Press Releases

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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FREDERICK MAN TO SERVE 25 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (x4) AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE

December 30, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 23, 2025

FREDERICK MAN TO SERVE 25 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (x4) AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE

Frederick, MD – Yesterday afternoon, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Joanie Raymond-Brubaker followed the State’s recommendation and ordered 64-year old Wendell Thomas to serve a sentence of 50 years with all but 25 years suspended in the Division of Corrections for Production of Child Pornography (x4) and Third-Degree Sex Offense. The Defendant pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025 in the Frederick County Circuit Court.

On January 2, 2025, officers with the Frederick Police Department responded for a report of a missing juvenile who was located. Police made contact with a 15 year old female who reported that the 64-year old Defendant had provided marijuana to her, raped her and forced her to take cocaine. She reported that the defendant had previously sexually assaulted her on several occasions over the past nine months at the Defendant’s residence and had taken pictures and videos of her naked body. Police transported the victim to Frederick Health Hospital for a SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic) Exam. During a search warrant on the Defendant’s residence, detectives seized the Defendant’s cellphone. A search of the Defendant’s phone yielded multiple images of child sexual abuse material of the minor victim.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “This is just evil. We can only hope this young victim can heal and find a path forward after this man goes to prison for his horrific crimes. Chief ASA Carpenter and others in our offices will continue to seek very lengthy sentences for those who offend against our children.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve 5 years of supervised probation through the Sex Offender Management Team with the special conditions of no contact with the victim, no contact with minor children, internet monitoring, polygraph testing and GPS monitoring. The Defendant must register as a Tier II Sex Offender for 25 years.

Chief 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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Charlie Smith spoke with WJZ-13 Baltimore’s Mike Hellgren about the Torres Sentencing

December 9, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

FORMER FREDERICK, MD PEDIATRICIAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE (X3)

December 8, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 8, 2025

FORMER FREDERICK, MD PEDIATRICIAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE (X3)

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge William R. Nicklas sentenced 74-year-old Ernesto Cesar Torres, of Frederick, MD to serve 30 years in the Division of Corrections for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and three counts of Third-Degree Sex Offense. The Defendant, a former pediatrician in Frederick County, MD, faced over 97 criminal charges of sexually abusing dozens of his juvenile patients, spanning four decades. The Court ordered the indictment be severed by victim and the state proceeded on Count Twenty-Four, Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Counts Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven, Sexual Offense in the Third Degree, representing three years of sexual abuse from age 9-11. On March 20, 2025, a Frederick County Circuit Court jury found the Defendant guilty on all counts for victim M.H. The Defendant will received credit for 2,087 days served in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.

On May 7, 2019, Frederick Police received a call from the mother of an 11-year-old victim, to report that her child had been sexually abused by the Defendant during a pediatric exam in his office. The mother told police she brought her child to Torres to treat a mild skin condition, but that her child told her mother Torres made her uncomfortable by placing his hand down her pants and touching her “down there.” In addition, the child described Torres’ rubbing her stomach repeatedly and kissing her. The victim told her parents that she felt uncomfortable, so the family changed pediatric practices. FPD contacted Child Protective Services and the Child Advocacy Center who conducted a forensic interview with the victim. The victim revealed in a forensic interview that the Defendant slide his hands down her pants and rub the child’s vaginal area with his palm and fingers. The Defendant was subsequently arrested at his medical practice.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “This is truly a story of perseverance both by the victim and the prosecutors. Neither would be discouraged or dissuaded, and now this child predator will spend 25 more years in jail. What he had to say about the victims at sentencing was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever endured in a courtroom. The only thing demonic about this case is this defendant’s actions.”

At Sentencing, M.H. told the Court, “I now can’t trust male authority. My childhood was taken away from me.”

The mother of M.H. also addressed the Court stating, “For 15 years my children saw him regularly. I trusted him. I had no idea what my child was living through. My trust in him was shattered and I will carry this pain for the rest of my life; I still carry the guilt.”

Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation including COMET supervision and all standard conditions. Special conditions include, Tier III Sex Offender registration, no contact with the victims or their families and lifetime sex offender supervision on the registry.

Chief Counsel Joyce King and Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Leache 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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NEW JERSEY MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER

November 20, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 20, 2025

NEW JERSEY MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER

Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Scott Rolle, ordered 48-year-old Matthew Sidney Watley, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, to serve the maximum sentence of 40 years, in the Division of Corrections for one count second-degree murder. The Defendant pleaded guilty on October 21, 2025 in Frederick County Circuit Court. The Defendant will receive credit for time served starting September 24, 2023.

On September 24, 2023 at 1:31 a.m., deputies were dispatched to 5236 Intercoastal Drive in New Market, MD at the Costco Depot for a welfare check. Dispatch advised that Costco security was out with a male subject yelling and screaming at his truck, destroying its interior. Security then advised the male subject had cut himself after punching the windshield, and then proceeded to sound the horn. Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and met with Costco Security located at the entrance of the campus. Security explained that a trailer had been disengaged abruptly from its cab and had been drug for several feet. When deputies made contact with the defendant, who was operating the vehicle, they observed the driver speaking incoherently and refusing their commands to shut off the vehicle’s engine. Deputies placed stop sticks behind the rear wheels of the tractor trailer. Additional deputies arrived on scene when the defendant began driving the vehicle towards the gate house. Upon relocating the stop sticks to the front side of the tires, deputies again attempted to speak with the defendant. The defendant proceeded to run over the stop sticks and into the complex parking lot. Wheel chocks were eventually thrown under all wheels after the suspect made several additional starts and stops with the truck. Deputies were able to deflate the tires and commanded the driver to exit the vehicle, placing him in handcuffs. The driver had what appeared to be blood on his shirt, hands, and face.

Upon searching the cab of the vehicle, Deputy Storm, of the FCSO, observed a female, identified as 46-year-old Candice Thompson, also of Sicklerville, New Jersey, lying face down on the floor of the cab. Ms. Thompson was the domestic partner of the Defendant at the time of the incident. The victim appeared to have multiple stab wounds to her back. EMS arrived on scene and pronounced the victim deceased at 3:00 a.m. Candice Thompson’s body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore, Maryland. Based on the injuries observed on Candice Thompson’s body, the preliminary cause of death was identified as blunt and sharp force trauma.

The defendant, while detained, was transported to Frederick Health Hospital. Although an arrest warrant was issued for Matthew Sidney Watley for the murder of Candice Thompson, he remained at Frederick Health Hospital for medical and mental health treatment.

Detectives learned that Candice Thompson and Matthew Watley were in a dating relationship and had a history of domestic violence in New Jersey with the Winslow Township Police Department.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “What a tragic loss of life. My heart goes out to the family. Domestic violence homicides are becoming epidemic in our country. These violent offenders need to be treated harshly at the outset before they go on to take the life of their intimate partner.”

The victim’s mother addressed the Court in her Victim Impact Statement saying, “I don’t want to live after what this monster did to my daughter; he destroyed my family.”

Deputy State’s Attorney, Kirsten Brown and Chief, Violent Crimes Unit Ricky Lewis 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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DEPUTY STATE’S ATTORNEY KIRSTEN BROWN SELECTED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND STATE’S ATTORNEYS’ ASSOCIATION

November 17, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 17, 2025

DEPUTY STATE’S ATTORNEY KIRSTEN BROWN SELECTED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND STATE’S ATTORNEYS’ ASSOCIATION

CAMBRIDGE, MD – Last week, at the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association Board meeting in Cambridge, MD, Deputy State’s Attorney Kirsten Brown accepted her new position as MSAA Executive Director. The MSAA Board, consisting of 24 State’s Attorneys and five associate members, unanimously voted in favor of Brown stepping into the role. Ms. Brown, who received her 25-years of service award last month, will retire from the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office in December with nearly 27 years as a prosecutor in Frederick County.

Ms. Brown, a graduate of Linganore High School, attended college at Frostburg State University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She began her legal career as an associate attorney with Attorney Mac Kantruss of Mt. Airy, Maryland. In the summer of 1999, Ms. Brown turned her focus to criminal prosecution and joined the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office. Over her 26 years of service, Ms. Brown held the positions of Assistant State’s Attorney in District Court, Felony prosecutor with the Special Victims Unit, Chief of District Court, Chief of Violent Crimes and Deputy State’s Attorney. Ms. Brown has served as an MSAA Faculty Advisor since 2019 in the Trial Ad program and has instructed numerous classes at multiple law enforcement agencies in Maryland.

As MSAA Executive Director, Ms. Brown will support the elected State’s Attorneys across Maryland, prosecute conflict cases, develop specialized training programs for Maryland’s prosecutors, distribute statistical data involving prosecution, evaluate and approve Victim Witness Protection and Relocation Program funding and testify before Maryland legislative committees in Annapolis.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “This is a tremendous personal and professional loss for me and my Office. Kirsten has been an outstanding prosecutor and leader who has done countless good for the citizens of Frederick County. The silver lining is that she will continue her good work on a State level with MSAA.”

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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NORTH CAROLINA MAN TO SERVE 16 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION OF LARGE AMOUNT FENTANYL AND COCAINE AND IMPORTATION OF FENTANYL INTO MARYLAND

November 5, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 5, 2025

NORTH CAROLINA MAN TO SERVE 16 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION OF LARGE AMOUNT FENTANYL AND COCAINE AND IMPORTATION OF FENTANYL INTO MARYLAND

Frederick, MD – Yesterday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher sentenced 46-year old Xerxus Rashad Belvin, of Henderson, North Carolina, to an aggregate sentence of 65 years, suspending all but 16 years active incarceration in the Division of Corrections for three felony narcotics counts: Possession of Large Amount of Fentanyl, Possession of Large Amount Cocaine, and Importing Fentanyl into the State of Maryland. The sentence was agreed upon by the State, the Court, and the Defense, and thus cannot be modified without the State’s consent. The sentence was structured consecutively, with the Defendant having to serve 20 years, suspend all but 8 years on the large amount fentanyl count, then a consecutive 20 year sentence, suspend all but 8 years on the large amount cocaine count. The first 5 years of each of those sentences are to be served without the possibility of parole, for a total of 10 years to be served without parole. The Court suspended in its entirety 25 years on the importation charge. The Defendant also forfeited $3,818 to the use of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigations Section. The Defendant will be on 5 years of supervised probation upon release. The Defendant pleaded guilty and will serve the agreed-upon sentence with credit for time served starting on April 25, 2025.

The sentence achieved is significantly above the sentencing guidelines for these offenses, which was 5 years to 8 years incarceration.

On, April 25, 2025 at approximately 1:15 a.m., a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting routine patrol in the area of Spectrum Drive and MD-85 when he observed a white BMW bearing Georgia registration, repeatedly entering and exiting Route 15. The deputy ultimately made contact with the driver, identified by his North Carolina identification card as Xerxus Rashad Belvin. The deputy observed the Defendant shaking, sweating and unable to stay still in the vehicle. The vehicle was registered to a friend of the Defendant. The Defendant told the deputy that he was traveling from North Carolina to Pennsylvania. The deputy observed a large, wrapped package in the rear seat of the vehicle. When asked what is was, the Defendant replied, “Drugs.” The Defendant was detained. Deputies located a large amount of individually packaged “bindles” of fentanyl, with a gross weight of approximately 1,000 grams, and a large amount of cocaine with a gross weight of approximately 500 grams. Deputies also found U.S. currency totaling $3,818.00 on the Defendant’s person. The Defendant was transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “The length of this sentence, particularly the portion to be served without the possibility of parole, should be a warning to anyone who seeks to use our highways to traffic these dangerous substances. We will hold you accountable.”

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Swanson, of the Narcotics Unit, 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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MT AIRY MAN TO SERVE 44 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, VIOLATION OF PROBATION

October 29, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 29, 2025

MT AIRY MAN TO SERVE 44 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, VIOLATION OF PROBATION

FREDERICK, MD – Yesterday, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Terrance McGann sentenced 42-year old, Gary Michael Gouge to an aggregate sentence of 44 years in the Division of Corrections for First Degree Assault and a Violation of Probation for a previous First Degree Assault. He was found guilty following a jury trial on July 31, 2025. The State had requested a sentence of 54 years.

On January 16, 2025, a Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the address of 4504 Buffalo Road for a domestic in progress. The caller told 911 that her sister was at the location and was possibly being assaulted by her boyfriend, Gary Gouge. Upon arrival, the Deputy could hear the female screaming inside the residence. Once inside, the Deputy observed the female hysterically crying, shaking and saying that the Defendant, whom she had been dating for a few weeks, picked her up at her home in earlier that day, and brought her to his house to discuss relationship issues. The Defendant became very angry, cursing at her, grabbing her and threatening her. The Defendant then slammed the Victim into a wall. He strangled her and pulled a knife out of his pocket and threatened to kill her and her children. The Defendant told police he was terrified to see them because he was recently released from prison for a previous domestic assault and was released in May 2023. He then attempted to blame the Victim and he changed his story several times.

In 2017, the Defendant strangled another girlfriend, held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her after accusing her of cheating. In 2013, he assaulted his prior wife, after accusing her of cheating. He had been released early over the State’s objection in 2023.

The Victim from the most recent case addressed the Court in her Victim Impact Statement saying, “The day I almost lost my life is the only date I now remember. On that day, the Defendant took my breath; today with my breath, I get to tell him, I am taking my life back.”

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Abusers who strangle are telling the victim that they can kill them. Strangulation increases the likelihood of future homicide. Abusers who violate their probation by abusing a partner again are the worst of the worst. This Offender had two prior victims, and with this sentence, he will be appropriately behind bars–unable to hurt another woman for a very long time.”

Chief Domestic Violence Unit Brett Engler 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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BRETT ENGLER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHIEF, APPOINTED TO DISTRICT COURT BENCH

October 27, 2025/in Press Release/by Jacqueline Rottmann

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 27, 2025

BRETT ENGLER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHIEF, APPOINTED TO DISTRICT COURT BENCH

ANNAPOLIS, MD – On October 27, 2025, Domestic Violence Unit Chief Brett Engler was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve as a judge on the District Court for Frederick County. Brett was a career prosecutor, starting in the office in 2012, following a clerkship for the Honorable Judge Clayton Greene on the Supreme Court of Maryland. She focused her practice on combatting intimate partner violence and working to prevent domestic violence homicide. She chaired the Frederick County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) and the Frederick County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT), each of which bring together criminal justice and community stakeholders to improve the County’s domestic violence response. Additionally, Brett also served on the Legal Committee for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Maryland’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Statewide Implementation Team (MD-DVRSIT). She won numerous awards for her contributions to the field, including the 2023 Morton Bard Allied Professional Award from the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) and a 2025 Purple Ribbon Award for Legal Advocate of the Year from Alliance for Hope International.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Brett is a sharp, intelligent, and dedicated lawyer. She and the DV Unit staff have saved the lives of countless victims and advanced the County’s domestic violence response along with our community partners. Her appointment to the bench is a natural progression in her commitment to our community. I will really miss her in my Office, but we will carry on the critical work of high-level domestic violence prosecution and community engagement as she ascends the bench.”

https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/Governor-Moore-Announces-Judicial-Appointments-for-Baltimore-and-Frederick-Counties.aspx

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Rottmann

Court Media Relations Officer

301-600-2972

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, Maryland 21701

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

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 MAN TO SERVE 25 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (x4) AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE

Charlie Smith spoke with WJZ-13 Baltimore’s Mike Hellgren about the Torres Sentencing

FORMER FREDERICK, MD PEDIATRICIAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE (X3)

NEW JERSEY MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER

DEPUTY STATE’S ATTORNEY KIRSTEN BROWN SELECTED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND STATE’S ATTORNEYS’ ASSOCIATION

NORTH CAROLINA MAN TO SERVE 16 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR POSSESSION OF LARGE AMOUNT FENTANYL AND COCAINE AND IMPORTATION OF FENTANYL INTO MARYLAND

MT AIRY MAN TO SERVE 44 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, VIOLATION OF PROBATION

BRETT ENGLER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHIEF, APPOINTED TO DISTRICT COURT BENCH

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