Frederick.

 

On December 2, 2020, officers with the Frederick Police Department were notified that two men were being treated at Frederick Health Hospital for injuries to their face and head. The victims had communicated via Snapchat with the defendant about purchasing a Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vape cartridge. When the victims met the defendant in the 600 block of N. Bentz Street in Frederick, the defendant brandished a handgun, struck both victims with the handgun multiple times, and proceeded to rob the victims of two phones and approximately $200 in currency.

 

March 30, 2021, Frederick Police responded to Klinehart’s Alley and W. 6th Street for the report of a firearm discharge. A second firearm discharge was reported on April 5, 2021 in between the 500 and 600 block of N. Bentz Street.

 

On April 18, 2021, officers with the Frederick Police Department were dispatched to the 200 block of E. 4th Street for the report of an armed carjacking. The 84-year-old female victim was retrieving her purse from the back seat of her car when the defendant walked up brandishing a handgun at his side. The defendant demanded that she hand over her car keys and proceeded to drive off with her car. Diggs was found in possession of the stolen Chevy Malibu the following day by Baltimore County Police and subsequently arrested. When officers searched the car, they found a Ruger LCP .380 handgun and ammunition.  The shell casings from the gun discharges on March 30 and April 5 matched the gun recovered from him on April 19. Additionally, Diggs was identified through video and cell phone records as the shooter.

 

Frederick Police Department Detectives Sean McKinney, Kyrie Yackovich, and Stephen Radtke investigated the cases. The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorneys Rebecca Clinton and Kyle Kane.

 

The investigation leading to the arrest and indictments of Diggs was a coordinated effort led by the Frederick Police Department in consultation with the State’s Attorney’s Office 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 interagency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer.

 

Titus Lamont Diggs Jr.

 

 

 

IJAMSVILLE MAN SENTENCED IN 2020 CHILD ABUSE CASE

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, David Glenn Hunley, age 33, of Ijamsville, MD was sentenced by Judge Julie Stevenson Solt to a total of forty years suspend all but fifteen years of active incarceration. Hunley must also serve five years of supervised probation following his release from the Division of Corrections. The State had requested that the defendant receive a top-of-the-guidelines sentence of twenty-five years in prison. Hunley entered an Alford plea to charges of 1st and 2nd degree child abuse on October 19, 2021. An Alford plea is a type of guilty plea whereby the defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges that evidence presented by the prosecution would be likely to persuade a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

On January 6, 2020, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies along with Emergency Medical Services personnel were dispatched to a residence in the 10500 block of Cook Brothers Road in Ijamsville for the report of an infant in cardiac arrest. The defendant made a call to 911 stating that he found his infant son “pale and blue” and began performing CPR. The infant was initially transported by ambulance to Frederick Health Hospital and later by helicopter to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Through extensive investigation, consultation with treating physicians and interviews, detectives determined that the infant’s injuries were consistent with physical abuse, including severe head trauma. Investigators believe that the child sustained broken ribs from abuse on a date prior to January 6th. The charges of 2nd degree child abuse stem from that incident. The defendant was the only person with care and custody of the infant during the timeline in which these injuries occurred. “This was no accident.  He deserved a substantial sentence for what was done to this child”, said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. Doctors believe the child will continue to suffer serious developmental issues as the result of his injuries. At the age of two, he is still unable to walk, unable to eat whole food, and suffers from frequent seizures.

 

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorneys Tammy Leache and Lindsey Carpenter.

David Glenn Hunley

Frederick Man Enters Guilty Plea, Sentenced For 2019 Murder

FREDERICK, MD –This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Ryan David Bretzfelder, age 46, of Frederick, entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder and was sentenced in the May 2019 death of Devon Jamel Wallace. In a binding plea agreement reached between the State, Defense and Judge, Judge Julia A. Martz-Fisher sentenced Bretzfelder to life suspend all but fifty (50) years in the Division of Corrections. Upon release from incarceration, Bretzfelder must serve five years of supervised probation including all standard conditions, education, evaluation, and testing for substance abuse, abstain from alcohol and controlled dangerous substances and abusive use and illegal possession of prescription drugs, random drug and alcohol testing, mental health evaluation and any treatment as directed, have no contact with the victim’s family and stay away from their residences and places of employment, and undergo GPS monitoring. The binding nature of the plea agreement means that the sentence can not be modified unless all parties agree.

 

On the morning of May 2, 2019, deputies with the Jefferson County, WV Sheriff’s Office located the body of 24-year-old Virginia resident Devon Jamel Wallace in a field near the 4300 block of Summit Point Road near Charles Town, WV. Investigators immediately started working to identify the man, the circumstances of his death, and how his body ended up in that location. Once detectives identified Wallace, they discovered that he had used a cellular messaging application via a WiFi connection registered to the defendant’s address on Wilcox Court in Frederick. The investigation also revealed that a female named Samantha Guthrie was in a relationship with Mr. Wallace, and on the evening of May 1, 2019, the two, along with Ms. Guthrie’s toddler, traveled to Frederick to visit her friend, Ryan Bretzfelder.

 

Detectives learned that on the evening of May 1st while at the home on Wilcox Court, Guthrie and Wallace began to argue and the argument started to become physical. Mr. Bretzfelder, who had known Ms. Guthrie for years, then attacked Mr. Wallace. Mr. Bretzfelder subsequently admitted to police that “he snapped” and beat Wallace with a BBQ grill brush, his fists, and then finally struck the victim multiple times in the head with a large rock from the backyard. Later that night, Bretzfelder and Guthrie traveled to West Virginia and disposed of Wallace’s body. The autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in West Virginia concluded that Mr. Wallace died of multiple skull fractures.

 

 

Ms. Guthrie previously plead guilty to being an accessory after the fact to first degree murder.

 

Several members of the victim’s family attended the plea and sentencing. Ms. Renee Webb, the victim’s mother, Ms. Delese Adon, the mother of the victim’s child, and Mr. Jonathan Rhock, the victim’s cousin, all addressed the Court at sentencing.

 

J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County, noted “It has been three years since this brutal murder occurred; three long years for the family of Devon Wallace to endure to get to this day. We are pleased that they are pleased with this substantial sentence. We wanted to provide as much certainty and closure as possible for the family. We thank them for their patience and grace throughout this process.”

 

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorneys Colleen Swanson and Lindsey Carpenter.

 

Ryan David Bretzfelder

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update On March 18, 2022 Deputy-Involved Shooting Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2022

 

 

Ref:     3/18/22 Officer-Involved Shooting in a/o of 6970 Rooks Court, Frederick, MD 21701

 

 

The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and other evidence collected in the March 18, 2022 police-involved shooting involving DFC Christian Lucente in the area of 6970 Rooks Court.  After reviewing all evidence and consulting with the investigators assigned to this incident, my office has concluded that the use of deadly force by DFC Christian Lucente against Lookman-Khalil Bello was necessary and proportional.  Therefore, it was legally justified under Maryland law given the standard set by the United States Supreme Court case of Graham v. Connor.   As a result, it is our opinion that DFC Lucente did not commit a crime and therefore no charges will be placed against DFC Lucente.  We do not opine on lesser conduct and this opinion does not preclude any administrative actions that may be taken by Internal Affairs.

As Lookman-Khalil Bello has pending criminal charges against him, it is the policy of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office not to release any evidence, including the body worn camera footage, nor provide further comment at this time.  The decision to not release evidence, including any verbal or non-verbal statements therein, being used against the Defendant at trial is governed by the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 19-303.6 and Rule 19-303.8 (e), which state in part:

(e) except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor’s action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, [prosecutors shall] refrain from making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused and exercise reasonable care to prevent an employee or other person under the control of the prosecutor in a criminal case from making an extrajudicial statement that the prosecutor would be prohibited from making under Rule 19-303.6.

A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate. This responsibility carries with it specific obligations to see that the defendant is accorded procedural justice and that guilt is decided upon the basis of sufficient evidence.  The potential impact of pretrial publicity on a pending prosecution must be balanced against the public’s interest in transparency and police accountability.  It is our duty to consider the due process rights of the accused when deciding whether to release, or to advise police departments to release, body-worn camera footage pre-trial.  With that said, the existing rules and law prioritize the functioning of our justice system over the public’s right and demand to immediately see and hear the evidence in any case.

This decision to not release certain evidence at this time is merely temporary.  In all police-involved shootings a full declination report disclosing and detailing all the evidence, including body worn camera footage, and the decision-making process as it relates to the use of force will be released by our office upon the conclusion of the pending criminal prosecution.

 

 

Respectfully,

J. Charles Smith III

State’s Attorney

 

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED FOR 2019 RAPE OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Willian Alexander Reyes-Reyes, age 29, of Frederick was sentenced to twenty years suspend all but ten years in the Division of Corrections for 2nd Degree Rape. In December 2021, a Frederick jury found Reyes-Reyes guilty of 2nd degree rape, 3rd degree sex offense, and 2nd degree assault. In sentencing, charges of 3rd degree sex offense and 2nd degree assault merge with 2nd degree rape. Upon release, Judge Theresa Adams ordered that Reyes-Reyes serve five years of supervised probation, register as a Tier-3 sex offender, have no contact with the victim or females under age 16, submit to the COMET program, and follow all recommendations by the court and probation agent.

 

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “The sentence was the maximum under the sentencing guidelines, and he deserved it.  Frederick is very fortunate to have an SVU prosecution team who aggressively seeks justice for these victims.”

 

 

On October 11, 2019, officers with the Frederick Police Department responded to an apartment on Waverly Drive in Frederick. Officers spoke with an adult female who advised her 14-year-old daughter said she was raped the day prior, October 10, 2019. Investigators learned that the victim had been hanging out with a group of friends in the woods behind the Elmwood Terrace Apartments on the evening of October 10th. The defendant, who was known to the victim, was also with the group. When the victim went to leave the group and go home, the Defendant insisted upon walking her home.  Once away from the group, he told her he was lost and told her to sit down while he tried to figure out where they were.  As soon as she sat down, he attacked her.

 

The SVU Prosecution team consisted of Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Leache, Investigator Jimmy Simms, Victim Witness Coordinators Beth Hubble and Kim Murdock, and Legal Associate Melanie Sokolovich.

 

Willian Alexander Reyes-Reyes

MIDDLETOWN MAN ENTERS GUILTY PLEA, SENTENCED IN WIFE’S 2020 MURDER

FREDERICK, MD –    This afternoon in Frederick County Circuit Court, Thomas Anthony Lehan, age 39, of Middletown, MD was sentenced to life suspend all but fifty (50) years in the Division of Corrections for first-degree murder. Following Lehan’s guilty plea, Judge Julia A. Martz-Fisher sentenced Lehan according to the terms agreed upon between the State and defense.

 

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “Domestic violence homicides are heinous enough on their own, but when you add that it was committed in front of a child it is particularly egregious.  Justice was served by this 50-year sentence. But more importantly, the family now has peace and certainty in the outcome and they were extremely relieved.”

 

On March 22, 2020, deputies with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 200 block of Broad Street in Middletown for a missing persons report. The defendant initially told investigators that his wife, Kathleen (Katie) Lehan, had left their home because she “needed air” and walked out the front door. He stated that he took their young son in the car to search remote places in the area for her. He finally contacted 911 at the advice of family. Over the course of the week of March 22, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office searched for Katie Lehan in the days she was reported missing and conducted interviews and investigation of the Defendant. On March 26, 2020, the defendant confessed to his father-in-law that he had strangled his wife. Later that day, Lehan told investigators the location of the victim’s body. Lehan admitted to strangling Katie Lehan inside their residence on Sunday, March 22, 2020. The defendant also admitted to leaving the victim’s body along Lambs Knoll Road and returning on March 23rd to move the body to a creek bed in an area between Burkittsville and Brunswick in Frederick County.

 

The State was represented by State’s Attorney Charlie Smith and Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Clinton.

Thomas Anthony Lehan

FINAL DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN 2020 WATERSIDE HOMICIDE

FREDERICK, MD – This afternoon in Frederick County Circuit Court, Jordan Burris Hooks, age 29, of Frederick was sentenced to thirty years with all but eight and a half years of that sentence suspended and to be served in the Division of Corrections. Hooks will receive credit for the time he has served since his arrest on the charges in this case. Hooks was convicted in a November 2021 jury trial of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, and accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder. Judge Julia A. Martz-Fisher also ordered that Hooks complete three years of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service following his release.

 

On September 6, 2020, Frederick County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a walking path behind the Waterside Community in Frederick for the report of a person suffering from head trauma. Passersby discovered the victim and called 911. The victim, Jaemari Anderson, was transported to Baltimore’s R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center by Maryland State Police helicopter. A short time later, Anderson was pronounced dead. Investigators determined that the victim was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head.

 

After extensive investigation, detectives learned that Jordan Hooks and his co-defendants Brian Braheem Henry and Daniel Alonzo Flythe were gathered at the Hooks residence in Waterside on the night of September 6th. After a verbal dispute between Hooks and Anderson, Anderson, Hooks, Flythe, and Henry left the residence and walked down to the walking path. According to testimony, believing he was about to get into a fight, Anderson turned to hand Flythe his eyeglasses, but instead was shot once in the head at close range by Flythe.

 

On January 10, 2022, Flythe reached a plea agreement and was sentenced to life suspend all but forty (40) years active in the Division of Corrections for first-degree murder. Brian Henry plead guilty to accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder and was sentenced February 10, 2022 to ten (10) years in the Division of Corrections.

 

“We are immensely grateful to our prosecution team and the FCSO investigators who poured countless hours into seeking justice for Jaemari and his family. While this third and final sentencing cannot bring back this beloved young man in the Waterside community, we hope that his family can finally feel some closure,” said State’s Attorney’s Office spokesperson Will Cockey.

 

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Shoemaker and Timothy Gilbert.

 

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FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS 20 YEARS FOR JUNE 2020 BALLENGER CREEK MURDER

FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, Richard Eugene Cartnail III, age 18, of Frederick was sentenced to life plus twenty (20) years in prison for the June 2020 murder of 17 year-old Ty’Kerria Katherine Dawson. Cartnail received two concurrent life sentences for 1st Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit 1st degree murder. He also received a consecutive twenty (20) year sentence for Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Finally, he received a concurrent five (5) year sentence for Minor in Possession of a Regulated Firearm. Judge Scott Rolle ordered that Cartnail be transferred to the Division of Corrections immediately. A Frederick jury found the defendant guilty of those offenses in a December 2021 trial.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “The Defendant acted senselessly and has an utter lack of remorse. He deserves this sentence. This was a cold and calculated murder, and the manipulation of individuals around him was also egregious. This sentence sends a message that those who commit horrific acts of violence will be removed from the public for a long, long time.”

At approximately 5:10 PM on June 27th, 2020, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a wooded area at the end of Briargrove Court in Frederick for the report of a deceased person. Officials found 17-year-old Ty’Kerria Katherine Dawson of Hagerstown, MD deceased near a creek bed. First responders received a 911 call from a local resident who was out for a walk in the wooded area and discovered the victim’s body. During the course of the investigation, detectives found several .45 caliber shell casings at the scene and clothing later tested for DNA, among other physical evidence. Investigators learned that Cartnail and the victim had been in a relationship and that Cartnail had detailed a plan to kill Dawson. Dawson travelled to Cartnail’s residence in the late hours of June 26, 2020. Shortly after her arrival, she and the defendant walked from Cartnail’s residence to a nearby wooded area where a female juvenile co-defendant was waiting with a bag containing a handgun and a change of clothes. Cartnail retrieved the gun from the bag and shortly thereafter shot the victim three times in the head.

 

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorneys Laura Wilt and Rebecca Clinton.

 

Richard Eugene Cartnail III

STATEMENT FROM STATE’S ATTORNEY CHARLIE SMITH ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2022 FREDERICK POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING

“The State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the body-worn camera footage, witness statements, and the physical evidence collected from last Friday’s police-involved shooting.  After reviewing all evidence and consulting with the investigators from the Maryland State Police assigned to this incident, my office has concluded that the use of deadly force by Officers Kristen Kowalsky and Bryan Snyder against Dominique Lamar Lewis was necessary and proportional.  Therefore, it was legally justified under Maryland law and the standard put forth by the United States Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor.   As a result, no charges will be placed against the officers.

 

As Dominique Lewis has pending criminal charges against him including the attempted 1st-degree murder of two law enforcement officers, we are unable to release the videos or provide further comment at this time.  As done in previous police-involved shootings, a full declination report detailing the evidence and the decision-making process as it relates to the use of force will be released by our office upon the conclusion of the criminal case.  Given the specific facts of this case, the decision to not release the videos is compelled by the rules of ethics, specifically Rule 19-303.8, which details the special responsibilities of a prosecutor as it relates to extrajudicial statements concerning pending criminal matters.

 

Mr. Lewis is expected to have a bond review in the Frederick County District Court upon his release from the hospital.”

 

 

 – J. Charles Smith III

State’s Attorney

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

JANUARY IS NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH
1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men will experience stalking in their lifetimes.
COMMON STALKING TACTICS INCLUDE:
– Unwanted phone calls
– Unwanted emails, instant messages, text messages, voice –
messages, or social media messages
– Approaching a victim or showing up unwanted, such as at the
victim’s home, workplace, or school
– Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to
find
– Watching, following, or tracking a victim
– Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare
the victim or let them know the perpetrator had been there.
LOCAL AND NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS:
Heartly House (Frederick) – 24 Hour Hotline – 301-662-8800
Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 En Español
The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)