Press Releases

ARMED FUGITIVE SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING 2020 MULTI-STATE PURSUIT AND SHOTS FIRED AT POLICE

April 8, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 8, 2026

ARMED FUGITIVE SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING 2020 MULTI-STATE PURSUIT AND SHOTS FIRED AT POLICE

Frederick, MD – Today in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced 48-year old David Robert Leatherman of Hanover, Pennsylvania to 50 years with 35 active to serve in the Maryland Department of Corrections for two counts of First-Degree Assault. The Defendant was previously found guilty by way of an Alford Plea on November 7, 2025. This sentence will be served consecutively to a 8 – 16 year sentence the Defendant is currently serving in Pennsylvania for Aggravated Assault. The sentencing brings a close to a highly volatile and dangerous incident that threatened the lives of multiple law enforcement officers and civilian bystanders.

The charges stem from the events of October 19, 2020, when a multi-agency response was initiated to apprehend Leatherman, who was wanted for Attempted Murder in York County, PA. Operating a stolen white 2007 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, Leatherman fled an attempted traffic stop by the Cumberland Township Police Department (CTPD) in Pennsylvania.

The pursuit crossed into Frederick County, Maryland, reaching speeds in excess of 120 MPH. During the chase, Leatherman engaged in highly dangerous evasive maneuvers across local roadways, open fields, and residential properties.

The situation escalated to lethal force when Leatherman re-entered Rt. 15 Northbound. As CTPD Chief Don Boehs maneuvered his vehicle in front of the suspect to slow the pursuit, Leatherman fired multiple gunshots at the Chief. Chief Boehs avoided injury, though his patrol vehicle sustained disabling damage. Shortly after, Leatherman intentionally drove his vehicle off the roadway at extremely high speeds directly toward Trooper Andrew Haun of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) who was attempting to deploy a tire deflation device. The Trooper narrowly escaped being struck.

The vehicle was ultimately disabled by stop sticks on Rt. 15 near the Rt. 140 intersection. Leatherman and his passenger, Bryan Selmer, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Leatherman fled toward 47 Park Drive, running directly at two juvenile bystanders while Selmer fled toward downtown Emmitsburg. Following a chaotic foot pursuit down an embankment, Leatherman was tackled and taken into custody by a responding officer. Selmer was shot and killed by police after taking up a shooter’s stance at the pursuing officers in the vicinity of the Sunoco located at 110 Silo Hill Road. Investigators recovered a loaded black Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun discarded in the grass near the disabled truck.

Judge Martz-Fisher addressed the Defendant prior to handing down the sentence saying, “I don’t believe you have any remorse. I see no basis upon which you are safe in our community.”

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Leatherman is a menace to society. He had utter disregard for police, citizens, and even children who were playing in the area. He intentionally jeopardized their safety in his effort to avoid taking responsibility for his crimes. Fortunately, he is now responsible for serving 35 years in prison.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation with all standard conditions. Special conditions include no contact with the Pennsylvania State Trooper nor the former Pennsylvania Police Chief assaulted by the Defendant during the incident.

Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis and Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Slattery represented the State of Maryland. The successful apprehension and subsequent prosecution were the result of a coordinated effort by the Cumberland Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Liberty Township Police, Penn Township Police Department, and the Frederick 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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INTERCEPT TASK FORCE WELCOMES VISIT FROM ICAC PIONEERS AS FREDERICK INCREASES ITS RESOURCES TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN CYBERSPACE AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

March 31, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 31, 2026

INTERCEPT TASK FORCE WELCOMES VISIT FROM ICAC PIONEERS

AS FREDERICK INCREASES ITS RESOURCES TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN CYBERSPACE AND COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Frederick, MD – Members of the original ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force (est. 1998, Maryland State Police Frederick Barrack) visited Frederick County’s INTERCEPT Task Force (Inter-agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking), est. 2023. The Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force, supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and Office for Victims of Crime, is a multi-disciplinary initiative designed to combat human trafficking through coordinated prevention, victim support, and prosecutorial strategies. The Frederick County ECM Task Force joins law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and community partners in a united effort to eliminate human trafficking from the region.

The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a federally funded project designed to respond to and investigate complaints of online sexual child exploitation. The ICAC Task Force consists of law enforcement agencies from around the State and receives over 2,600 cyber tips annually.

Maryland State Police launched the initiative in 1998 and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office established its ICAC Task Force in 1999, trying their first case in the same year. The first two counties in Maryland to establish ICAC were Frederick and Carroll and Frederick’s ICAC was one of the first 20 ICACs in the nation. MSP asked Charlie Smith to pioneer and lead the ICAC Task Force in Frederick to include: MSP Lt Barry Lease, MSP Sgt Rob Smolick, MSP CPl Dave Brauning, FCSO DFC Mike Sabol, CCSO DFC Brad Brown, U.S. Customs Gus Aquino, and U.S. Postal Inspector Keith Hayden. Lt. Barry Lease, a computer crimes investigator, acquired the OJJDP Grant in 1999 to establish the ICAC Task Force.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “In the early days, we recognized that successful investigations would rise or fall on prosecutorial understanding of digital evidence. Frederick County took the lead on developing search warrant templates for computers, establishing protocols for handling electronic evidence, and educating other prosecutors on emerging issues like IP tracing and file recovery.

People were using AOL chat rooms and peer-to-peer file sharing to commit crimes against children. Investigators—many without prior cyber experience—had to quickly learn digital forensics, undercover online operations, and the mechanics of internet communication. Limited technology and slow forensic tools created significant backlogs, while legal standards for digital searches were still unsettled.

Despite these obstacles, ICAC task force members adapted and we actually successfully tried Maryland’s first Internet Child Exploitation case here in Frederick, convicting two men of abusing 5 and 7 year old girls through the early internet. We had successful partnerships with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Customs (ICE) and FBI Innocent Images. These early challenges and partnerships ultimately shaped a more sophisticated, proactive investigative model that remains in place today.”

ICAC’s MISSION: In order for children to thrive in today’s world and to compete in tomorrow’s workplace, they must be able to safely play, learn and grow in cyberspace. Challenges exist, however, the work of ICAC is a vital step in protecting children in the information age. The internet places ongoing demands on forensic resources as a result of daily software and device updates. Predators attempt to stay ahead of law enforcement, however, through the collaboration of federal, state and local task forces such as ICAC, detectives stay current on investigative techniques, evidence collection, prevention efforts and public awareness. In addition to focusing on the removal of offenders, the participating agencies engaged in community outreach efforts to educate parents and guardians about the signs of solicitation and the importance of open communication with children regarding online safety. Law enforcement encourages anyone with information related to the solicitation or exploitation of minors to contact their local authorities. This collaborative model creates a safer environment for our children and hold offenders accountable for their actions.

Frederick County’s INTERCEPT Task Force consists of The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office who partner with Operation Light Shine, a nonprofit that has provided private grant funding for proactive investigations, technology, and forensic software to help protect and rescue children and trafficking victims.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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MIDDLETOWN MAN TO SERVE 16 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR VIOLATION OF PROBATION ON OFFENSES OF SEXUAL SOLICITATION OF A MINOR, TELEPHONE MISUSE-OBSCENE PURPOSES (X2) & FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

March 27, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2026

MIDDLETOWN MAN TO SERVE 16 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR VIOLATION OF PROBATION ON OFFENSES OF SEXUAL SOLICITATION OF A MINOR, TELEPHONE MISUSE-OBSCENE PURPOSES (X2) & FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the Honorable Judge Joanie Raymond-Brubaker sentenced 48-yr-old, Eric William Diaz to serve 16 years in the Division of Corrections for a Violation of Probation on his prior offenses of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, Telephone Misuse-Obscene Purposes (x2) and Failure to Comply with the Sex Offender Registry. The Defendant violated his probation by obtaining convictions in Pennsylvania for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material. The State requested, and the Court imposed, the entire 16 years of back-up time on the Violation of Probation.

In 2011, the Defendant was convicted of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Pennsylvania. While on supervised probation and the Sex Offender Registry in Pennsylvania, the Defendant committed the following offenses in Frederick, MD in 2014: Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, Telephone Misuse-Obscene Purposes (x2) and Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registry. At the time of the Frederick incident, the Victim was 14 years-old, and the Defendant was 35. The Defendant contacted the victim through the social media platform Facebook. He sent her sexually explicit videos and images and solicited her to engage in sexual contact involving him and other children.

Following Defendant’s release in Frederick County, he received a sentence for Violation of Probation in Pennsylvania that included Work Release. While serving his Pennsylvania Work Release sentence, he was found in possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material on his phone. Subsequently, he pled guilty in Pennsylvania to six counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. These convictions served as the basis for the Violation of Probation upon which he was sentenced today.

The Defendant stipulated to Violation of Probation in Frederick, Maryland on December 19, 2025, and today, he was sentenced to the full back-up time of 16 years to be served in the Division of Corrections.

In imposing her sentence, Judge Raymond Brubaker stated, “I have to think about the safety of the community. I cannot take a chance that you will not victimize someone else.”

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “The judge saw it. ASA Pearl saw it, and now the public sees it too. These type of offenders rarely change their behavior. I sincerely believe that we stopped some child from being abused in the future because we jailed this offender.”

The State was represented in the Violation of Probation 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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BALTIMORE MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE WITH 20 YEARS TO SERVE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

March 26, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 26, 2026

BALTIMORE MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE WITH 20 YEARS TO SERVE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Frederick, MD – Tuesday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Alonzo Michael Epps Jr. entered a plea of guilty to Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder. Pursuant to the agreement, the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle sentenced Mr. Epps. to Life Imprisonment with all but 20 years of active time suspended with 5 years of supervised probation upon release.

At approximately 1:32 p.m., on Jan. 10, 2024, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies responded to the 8200 block of Crum Road, Walkersville, Maryland, for the report of a suspicious vehicle in a field. The caller reported that the vehicle had its flashers on and had been there since 7 a.m.

Upon responding, deputies located a 2003 Toyota Sequoia in a field approximately 650 feet off the roadway with mud and blood on the exterior. Deputies determined the vehicle was registered to Brice Wendell Boots, age 66, of Pikesville, Maryland. Deputies found Mr. Boots deceased inside the vehicle with multiple blunt and sharp force injuries and immediately established a crime scene at the location.

Detectives responded to Boots’ residence in Pikesville on the evening of Jan. 10, to locate next of kin. While in the area, they learned from neighbors that Boots’ estranged wife, Frances Virginia Hamilton, was observed at Boots’ residence the evening prior. One of the neighbors observed two males there with Ms. Hamilton believed to be her nephews. One of these individuals was later determined to be Alonzo Michael Epps, Jr. and the other Keon Wilson-Hawkins. Detectives further learned that Mr. Boots and Ms. Hamilton were going through a contentious divorce and that Boots had expressed fear for his safety from Hamilton on prior occasions.

A search of Boots’ residence was conducted during the early morning hours of January 11^th. During the search, deputies observed evidence consistent with a physical altercation occurring within the home and Mr. Boots being forcibly abducted.

A post-mortem examination of Mr. Boots was conducted by the Officer of the Chief Medical Examiner. Mr. Boots’ death was ruled a homicide.

Historical cellular phone records for Boots, Hamilton, and Wilson-Hawkins were obtained and analyzed with the assistance of the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST). The records show that Boots, Hamilton, and Wilson-Hawkins were at Boots’ residence on the evening of Jan. 9, through the early morning hours of Jan. 10. Boots and Wilson-Hawkins’ cellular devices departed the residence at approximately 4:37 a.m. on Jan. 10^th and traveled via interstate 70 toward Frederick. Their devices arrived in the 8200 block of Crum Road around 6:20 a.m. Wilson-Hawkins’ device departed the 8200 block of Crum Road at approximately 6:30 a.m. and traveled back to his home in west Baltimore.

Wilson-Hawkins’ DNA was found on a bloody glove recovered from the crime scene on Crum Road.

Wilson-Hawkins stood trial in Frederick County Circuit Court in July of 2025 before the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle and was found guilty by a jury of First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Carjacking. Mr. Wilson-Hawkins was subsequently sentenced to Life Imprisonment with 85 years to serve.

Hamilton committed suicide on February 24^th, 2024, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland prior to being arrested.

The evidence against Mr. Epps indicated that he was a knowing and willing participant in the initial assault of Mr. Boots within the home and that he agreed to provide further assistance to Ms. Hamilton and Mr. Wilson-Hawkins in their efforts in carrying out the murder.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Alonzo Epps made a deliberate choice to participate in a violent and calculated conspiracy that began with an assault in the victim’s home and ended in his death. This plea both spares the family from the hardship of a trial and ensures that Epps is held accountable for his role in this brutal crime.”

Mr. Boots’ friends and family, who were in agreement with the plea, expressed during sentencing that “Brice was a kind man and a loyal friend. He was a gentle soul and always helped his neighbors. These actions were an attack on all who loved Brice.”

Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis and Deputy State’s Attorney Joyce King represented the State of Maryland. The investigation was led by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office with assistance provided by the Frederick City Police Department and FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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FREDERICK MAN FOUND GUILTY AFTER TRIAL OF ATTEMPTED THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE, ATTEMPTED FOURTH-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE, SECOND-DEGREE ASSAULT, AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT BY A FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

March 25, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 25, 2026

FREDERICK MAN FOUND GUILTY AFTER TRIAL OF ATTEMPTED THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE, ATTEMPTED FOURTH-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE, SECOND-DEGREE ASSAULT, AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT BY A FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

Frederick, MD – On Monday, March 23, 2026, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher found 36-year old John David Hawk guilty of Attempted Third-Degree Sex Offense, Attempted Fourth-Degree Sex Offense, Second-Degree Assault, and False Imprisonment after a four-day bench trial.

On March 6, 2024, at approximately 6:30 pm, National Park Service Rangers, Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Maryland State Police responded to a report of an assault of a woman on the Canal Towpath Trail near Point of Rocks in Frederick, MD. The victim, who was located after a 40-minute search hiding in the woods, advised that she was jogging on the canal towpath trail when, just before sunset, she was tackled to the ground by a male subject. The attacker pushed her down onto her stomach, covered her mouth and nose with his hand, and used his bodyweight to pin her to the ground. The attacker then attempted to move her off the towpath towards the water. The victim was able to escape during the struggle, fled on foot, and used her Apple watch to call 911. The victim had various injuries she sustained from the attack. Officers were able to locate the area of the towpath where the attack occurred which was approximately .37 miles from the parking lot. The victim advised that she observed the attacker standing near a vehicle in the parking lot area when she first arrived for her jog. The victim participated in a forensic interview with a composite sketch artist with the United States Secret Service where she was able to provide a detailed description of the attacker. The National Park Service put out a public press release shortly after the incident in an attempt to identify the attacker and, with the assistance of the FBI and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, obtained all cell tower records from the cell phone tower closest to the area of the crime scene preserving all cellular phone data transmitted during the date and time of the incident.

On June 29, 2024, the Defendant was arrested for indecent exposure by the Frederick City Police Department in the area of 750 Carroll Pkwy. A cell phone was seized from the Defendant as part of that arrest. The arresting officer later became aware of the National Park Service’s press release for the March 6^th incident and contacted the special agent assigned to the investigation in September of 2024 to advise that the Defendant matched the description contained in the press release. The Frederick City Officer was provided with a copy of the composite sketch for review and confirmed that the Defendant appeared to be the attacker. The Frederick City Police Department obtained call detail records for the Defendant’s phone and forwarded them to the National Park Service and FBI. The FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team analyzed the records and determined that the cell phone seized from the Defendant on June 29, 2024 was in the area of the Point of Rocks Canal Towpath Trail during the time period when the victim was attacked. The records further indicated that the Defendant appeared to have lied in wait in a remote area of the trail for at least 47 minutes while the victim was jogging, before attacking her as she passed by. A photo array was conducted with the victim on February 28, 2025, wherein she positively identified the Defendant as her attacker.

On March 10, 2025, a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office detective and a special agent with the FBI Baltimore Field Office traveled to South Carolina in an attempt to locate and facilitate the arrest of the Defendant. The Defendant was located and arrested without incident in cooperation with the Florence County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office. The Defendant was later extradited back to Maryland for trial.

After issuing the verdict, the Court ordered the Defendant continue to be held without bond until sentencing.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “This was a calculated and violent attack on a woman simply enjoying a public trail in our community. Because she fought back, sought help, and stood firm through a lengthy investigation and trial, justice has been achieved. Our office will continue to prioritize the safety of our community and stand with victims of violent crime. We will not tolerate predatory behavior, and we will pursue those who commit these offenses wherever they go.

I want to commend Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis, the National Park Service, the FBI and its Cellular Analysis Survey Team, the United States Secret Service, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick City Police Department, Maryland State Police, and our partners in South Carolina for their extraordinary collaboration. Their ability to combine traditional police work with advanced technology ensured this predator was identified, apprehended, and held accountable.”

Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis represented the State of Maryland. The investigation was led by the National Park Service with assistance provided by the FBI – Baltimore Field Office, FBI CAST, United States Secret Service, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick City Police Department, Maryland State Police, and Florence County South Carolina 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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THURMONT MAN TO SERVE 19 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR USE OF PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGE ANOTHER TO COMMIT A SEXUAL CRIME; VIOLATION OF PROBATION

March 20, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 20, 2026

THURMONT MAN TO SERVE 19 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR USE OF PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGE ANOTHER TO COMMIT A SEXUAL CRIME; VIOLATION OF PROBATION

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced 44-year-old John P. Davis to 20 years in the Department of Corrections, with all but 10 years suspended following a guilty plea for Use of Personal Identifying Information to Encourage Another to Commit a Sexual Crime. The Defendant will receive credit for 221 days already served. The Defendant was also sentenced to 10 years to be served consecutively for violating his probation. The Defendant was on probation for assaulting the same victim and received credit for 461 days already served.

In January 2024, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Deputies investigated fraudulent Craigslist posts that had been made advertising the victim for sexual services. The victim reported to police that the Defendant created two Craigslist posts which impersonated her and encouraged anyone interested to come to her home “anytime” and have sex with her for money. These posts included photos of her face, her full name, her age, her home address, and her phone number. The posts were paid for with the Defendant’s credit card. The victim received numerous harassing text messages and phone calls from individuals who expressed interest in her advertised “services.” A witness provided Ring video to the police which showed the Defendant confessing that he had made the posts.

The Victim Impact Statement was read by Assistant State’s Attorney, Carly Gibson. The Victim expressed concern that though the posts had been removed from Craigslist, her information and images may still be on the internet somewhere. She also detailed her concern for the safety of her child, saying “The postings could have resulted in any type of criminal coming to my home.”

During sentencing, Judge Martz-Fisher stated: “This is hideous. You need a significant change in whatever it is your mindset is…. The public is not safe with you walking the streets.”

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “No one should have to live in fear because someone chose to misuse technology to target them. The defendant’s actions invaded the victim’s privacy, dignity, and sense of safety. The sentence imposed today reflects the gravity of that behavior and our commitment to protecting members of this community from exploitation and intimidation.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation with all standard conditions. Special conditions include no contact with the victim, psychological counseling, mental health treatment and a psycho-sexual evaluation.

Assistant State’s Attorney Carly Gibson represented the State of Maryland. The case was investigated by the Frederick 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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FREDERICK MAN TO 30 YEARS WITH 12 YEARS AND 296 DAYS TO BE SERVED IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND POSSESSION OF A LOADED HAND-GUN

March 2, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 2, 2026

FREDERICK MAN TO 30 YEARS WITH 12 YEARS AND 296 DAYS TO BE SERVED IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, FIRST-DEGREE ASSAULT AND POSSESSION OF A LOADED HAND-GUN

Frederick, MD – On February 24, 2026, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Julia A. Minner sentenced 29-year-old Nyzeir Tacwon Sampson to 30 years with twelve years and 296 days to be served in the Division of Corrections for Attempted Second-Degree Murder, First-Degree Assault and Possession of a Loaded Hand-Gun. The Defendant entered a binding plea before Judge Minner and will receive 296 days of credit for time served from his initial incarceration date of May 5, 2025.

On April 28, 2025, at approximately 3:15 pm, Frederick Police responded to the area of Hope Circle for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police observed multiple subjects congregating in the circle to include the Defendant. When asked about the reported shooting, the group advised they did not hear or see anything. Police canvassed the area for evidence and found cartridge cases and a broken window with obvious bullet damage at Peace and Plenty located at 601 E. South Street. No individuals were injured. Officers on scene briefly interacted with the Defendant while the evidence was being collected.

Later at approximately 6:40 pm, police were dispatched to Windsor Garden Apartments at 1109 Key Parkway for a second shooting. Police found victim #1 in the parking lot of the complex. Victim #2 was located at Frederick Health Hospital, after flagging down an ambulance. Both male victims had sustained multiple gun shot wounds and were flown to R Adams Crowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, MD. Both victims were completely uncooperative with the police from the outset of the investigation and refused to provide any information relevant to the incident.

Police reviewed video surveillance from Windsor Garden Apartments which showed a black Jeep Wrangler pull into the complex at 6:34 pm driven by a black male wearing a kelly green hat and construction style reflective vest. The vehicle is seen slowing down and the driver engaging in a verbal exchange with the victims. The driver is then seen sticking a handgun out of the driver side window and firing multiple rounds striking both victims before exiting the parking lot.

Detectives with the Frederick City Police Department immediately recognized the driver’s clothing as being consistent with what officers observed the Defendant to be wearing earlier that day in the area of Hope Circle. A records check was done of the Defendant revealing that he had been previously stopped by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic infraction in a black jeep wrangler registered to his girlfriend. Body-worn camera footage from the traffic stop was obtained which revealed the black jeep from the stop to be the same vehicle involved in the shooting. Detectives next obtained additional surveillance footage from the area of Hope Circle which captured the Defendant operating the black jeep wrangler earlier that day while wearing a kelly green john deer hat and construction style reflective vest identical to what was seen worn by the shooter in the Windsor Garden Apartment surveillance footage.

The Defendant was on supervised probation in Washington County for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery at the time of this incident. The Defendant faces up 10 years of incarceration, in addition to the sentence he received in this case, for his violation of probation.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “This is a great outcome for the community especially in light of the uncooperative nature of the victims. It shows the resilience of police and prosecutors to remove a serious threat to public safety like this defendant.”

Upon release, the Defendant will be placed on five years of supervised probation with all standard conditions. Special conditions will include no contact with the victims, drug and alcohol evaluation, and the prohibition from returning to Windsor Garden Apartments.

Chief Counsel, Ricky Lewis, represented the State of Maryland. The investigation was completed by the Frederick City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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NATIONAL PROSECUTOR’S DAY 2026

February 5, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

Today is National Prosecutor’s Day, and we are proud to recognize the important work prosecutors do every day to protect public safety and support victims.

This week, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith and Deputy State’s Attorney Joyce King joined State’s Attorneys Ivan Bates, John McCarthy and Rich Gibson at the National District Attorneys Association Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. Together, they met with Maryland’s Senators Amy Klobuchar, Angela Alsobrooks, Chris Van Hollen and Representatives to discuss legislative priorities impacting communities across our state.

These priorities include:
• Strengthening recruitment and retention of prosecutors
• Ensuring stable funding for victim services (VOCA)
• Combating fentanyl and illicit drug trafficking
• Addressing organized retail crime
• Enhancing protections for children online, including emerging threats involving AI

We appreciate the collaboration across jurisdictions and the opportunity to advocate for policies that strengthen the justice system and keep our communities safe.

NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY STATE’S ATTORNEY JOYCE R. KING SWORN-IN, JANUARY 5, 2026 IN THE FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

January 5, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 5, 2026

NEWLY APPOINTED DEPUTY STATE’S ATTORNEY JOYCE R. KING SWORN-IN,

JANUARY 5, 2026 IN THE FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

Frederick, MD – Today, January 5, 2026, State’s Attorney Charlie Smith appointed Joyce R. King as the new Deputy State’s Attorney of Frederick County, Maryland. She was duly sworn in before a packed courtroom of elected officials, co-workers and friends.

Earning her Juris Doctor from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C., as well as her undergraduate degrees from George Washington University and American University: Women in Politics Institute, Ms. King joined the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office’s in 2013 and served as Chief Counsel since 2018. Recently appointed Commissioner for the Maryland Commission for Women this year, Ms. King has also received recognition in 2025 for:

National Filipino American Lawyers Association, Attorney of the Year, 2025

George Washington University, Elizabeth J. Somers Alumni Award, 2025

Frederick County Commission for Women, Woman of the Year, 2025

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Visionary Award, 2025

Ms. King has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and pioneered Frederick County’s INTERCEPT (Inter-agency Child Exploitation and Person Trafficking) Task Force in 2023. In addition, Ms. King also serves as the Legislative Co-Chair of the Maryland Human Trafficking Taskforce, sits on the advisory board for the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, is a board-member of the National District Attorney’s Association (NDAA) and serves on the Maryland State’s Attorneys Association Legistlative Committee.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “Joyce is an exceptional lawyer and leader, who will continue the tradition of great Deputy State’s Attorneys here in Frederick County. I am blessed to have her as my second-in-command.”

A member of the Maryland State Bar since 2012, Ms. King began her service to Maryland under the Honorable Judge John W. Debelius in the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville, MD.

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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BALTIMORE MAN TO SERVE 85 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND CARJACKING

January 2, 2026/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 2, 2026

BALTIMORE MAN TO SERVE 85 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND CARJACKING

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, the State requested Life without Parole. After conducting a full sentencing hearing, the Honorable Judge Scott Rolle ordered 20-year-old Keon Naki Wilson-Hawkins to serve Life, suspend all but 65 Years for First-Degree Murder and 20 years consecutive for Kidnapping. In addition, the Defendant is ordered to serve 10 years, concurrently for Carjacking. The Defendant was found guilty by a jury on all counts on July 9, 2025 in the Frederick County Circuit Court under the supervision of Judge Rolle.

At approximately 1:32 p.m., on Jan. 10, 2024, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputies responded to the 8200 block of Crum Road, Walkersville, Maryland, for the report of a suspicious vehicle in a field. The caller reported that the vehicle had its flashers on and had been there since 7 a.m.

Upon responding, deputies located a 2003 Toyota Sequoia in a field approximately 650 feet off the roadway with mud and blood on the exterior. Deputies determined the vehicle was registered to Brice Wendell Boots, age 66, of Pikesville, Maryland. Deputies found Boots deceased inside the vehicle and immediately established a crime scene at the location.

Detectives responded to Boots’ residence in Pikesville on the evening of Jan. 10, to locate next of kin. While in the area, they learned from neighbors that Boots’ estranged wife, Frances Virginia Hamilton, was observed at Boots’ residence the evening prior. One of the neighbors observed two male there and believed him to be her nephews. One of the nephews was later identified as Keon Wilson-Hawkins. Detectives further learned that Boots and Hamilton were going through contentious divorce and that Boots had expressed fear for his safety from Hamilton on prior occasions.

A search of Boots’ residence was conducted on Jan. 11, and deputies observed evidence consistent with a physical altercation occurring within the home and Boots being forcibly abducted.

Detectives obtained surveillance video from a business near Boots’ residence which captured Hamilton and Keon Wilson-Hawkins travelling in the same vehicle to Boots’ residence on the evening of January 9.

Historical cellular phone records for Boots, Hamilton, and Wilson-Hawkins were obtained and analyzed with the assistance of the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST). The records show that Boots, Hamilton, and Wilson-Hawkins were at Boots’ residence on the evening of Jan. 9, through the early morning hours of Jan. 10. Boots and Wilson-Hawkins then depart the residence at approximately 4:37 a.m. on Jan. 10, and travel via interstate 70 toward Frederick. Boots and Wilson-Hawkins arrive in the 8200 block of Crum Road around 6:20 a.m. Wilson-Hawkins departs the 8200 block of Crum Road at approximately 6:30 a.m. and travels back to his home in west Baltimore.

Hamilton was found deceased on Feb. 24, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Her cause of death was ruled a suicide.

The grand jury for Frederick County returned an indictment on March 8, charging Keon Wilson-Hawkins with First Degree Murder, Conspiracy First Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Carjacking.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “A lot of effort by the prosecution went into this conviction and sentencing. It was a great deal of evidence. While 85 years is a lengthy sentence, the family and prosecutors were hoping for a LWOP sentence. Now, the family will have to endure this Defendant getting a ‘Second Look’ to seek a sentence reduction after serving only 20 years.”

The victim’s cousin described how this crime affected her family telling the court, “My cousin Brice cared deeply for his family and friends. He was brutally taken away from us and we are left with a deep emptiness. The brutal way he was taken will forever be burned into our memories.”

Chief Counsel Ricky Lewis and Deputy State’s Attorney Joyce King 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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BALTIMORE MAN TO SERVE 85 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND CARJACKING

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