FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

Robinson-Clipper to Serve 15 Years

FREDERICK – Justyn Robinson-Clipper, age 23, of Frederick, Maryland appeared before the Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher in the Circuit Court for Frederick County and entered an Alford plea to Distribution of Heroin. The Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in the Division of Correction, with all but 15 years suspended. An Alford plea is a guilty plea whereby a defendant does not admit to the criminal conduct but admits the State has enough evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case began as a death investigation by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office when Alyssa Honaker, 17, was found deceased in her bed on June 4, 2016. An autopsy would show that she died of narcotic (free morphine) intoxication, complicating acute asthma and that she had consumed heroin prior to death.

A small package of heroin was found under her mattress and investigators took possession of her cellphone. A search of the cellphone revealed a number of messages beginning in the afternoon of June 3 and continuing into the morning of June 4 between Ms. Honaker and the Defendant – her neighbor. Numerous messages related to the sale and distribution of heroin from the Defendant to Ms. Honaker were discovered. Over the course of hours the details of the transaction were discussed and finalized. Notably, a price of $60 was agreed to and Ms. Honaker’s mother revealed that exact amount of cash was missing from Ms. Honaker’s room.

A statement from a witness who was with the Defendant as emergency personnel were across the street at Ms. Honaker’s house was presented during the plea. The Defendant told this witness that he sold Ms. Honaker $60 of heroin the night before.

Part of the plea agreement provided for Alyssa Honaker’s mother Shannon Stanley—a vocal community presence in battling the opioid epidemic—to speak at sentencing. Ms. Stanley spoke about her daughter’s life and about addiction. She asked the court to hold people accountable for their actions.

The State was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle Kane.

J. Charles Smith, III
State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland