Press Releases

Domestic Violence Unit Chief, Brett Engler Awarded

2025 Purple Ribbon Medal for Legal Advocate of the Year

May 22, 2025

Frederick, MD – DomesticShelters.org announced Chief, Domestic Violence Unit, Brett Engler, as one of their 42 winners, nationwide, of the 2025 Purple Ribbon Awards.  ASA Engler was chosen and judged by a national panel of leading professionals from across the domestic violence field.  2025 marks the fifth year of the Purple Ribbon Awards, presented by Alliance for HOPE International, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates DomesticShelters.org.

Launched in 2021, The Purple Ribbon Awards are the most comprehensive awards program honoring the countless hope-givers of the domestic violence movement. PRA winners include domestic violence advocates, programs, shelters, organizations, survivors and members of the community support system. Nominations for the Purple Ribbon Awards are submitted from around the world.  Purple Ribbon Awards are dedicated to honoring all the compassionate efforts to help victims of domestic violence.

The busiest unit in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County, Chief Engler’s D.V. team handled over 400 District Court misdemeanor cases and over 130 Circuit Court felony cases in 2024 alone.

“Domestic violence is a global pandemic affecting millions of people and costing taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Those that step up to help those in need rarely get the recognition they deserve,” said Ashley Rumschlag, National Director of DomesticShelters.org. “The Purple Ribbon Awards celebrates the remarkable people and organizations that might otherwise go unrecognized. The awards are all about bringing hope to the hope-givers and inspiring one another to do more for survivors.”

Chief Brett Engler said, “I am so honored and thank you to the Alliance for the recognition and to Maggie Henderson, Victim Services, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, for the nomination and for being an invaluable partner in this life-saving work on behalf of victims in Frederick County.”

https://www.allianceforhope.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 15, 2025

State’s Attorney’s Office Declines Prosecution of Deputy Involved in Use of Force

Frederick, MD – The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed body worn camera footage from the May 12, 2025 officer-involved shooting pertaining to Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Gregory Morton at the 300 block of North Market Street in Frederick.    Upon reviewing the body worn camera footage and consulting with the investigators assigned to this incident, my Office has concluded that the use of deadly force by Corporal Morton against Cody Berg 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 Corporal Morton did not commit a crime and therefore, no charges will be place against Corporal Morton.  We do not opine on lesser conduct and this opinion does not preclude any administrative actions that may be taken by Internal Affairs.

As Cody Berg has pending criminal charges against him, it is the policy of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office to not 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,

Charles Smith III

State’s Attorney

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Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 9, 2025

FORMER FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD

Baltimore Maryland – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced William Joseph Murrow, 43, formerly of Frederick County, Maryland, to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child.  Upon his release from prison, Murrow must register as a sex offender for life and was ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Baltimore Field Office; J. Charles Smith, State’s Attorney for Frederick County; and Chief Jason Lando, Frederick Police Department.

According to court documents, Murrow sexually abused and exploited a minor by soliciting images and engaging in sexual acts with her.  The abuse occurred for more than 18 months, ending when the child’s mother discovered the abuse and reported it to the police.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, Frederick Police Department, and Brunswick Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce R. King who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Contact

Kevin Nash
USAMD.Press@usdoj.gov
410-209-4946

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office

jrottmann@statesattorney.us

301-600-2972

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 28, 2025

HAGERSTOWN MAN TO SERVE 20 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR AND SEX TRAFFICKING

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Judge Richard Sandy imposed the agreed-upon sentence of 35 years, suspend all but 20 years in the Division of Corrections for 57-year-old Arcelius Dunbar Lyle after his September 26, 2024 guilty plea to sex abuse of a minor and sex trafficking in Frederick, MD.

On June 29, 2023, A Multi-Agency Prostitution/Human Trafficking Operation resulted in Lyle’s arrest, based on the evidence detectives collected from the operation.  Investigation revealed that the Defendant met the victim at work and began grooming her shortly after meeting her.  The Defendant trafficked the victim for approximately 7 months prior to officers making contact with the victim.  After a bond hearing, Lyle was ordered to be held without bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victim in the trafficking case.

On July 10, 2023 Frederick County Sheriff’s Office investigators were made aware of an almost 30-minute jail call from the Defendant to the victim in the trafficking case, in which the Defendant instructed her to sexually abuse her four-year-old child.  That case was referred to Washington County, where the abuse occurred.

“Unfortunately, these cases are much more pervasive than the public realizes,” said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.  “Fortunately, Frederick County has taken the lead in developing interagency task forces to aggressively seek out these predators, and has prosecutors like ASA Carpenter that obtain lengthy sentences for these terrible offenders.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve 5 years of supervised probation with all standard conditions and special conditions, including Lifetime Sex Offender Registration and Lifetime Sex Offender Supervision.

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Special Victims Unit, Lindsey Carpenter represented the State of Maryland.

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 22, 2025

FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 10 YEARS IN THE MARYLAND DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR TWO COUNTS OF SECOND-DEGREE RAPE IN FREDERICK

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced Alan Verdeja Martinez, of Frederick, MD. Martinez entered a guilty plea to two counts of Second-Degree Rape and one count of Violation of a Protective Order on January 13, 2025. The Court followed the State’s sentencing recommendation and ordered the Defendant to serve 10 years in the Division of Corrections with an additional 30 years suspended for the two counts of Second-Degree Rape.  A conviction was also entered for one count of Violation of a Protective Order.

On July 31, 2024, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office detectives forwarded a report of a rape that occurred in Frederick, MD.  Investigation revealed the Defendant, who was 19 years old at the time of the offense,  picked the juvenile up at her parents’ residence late at night or in the middle of the night on multiple occasions and took her to his home in Frederick County for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with her.  The victim’s family obtained a protective order on behalf of their daughter, but the Defendant continued to knowingly violate the order.  Police interviewed the Defendant, and he admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim at his residence on four separate occasions.

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation.  The Defendant will have to register as a sex offender for life and be subject to lifetime sex offender supervision.

The State was represented by Erin Pearl, an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Special Victims Unit.  The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick City Police, the Department of Social Services, the Child Advocacy Center, and the Caroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland  21701

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