Ivey Watch

19 Alleged MS-13 Gang Members Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

2005-08-25T18:06:00.000-04:00

19 Alleged MS-13 Gang Members Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges: "U.S. Attorney Commends Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Cooperation

GREENBELT, Md., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Attorney for the
District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that a federal grand jury has
indicted 19 defendants for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering
enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. The indictment was returned
under seal on August 23, 2005 and was unsealed today upon the arrests of the
defendants and the execution of search warrants.
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales said, "The violent activities of MS-
13 represent a serious threat to the safety of our communities. We're going to
fight violent gangs with the same proven strategies and partnerships that have
been successful in our efforts to confront organized criminal enterprises in
the past. Our priority is to keep our neighborhoods safe and prevent the
senseless tragedies caused by street gang violence."
United States Attorney Rosenstein said, "Federal, state and local law
enforcement authorities are united in our commitment to fight gang violence in
Maryland. If you join a gang that is in the business of committing violent
crimes, you can wind up in federal prison."
Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said, "The arrests today are just the tip of
the iceberg. We will not allow violent predators to jeopardize our children
and invade our neighborhoods. ATF remains committed to our partners and
understands that working as one is critical to the continued success of our
mission."
Prince George's County Police Chief Melvin High stated, "Citizens have
been alarmed by gang activity in Prince George's County and throughout the
region. Our joint operation today assures them that we are working closely
with the ATF and all of our federal, state and local partners to identify gang
members and root them out of our community. We will use every resource at our
disposal to get criminals out."
Today's arrests and searches are the result of the ATF's Regional Anti-
Gang Enforcement ("RAGE") Task Force working jointly with the Prince George's
County Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.
The indictment alleges that the defendants were members of a violent gang
known as MS-13, with members operating in Prince George's and Montgomery
Counties. The indictment charges that MS-13 is an organized crime group that
frequently engaged in criminal activity.
The indictment alleges that from at least 2002 to August of 2005, the
defendants conspired to commit murder, kidnapping, robbery and obstruction of
justice. Specific acts of violence charged in the indictment include six
murders and six attempted murders in Maryland, as follows: the April 20, 2003
beating and murder in Langley Park of rival gang member Noel Gudiel; the
June 10, 2003 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang outside of
High Point High School in Beltsville; the November 22, 2003 stabbing and death
of Eliuth Madrigal in Silver Spring; the November 22, 2003 shooting death of
gang member Randy Calderon in Mount Ranier; the May 21, 2004 beating and
murder of Ashley Antonio Urias at the Washington National Cemetery in
Suitland; the September 17, 2004 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a
rival gang outside of a nightclub in Langley Park; the October 25, 2004
kidnapping in Adelphi of two juvenile females, resulting in the murder of one
and attempted murder of the other; the March 26, 2005 drive-by shooting in
Hyattsville resulting in the death of a juvenile male; the June 8, 2005
attempted murder of a high school student outside his home in Langley Park;
and the June 14, 2005 attempted murder of a juvenile member of a rival gang
and his friend in Silver Spring.

The following defendants are charged in the indictment:
Israel Ramos Cruz, age 28;
Jose Pena Aguilar, age 23;
Everec Alvarez Chacon, age 28;
Edgar Alberto Ayala, age 28, of Suitland;
Jorge Rigoberto Amador, age 31;
Antonio Roberto Argueta, age 25;
Walter Noel Barahona, age 21, of Hyattsville;
Nelson Bernal, age 24, of Hyattsville;
Jose Hippilito Cruz Diaz, age 26, of Lanham;
Ronaldo Diaz Vasquez, age 24, of Wheaton;
Santos Maximos Garcia, age 28;
James Guillen, age 19, of Hyattsville;
Juan Lopez, age 19, of Riverdale;
Israel Ernesto Palacios, age 28, of Silver Spring;
Franklin Mejia Molina, age 21, of Silver Spring;
Juan Carlos Moreira, age 25;
Omar Antonio Vasquez, age 27;
Oscar Ramos Velasquez, age 20, of Baltimore; and
Henry Zelaya, age 18.

Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Initial
appearances are scheduled for this afternoon beginning at 2:00 before U.S.
District Court Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by
indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later
criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rosenstein commended the hundreds of federal and
state law enforcement officers who worked together to execute the search and
arrest warrants today. Mr. Rosenstein expressed his appreciation for the
outstanding cooperation and teamwork of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, the Prince George's County Police Department, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Montgomery County Police Department,
the Howard County Police Department, the Maryland National Capital Park
Police, the Maryland State Police and the Fairfax County, Virginia Police
Department.
Mr. Rosenstein thanked Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F.
Ivey, Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler, and Fairfax
County, Virginia, Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan, Jr., for the
assistance that they and their offices provided.
Mr. Rosenstein also praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra
Wilkinson and James M. Trusty, and Prince George's County Assistant State's
Attorney Laura J. Gwinn, who are prosecuting the case.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
VICKIE E. LEDUC
(410) 209-4885"

Langley Park Reeling After Slashings of 5 Victims in 5 Days

2005-08-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

Langley Park Reeling After Slashings of 5 Victims in 5 Days: "Langley Park Reeling After Slashings of 5 Victims in 5 Days
'Horrifying' Attacks Not Connected, Police Say

By Allison Klein and Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, August 16, 2005; Page A01

On the streets of Langley Park, vendors sell $1 chunks of watermelon with your choice of salt or hot sauce. They will tell you about the drug dealing in the neighborhood, but not before their eyes dart around to see who is watching.

In a span of five days in this neighborhood, four throats were slashed, and one man's hand was nearly severed by the slice of a machete. The attacks, which have killed two men, took place within five blocks of one another, sending a shock of fear through this community.

Lazaro Escobar Cruz watches over a memorial for brother Anival Hernandez Escobar Cruz, who was killed in a knife attack last week. His body will be flown to Honduras tomorrow for burial. (By Sarah L. Voisin -- The Washington Post)

Prince George's County police are investigating the three incidents, the first of which was early Wednesday in the parking lot of a Toys R Us. Police have made no arrests and say the attacks are not connected.

"Five violent crimes in five blocks in five days. It's horrifying," said Kim Propeack, advocacy and organizing director for Casa of Maryland, a Latino community group.

Troubled by crime for years, Langley Park, a community that covers about one square mile, has been part of crime-fighting and renewal efforts by law enforcement and neighborhood groups. The densely populated, unincorporated area of Prince George's is bounded by University Boulevard, the Montgomery County line and the community of Adelphi.

Like such communities as Culmore and Baileys Crossroads in Fairfax County and Arlandria in Alexandria and Arlington, Langley Park is heavily Latino.

The 2000 Census counted 16,214 people in Langley Park, nearly 64 percent of them of Hispanic origin. Most are foreign-born, most rent and most speak Spanish or another foreign language at home. The area is also home to many other recent immigrant groups from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

"It's an extraordinary neighborhood. It also has a lot of problems. It's a large number of people packed into a very small place with relatively few government services," Propeack said.

By day, laborers can be seen in clusters on the streets looking for shade and waiting for work. Women say they won't walk to the store alone, and some won't leave their homes at night. They won't wear short skirts, they say, because the men will ask them, "How much?"

Last night, about 100 people gathered at the Langley Park Community Center to voice their anger at the crime in their area. Speaking to senior police officials and county State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D), some in the audience demanded more police foot patrols.

In recent years, immigrant advocates have created services to help the newcomers, including a medical clinic, legal aid and an employment center. Meetings about how to combat crime are held at Langley Park-McCormick Elementary School and the neighboring community center.

Neighborhood watches have been established. Pedestrian safety also has been a concern after fatal car accidents in an "international corridor" of businesses along University Boulevard, where big corporations such as Starbucks and Chevy Chase Bank are located near smaller stores with such names as Fashion La Fama, Casa Furniture and Casa Blanca Bakery.

"It's a tightly knit community," said George Catloth Jr., a parks and recreation official at the community center. "A lot of hardworking families."

One business leader said she fears that small merchants along University Boulevard and nearby streets will be hurt if Langley Park's image suffers. "I'm pretty sure they are affected by the violence because it brings negative vibes," said Rosa Amo, chairman of the Prince George's Hispanic/Latino Chamber of Commerce.

Ivey's Latino liaison spends more than half of her time in Langley Park, where the most prevalent crimes are domestic violence, burglary and assault. "Knife attacks happen often," said Ruby Stemmle, special assistant on Latino affairs for Ivey's office.

The police department does not keep statistics on knife attacks, but Stemmle said small knives and machetes are the weapons of choice for some immigrants, especially if they come from a sugar cane cutting culture.

Joseph P. O'Neill, a parks and recreation official, said the recent spate of violence in Langley Park stands out. "Is it just random?" he said. "I don't have any reason to believe they're related in any way."

Prince George's police said the only threads that connect the three knife attacks are proximity and time. They have not found a link to the increasingly violent gangs in the area.

"We had three unfortunate incidents," said Maj. Mark Magaw, district commander for the Hyattsville-Langley Park area. "We haven't found a connection."

The first three victims were attacked Wednesday in slashings that killed two men. Two days later, a 17-year-old girl was slashed in the throat outside the Langley Park Boys & Girls Club. She was in stable condition yesterday. And a few blocks away Sunday night, a man nearly lost his hand after he argued with someone who later attacked him with a machete, police said.

Talk to residents, day laborers and street vendors about the attacks, and they will repeat the same word: " mara ." That is shorthand for gangs, including the Mara Salvatrucha group that has been growing in number, violence and reputation in Prince George's, Montgomery, the District and Virginia.

People will say it in a whisper, fearing for their lives.

"They will rob you, take your money. They have a lot of power here," construction worker Alfredo Ramirez said.

Ramirez, 41, was standing yesterday on the spot where Cesar "Chapin" Mayorga, 27, was fatally slashed in the neck Wednesday while sleeping in a parking lot. Also slashed that morning were Anival Hernandez Escobar Cruz, 28, who died at the scene, and an unidentified man who survived.

Ramirez said he is bothered by the idea that the Latino community has so much high-profile crime. "All Hispanics aren't bad. A lot of us who are around are good," he said. "The Hispanics who live here, we want to have a good life."

Friends of the victims made a memorial of two wooden crosses, candles and several bouquets of flowers. A half-dozen men were drinking Corona in bottles and smoking cigarettes, their way of celebrating Mayorga's life.

His body was returned to Guatemala over the weekend for burial.

Lazaro Escobar Cruz, 25, said the body of his brother Anival would be flown to their native Honduras tomorrow for burial in a rural village south of the capital, Tegucigalpa.

Escobar said his brother is survived by their parents, seven siblings and a young son. He said the neighborhood did not seem overly hazardous when he moved there two years ago.

"You always felt a little worried," Escobar said. "But we never imagined this. It's so sad. Now we have more fears -- fears of attackers. The police need to protect the people.""

ninn.org - Firefighter Charged With Making False 911 Call

2005-08-06T17:03:00.000-04:00

ninn.org - Firefighter Charged With Making False 911 Call: "Story by: NBC 4.com

LANDOVER, Md. -- A high-ranking member of the Prince George's County Fire Department has been accused of making a fake 911 call reporting a fire.

Maj. Cornelius Jackson is charged with making a false 911 call. That call was placed while he was allegedly at the Bowie home of another fire department employee.

The June 7 call was placed by a man who called himself Lucas and was reporting a house fire in Capital Heights.

Sources said investigators are trying to determine if that call was placed so that a specific engine company would respond.

State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said the charges are serious.

"We've got dispatchers who are heavily burdened already here in the county," said State's Attorney Glenn Ivey. "We certainly don't want people making false reports. But these are just allegations in this case at this point, and we'll be taking a look to make sure it's appropriate to move forward."

Jackson has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Making a false 911 call is a misdemeanor punishable by five years in jail and a $5,000 fine."

Man Gets 32 Years In '85 Pr. George's Rape

2005-07-25T23:33:00.000-04:00

Man Gets 32 Years In '85 Pr. George's Rape: "Man Gets 32 Years In '85 Pr. George's Rape
Investigator Followed Case for 2 Decades

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 23, 2005; Page B02
Nearly 20 years after he raped a 26-year-old Temple Hills woman, beat the back of her head and then cut her throat, Theodore R. Reed stood before a judge in Upper Marlboro yesterday to face the reckoning for his crime.

Reed, now 48, pleaded guilty May 27 to attempted murder and first-degree rape for the Oct. 2, 1985, crime. Clad in an orange jail jumpsuit, Reed remained mute when Circuit Court Judge Graydon S. McKee III asked whether he had anything to say before the sentence was announced.

Prince George's County police Maj. Linda A. Dixon speaks to reporters after Reed's sentencing as State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey looks on. (By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)
McKee sentenced him to 32 years in prison, a term prosecutors and Reed's defense attorney worked out in a plea bargain. As McKee read the sentence, tears fell from Reed's eyes, said Assistant State's Attorney Donine Gaynor.

Reed's victim, now 46, stood and hugged Maj. Linda A. Dixon of the Prince George's County police, whose persistence solved the case after two decades.

"I think she's relieved that he's no longer on the street, that she or someone else can't be victimized by him," Dixon said of Reed's victim, who declined to speak to reporters. The Washington Post does not generally identify rape victims.

In the fall of 1985, Dixon was the sex crimes unit investigator who was assigned to the Temple Hills case. Because of its level of brutality, Dixon was consumed with finding the rapist and worked 20-hour days for weeks before leads dried up.

Dixon moved on to other cases and progressed up the career ladder to major, becoming the highest-ranking woman in the department.

Before she left the sex crimes squad, Dixon copied the file on the Temple Hills case -- two cardboard boxes filled with documents -- and held on to them. She kept in contact with the victim and periodically checked on possible leads.

In late 2003, Dixon ran into William F. Greene, an evidence technician who had worked on the Temple Hills case. The subject of DNA testing came up; it is a tool that was not available in 1985.

Dixon asked the county police lab to run a test on the rape evidence. In September, the lab came up with a hit: The DNA profile of the attacker matched Reed's, which was in the statewide database. Reed has spent the past 20 years in and out of jail or prison.

"The work of the major is outstanding," State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said after the sentencing. "This is like something after a TV show, that she could stick with a case for two decades."

The victim recovered from her physical wounds. She is married, has a child and lives in the Washington area, officials said. Reed got married two days after the rape, a union which ended in divorce, Dixon said.

McKee told Reed that he has the right to ask the judge to reconsider his sentence. If Reed did so, McKee said, he would sentence Reed to life in prison."

Man sentenced in 20-year-old rape case

2005-07-25T21:59:00.000-04:00

Man sentenced in 20-year-old rape case: "Man sentenced in 20-year-old rape case
E-Mail This Article

by Jill Murphy
Staff Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 25, 2005

The man who raped and attempted to kill a woman in Temple Hills almost 20 years ago was sentenced to 32 years in prison July 22.

Theodore Reed, 48, of Brooklyn Park, Md. plead guilty to charges of rape and attempted murder for attacking the 26-year-old victim while she was out walking early in October of 1985.

Investigators said after Reed brutally raped her, he riffled through her belongings and then cut her throat.

Before fleeing, Reed covered the woman’s body with her slip, according to the release from the State’s Attorney’s Office for Prince George’s County. She survived the attack, and was taken to a local hospital for emergency neck surgery.

The cold case was solved when police matched Reed’s DNA to evidence from the rape stored in the county’s DNA database.

Maj. Linda Dixon checked the DNA database every four months over the past two decades, hoping to hit on a match to finally name the violent criminal.

"Major Dixon’s hard work has paid off. She is a heroine," State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said in a statement.

Ivey also applauded the police and prosecutors for winning a conviction without putting the victim on the stand.

"This is commendable because there is no good reason to traumatize a rape and attempted murder survivor again," Ivey said."

TheWBALChannel.com - News - Newspaper Reports O'Malley Has Picked Glenn Ivey As Running Mate

2005-07-21T22:14:00.000-04:00

TheWBALChannel.com - News - Newspaper Reports O'Malley Has Picked Running Mate: "Newspaper Reports O'Malley Has Picked Running Mate
Prince George's Prosecutor To Host Baltimore Fundraiser

POSTED: 2:40 pm EDT July 21, 2005

BALTIMORE -- Published reports suggest Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley has chosen a running mate for his yet-to-be announced 2006 gubernatorial bid.

The Prince George's County Gazette reported Thursday that the county's top prosecutor, Glenn Ivey, has agreed to run on an O'Malley ticket.

According to the Gazette, the mayor and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan have quietly courted Ivey. The newspaper also reported that Duncan may also consider Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt.

The Prince George's County state's attorney is scheduled to host a fundraiser in Baltimore Thursday night, at which the Mayor is expected to appear.

WBAL-AM 1090 reporter Scott Wykoff told 11 News the mayor's campaign denied the report.

"Mayor O'Malley has met with Glenn Ivey several times and is very impressed with his record in Prince George's County," O'Malley Campaign Manager Jonathon Epstein said."

"At this stage in the campaign, the mayor is meeting with people across Maryland as he lays the groundwork to run for governor."

Epstein further explained that the mayor will likely decide upon his running mate as the campaign progresses.

"It is something that we'll focus time on when he (O'Malley) becomes an official candidate," Epstein said. "There has been no selection at this point."

Elected in 2002, Ivey formerly served as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia for four years.

The Harvard Law alum has also served as a Congressional legislative assistant. He has six children and a daughter from a previous relationship."

baltimoresun.com - College campus offers education in perseverance

2005-07-20T17:47:00.000-04:00

baltimoresun.com - College campus offers education in perseverance "baltimoresun.com - College campus offers education in perseverance: "College campus offers education in perseverance
After much debate and some opposition, Sojourner-Douglass College to open in Edgewater.

By Grant Huang
Sun Staff
Originally published July 20, 2005
After a 2 1/2 -year struggle that included a court case against its construction by local residents, Sojourner-Douglass College is finally opening its new, high-tech campus in Edgewater.

The college, headquartered in Baltimore, has had an Annapolis location for nearly 10 years, but school officials say the student body has outgrown the old facility, which consisted of a single floor in an office building on Old Solomons Island Road. That facility is now closed, and its staff has moved to the new campus, where classes are scheduled to start Monday.

"Sojourner-Douglass fills such an important niche," said Glenn F. Ivey, the state's attorney for Prince George's County. Delivering the keynote address at an appreciation luncheon as part of last week's opening celebrations, Ivey praised the school for its mission of focusing on adult education.

"Fifty-two percent of black males in Baltimore City are in jail, on parole, or on probation," he said. "If you are coming out of there, you are not going to Harvard. Harvard is not built for them, but we are."

Ivey said traditional colleges are tailored to accept recent high school graduates, but were not built for adults with kids who work full time or adults resuming their education.

"But [Sojourner-Douglass] understands if you don't get it right the first time," Ivey said. "They understand if you're figuring it out a little later than you should have."

The students understand, too - they often see the value of education more clearly than their traditional counterparts, faculty members say.

"Many American youths see college as a time to party," said Professor Henry Driver, a retired electronics engineer who teaches math, statistics, and Spanish at Sojourner-Douglass. "On the other hand, adult students are very easy to teach. The fact that they go to class after eight hours of work shows you they are dedicated, and when you have dedicated students, teaching is a joy."

The school operates on a trimester schedule that enables students to graduate in three years. Tuition for one full-time academic year is $6,190.

Built at a cost of $2.5 million, the new campus is located off Stepneys Lane near Routes 2 and 214. The one-story, 16,000- square-foot building has 12 state-of-the-art classrooms. It is expected to serve as many as 500 students.

The campus also features a library, a lounge with a skylight and multiple computer labs. There is also a day care, supervised by child care professionals, that children can attend while their parents are in class.

All of the facilities, with the exception of the day care center, can be used by area residents for free as long as it doesn't conflict with classes, said Charlestine Fairley, director of the new campus.

Some residents have been in conflict with the college. A few months after a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site in December 2002, the campus came under fire from a vocal segment of the Edgewater community.

In April 2003, members of a conservancy board representing the nearby, upscale planned community of South River Colony petitioned the county zoning office to shut down the campus.

In April last year, South River Colony's property owners association filed a lawsuit against Sojourner-Douglass, citing concerns about increased traffic in an already busy area and a 1988 covenant they had with the developer at the time as a basis for their legal argument.

The covenant states that the 5.7 acres upon which the campus stands could only be used for educational facilities "in conjunction with" the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.

At the time, supporters of the college said the complaints masked a racial motive in the opposition's desire to force a relocation of the campus. Edgewater is a predominantly white, middle-upper class area. Sojourner-Douglass is a historically black college. Sojourner-Douglass officials played down the idea of racial prejudice last week.

"I didn't give much credence to that idea when it was suggested, and I don't want the community to be polarized over this," Fairley said.

She and other school administrators have worked to address the complaints with the assistance of their developer. First, they completed a county-required traffic study, which concluded that the campus' construction would not significantly affect local traffic.

Then, to satisfy the terms of the covenant, they coordinated with the county Board of Education to make the campus facilities available for high school tutoring and outreach programs during the day, since most of the school's college courses are held in the evenings to accommodate the adult student body.""

Bladensburg man indicted in county officer's shooting death

2005-07-13T19:26:00.000-04:00

Bladensburg man indicted in county officer�s shooting death: "Bladensburg man indicted in county officer’s shooting death

by Ayesha Ahmad
Staff Writer
July 12, 2005
The Prince George’s County state’s attorney announced that the grand jury has handed down indictments against a Bladensburg man charged with the killing of a county police officer last month.

The grand jury indicted Robert Mark Billet, 43, on nine counts July 12 in the shooting death Sgt. Steven Gaughan, a 15-year veteran.

"The shooting of the sergeant is a very significant event for the county," said State' s Attorney Glenn Ivey said. "This is a police officer killed in the line of duty."

Billet is indicted on one count of murder for the killing of Gaughan; two counts of attempted murder with regard to Officers Michael Eubanks and Shawn Phoebus, who were also present at the shooting; two counts of first-degree assault; three counts of use of a handgun in commission of a felony and one count of obliterating the identification number of a firearm.

Ivey's office is still considering whether or not to push for the death penalty, he added. "We’re trying to keep it open," he said.

But Gaughan’s colleagues say they would support such an outcome, said Donnie Bell, second vice president of the county’s Fraternal Order of Police. "We’re extremely delighted that the state’s attorney is going to be prosecuting this to the fullest," Bell said. "If this case calls for the death penalty, then we would like to see that."

Bell said the FOP was particularly pleased that the indictment includes not only the killing of Gaughan but assaults on the other officers as well.

Gaughan, Eubanks and Phoebus had tried to pull over the car in which Billet was riding as a passenger for a traffic stop on Route 197 on June 21. The driver stopped the vehicle in the parking lot at Evergreens Apartments in Laurel, and Billet exited the car and fired at Gaughan as the officers pursued him.

A helicopter transported Gaughan to Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, where he died later that afternoon."

Persistence Pays For Officer in Prince George's

2005-07-02T17:18:00.000-04:00

Persistence Pays For Officer in Prince George's: "Persistence Pays For Officer in Prince George's
DNA Helps Convict Man In 1985 Rape, Stabbing

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 2, 2005; Page B01

On Oct. 2, 1985, a 26-year-old Temple Hills woman was walking to a bus stop to ride to her D.C. government job when a man forced her into some woods, raped her, beat the back of her head, then cut her throat all the way to the spine.

The woman staggered to a nearby road and flagged down a motorist, who drove her to a convenience store and called 911. She pressed a palm to her wound.

Maj. Linda A. Dixon of the Prince George's County police never gave up trying to find the man who raped and cut the throat of a Temple Hills woman in 1985. (By Tetona Dunlap -- The Washington Post)

She was determined to survive, and she did.

The horrific attack consumed Linda A. Dixon, a young Prince George's County police investigator. For months, Dixon checked leads, worked 20-hour days, seven days a week. The trail grew cold; other cases came along.

Dixon moved steadily up the career ladder, to sergeant, lieutenant, captain and finally major. She remained determined to find the Temple Hills attacker.

She did -- nearly two decades after the assault.

Dixon's persistence paid off last fall when the county police lab -- at her request -- checked DNA from the attacker against a statewide database of convicted felons. A match came up.

On May 27, Theodore R. Reed, 48, pleaded guilty in Prince George's Circuit Court to first-degree rape and attempted murder. Under the plea agreement, Reed is expected to be sentenced to 32 years in prison on July 22, prosecutors said.

"Outstanding police work," said State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

For Dixon, 49, the arrest and guilty plea were a satisfying coda to a brutal crime that burrowed itself deep into her psyche.

"It haunted me for years," said Dixon, director of the policy research, management and accreditation division and the highest-ranking woman in the department.

Dixon had said all along that if she ever solved the case, she would do a cartwheel. She was true to her word: After helping arrest Reed, "I did a cartwheel in front of the chief's office," she said.

According to Dixon, the victim was composed when she chose Reed's picture from a photo lineup but shook when she saw him in person as he pleaded guilty.

Through the state's attorney's office, the victim declined an interview request. The Washington Post generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Maj. Linda A. Dixon of the Prince George's County police never gave up trying to find the man who raped and cut the throat of a Temple Hills woman in 1985. (By Tetona Dunlap -- The Washington Post)

When the crime occurred, Dixon was in her second year with the sexual assault unit. Policing is in her blood; her father retired as an assistant chief of the D.C. police department in 1986. Dixon joined the Prince George's police force in 1977 and had seen hundreds of victims of violent crime.

Still, the brutality of the attack on the Temple Hills woman shocked her and other officers, Dixon said.

Dixon described the reaction in a 3 1/2 -page letter she wrote to Circuit Court Judge Graydon S. McKee III, who is scheduled to sentence Reed. The letter, in which Dixon urged McKee to mete out a severe sentence, marks the only time in her 28-year police career that Dixon has written to a judge.

"As the details of this heinous crime became known, the number of responding officers increased exponentially," Dixon wrote. "Within hours the number of officers who assisted in the investigation grew to over fifty."

Officers conducted roadblocks and took calls from thousands of tipsters. More than 150 possible suspects were looked at, Dixon said.

Months passed; leads dried up. Dixon said her supervisor was concerned that she was too involved in the Temple Hills case and assigned her to other investigations. Dixon moved on, but she copied the files on the Temple Hills attack, which filled two cardboard boxes.

Dixon carried the old files to each new assignment, kept in contact with the victim and periodically checked possible leads. The attack invaded her sleep; a little more than a year ago, she says, she awakened with a start, wondering whether she had run down a specific car tag number.

In late 2003, Dixon ran into an evidence technician who had worked on the Temple Hills case. The subject of DNA came up -- a tool not available in 1986. Dixon met with the victim in April 2004 and reopened the case. The county police lab ran a test on the rape evidence. In September, the lab came up with a hit: The attacker's DNA profile matched Reed's, which was in the statewide database.

Reed has spent the last 20 years in and out of incarceration. In Prince George's, he was convicted at least twice in the 1990s of trying to pass stolen checks. In Anne Arundel County, he pleaded guilty in the late 1990s to second-degree burglary and fourth-degree sex offense.

Last October, Dixon swore out a statement of charges against Reed. She joined a team of officers from the repeat offender unit when they arrested Reed at his Annapolis home Oct. 27.

Although she had not interviewed a suspect in a decade or so, Dixon interrogated Reed. A homicide detective joined her, because so many laws and rules have changed since Dixon was a detective.

Reed did not confess directly, but he did write a letter to the victim, saying: "I'm truely sorry for the pain I've put you through. . . . I am truely sorry for the misery in which you have endured."

Staff writer Eric Rich contributed to this report."

ABC 7 News - Suspect Now Facing Murder Charges

2005-06-23T22:25:00.000-04:00

ABC 7 News - Suspect Now Facing Murder Charges "ABC 7 News - Suspect Now Facing Murder Charges: "Suspect Now Facing Murder Charges
UPDATED - Wednesday June 22, 2005 6:23pm
eVideo: Billet Charged With Murder of PG Officer

Laurel, Md. (AP) - The suspected triggerman in the death of a Prince George's County police officer now faces murder charges.

Robert Mark Billett was initially charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Corporal Steve Gaughan. Those charges have since been upgraded, since Gaughan died last evening.

Major Vincent Gay, commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, says during Tuesday's shootout in Laurel, Billett was hit in the arm, leg and side.

The Department of Corrections says Billett was taken into custody Wednesday evening after being discharged from the hospital. Billett is due in court Thursday.Billett is 43, from Bladensburg, and according to Gay has several prior arrests, including drug and assault charges.

Gay says one of the officers with Gaughan recognized one of a group of men in a car and thought there actions were - as Gay puts it - "somewhat suspicious." That led to the traffic stop that ended in tragedy.

Police Chief Melvin High also says that contrary to what police reported Tuesday, Gaughan was not wearing a bulletproof vest. The chief says he doesn't know why.""

Washington Post: Loves the Ivey Probosal, Calls Jack Johnson's Plan a "Hodgepodge"

2005-06-19T08:12:00.000-04:00

Prince George's Crime: "Prince George's Crime

Saturday, June 18, 2005; Page A18

TO DEAL WITH Prince George's County's growing problem of violent crime, exemplified by 74 murders so far this year, County Executive Jack B. Johnson has put several programs in place, and State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey has offered a crime-fighting proposal as well. The rising murder rate dictates that reasonable plans be considered -- and implemented. But will they be sufficient?

Mr. Ivey has put forth a homicide-reduction proposal that draws heavily on an out-of-state solution: the so-called Boston strategy, which has been credited with dramatically reducing murders in that city. Proponents claim the most valuable component of the Boston strategy is the "call-in" program, a novel approach to intervention for parolees and probationers who, authorities believe, are engaging in violence. They are brought before a formidable lineup of police, federal agents and prosecutors and told how police are targeting and making arrests in crime hot spots. They are further informed that they are in imminent danger of prosecution, a message reinforced by displaying the mug shots and prison terms of those who didn't heed the warning.

These call-ins, which reportedly have proven effective in other cities, also provide a forum for service providers to explain what assistance is available for those who want to turn over a new leaf. That is better than learning about programs and services once in jail, as happens now. Mr. Ivey proposes to offer those who might otherwise choose violence an opportunity to change their lives right there and then. He acknowledges that not all will take advantage of it, but some will, he believes, especially when they realize how close they may come to doing hard time. The "call-in" aspect of the Boston strategy does not require new agencies or programs, Mr. Ivey said. That may be good news for an already understaffed police force, but we still believe every effort should be made to increase the number of quality officers in Prince George's, which has suffered from a shortage of police for years.

With Mr. Ivey's proposal in mind, we turn to Mr. Johnson's 18-page summary, released this week, of current and pending initiatives aimed at curbing violence and theft. Mr. Johnson asserted at a news conference that "this isn't a hodgepodge." Oh no? Listing existing programs together in one document doesn't make them less of a hodgepodge. Mr. Johnson's "initiatives" consist of different combinations of federal agencies and county departments collaborating on individual projects, rather than an overall strategy that coordinates crime-fighting efforts. Mr. Ivey proposes that top law enforcement officials working in the county meet frequently to share information and make decisions, and he suggests assembling a professional team to analyze data -- homicide and violent-crime reports, parole and probation records, and intelligence gathered by the various agencies -- on which a strategy focused on high-crime areas can be based. The puzzle pieces for attacking the Prince George's crime problem are already on the table; what is needed is someone to put them together. With bodies falling every week, this is a time for official cooperation, not competition."

Laurel Leader: PG weighs State's Attorney Glenn Ivey's proposal to reduce murder rate

2005-06-16T20:47:00.000-04:00

Laurel Leader: "News Briefs

06/16/05
PG weighs proposal to reduce murder rate

To combat Prince George's County's rising homicide rate, county State's Attorney Glenn Ivey last week proposed a homicide reduction plan modeled after a plan first used in Boston.

Part of Ivey's proposal would use federal, county and municipal law enforcement agencies to target identified groups of offenders. When a member of that group commits a crime, each group member involved in illegal activity is targeted for maximum prosecution, thus increasing pressure to avoid illegal activity.

The so-called Boston Strategy has been used in other cities, including Washington, D.C., and "has worked very well to reduce homicides," Ivey said. He said he has discussed the plan with County Executive Jack Johnson and was hopeful Johnson would support it.

Johnson spokesman John Erzen said many aspects of the Boston Strategy already are used in Prince George's County, including a violent crime task force and an auto theft prevention task force.

Johnson was scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss ways of reducing crime in the county.

Through last week, 74 homicides had been reported in Prince George's County, 18 more than at the same time last year."

7-year term for marital sex assault in US : Glenn Ivey Makes the Hindustan Times

2005-06-12T16:03:00.000-04:00

7-year term for marital sex assault in US : HindustanTimes.com: "Seven-year term for marital sex assault in US

Press Trust of India
Washington, June 12, 2005
In the first such conviction in the country, a US court has sentenced a man to seven years in prison for marital sex assault.

Valentine Selwyn Boston (41), a resident of Prince Georges County in Maryland, was sentenced to seven years jail term for the crime by Circuit Court Judge Sean D Wallace.

Boston's wife, mother of a 10-month-old daughter, told the court that she was attacked by him on November 4.

The victim testified that she and her husband were going through marital difficulties. She had obtained a protective order that allowed him to stay in the same house so long as he was not violent.

But on the night of the assault, he choked her and threatened her with a knife and she submitted. The prosecutor said that if she had not submitted under threat, Boston would have been prosecuted for rape instead of sex assault and sentenced to a longer term.

Prince Georges County Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said: "I think Judge Wallace sent a very strong and clear message with this sentence. I hope that this will be a deterrent for this kind of spousal abuse in the future."

The conviction was welcomed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence"

Summer times - The Washington Times: Family Times - June 12, 2005

2005-06-12T15:57:00.000-04:00

Summer times - The Washington Times: Family Times - June 12, 2005: "Summer times

By Gabriella Boston
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Denise Candell doesn't mind that her teenage daughter, Sarah, stays up way past midnight during the summer. However, she wants the 16-year old to be a night owl at home -- not out with her boyfriend or gal pals.
"There's so much out there. Too much can happen," says Mrs. Candell, of Arnold, Md. "There's drugs, driving too fast, driving under the influence. ... The chances of being in an accident at night are much greater."
Mrs. Candell and her husband, Michael Candell, don't have an explicit curfew for Sarah, but the teen knows they want her home around midnight, and she doesn't question it.

"I think it's fine. I'd rather have their trust and not have to call in every five minutes," Sarah says.
Enforcing curfews in the summer can be tough on parents, though, says Neil Bernstein, author of "How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do if You Can't."
"A 15-year-old might say, 'Everyone else gets to stay out later,' and this puts a lot of pressure on the parents. But they have to do what they feel comfortable with," says Mr. Bernstein, a clinical psychologist in the District.
He suggests that the parents, in this case, can say, "Well, you're not 'everyone else,' you're our daughter, or son, and it's you that we love and are concerned about."
Rarely, in retrospect, do parents regret setting curfews too early when their teens start dating or driving. If anything, they regret giving their teens too much leeway too soon, he says.
To strengthen their case, parents can cite state and local laws on night-driving restrictions and curfews for teens, he says.
"I think it must be a relief for parents to be able to say, 'It's the law,' " he says. "It takes some of the pressure off them if they can put the responsibility on 'Big Brother.' "
Virginia, Maryland and the District all have graduated licensing laws, which means teens younger than 18 can't drive a car past midnight during the summer. During the school year, the cutoff is 11 p.m. on school nights in the District; in other jurisdictions, the cutoff is midnight.
In addition, hundreds of cities across the nation have curfew laws, banning teens from loitering in public places between certain hours. Locally, Prince George's County and the District of Columbia have curfew laws.
Though these curfew laws may be nice props for parents, it is unclear whether they are effective in keeping teens out of trouble, says Robert Shepherd Jr., a professor emeritus of law at the University of Richmond.
"There's a big debate about the effectiveness of curfews," says Mr. Shepherd, who specializes in juvenile law. "By virtue of having a curfew, it does tend to limit the number of juveniles who are walking the streets, ... but the highest rate of delinquent behavior actually occurs between 3 and 6 p.m., not at night."
Nevertheless, Glenn Ivey, state's attorney for Prince George's County, says curfews should not be written off.
"I think it could be a useful too, but only when it's done the right way," Mr. Ivey says.
He acknowledges that current staffing and crime-fighting priorities in his jurisdiction probably are not ideal for enforcing curfew laws.
Still, curfews are an important parenting device to establish and enforce structure and promote safety, Mr. Shepherd says -- but they can't exist in a vacuum.
"Curfews can only be effective if there is a strong and meaningful relationship between the parents and teenager," he says.
Michael Riera, author of "Staying Connected to Your Teenager: How to Keep Them Talking to You and How to Hear What They're Really Saying," agrees.
"The stronger your connection, the more influence you have with your teenager," he says.
Effective communication
A large part of creating the connection, Mr. Riera says, is establishing and nurturing good communication.
Because teens have a different, delayed sleep cycle, this can mean meaningful conversations happen late at night. Even if parents would like nothing more than to go to sleep, Mr. Riera recommends that they stay up and talk.
"If they're offering it in the middle of the night, it's a gift, and we need to grab it when it's there," he says.
Mrs. Candell says she often takes the opportunity to have important talks late at night or in the car during what she calls "in-between" times.
"You'd better listen when they're ready to talk," she says. "We often talk about alcohol, staying out late, driving under the influence, pregnancy and drugs when we're in the car driving somewhere," she says.
In establishing a strong connection, it's also important that parents -- while they have the ultimate say -- seriously weigh any input from the teen, Mr. Riera says.
"Teenagers want to think they have some influence over the rules," he says. "It's a great motivator for them to feel like they have a voice in decisions that affect them."
He suggests that a basic summer curfew -- it's reasonable that it's set later than the school-year curfew -- be discussed and set in the spring. Once summer arrives and teens prove they can be responsible, parents can sit down again with their teens and renegotiate exceptions to the rule.
"Flexibility is not the enemy of structure," Mr. Riera says. "If you can work with me on this, I can be flexible."
"Work with me" in this case refers to the teens' ability to ensure that they will be safe and in close contact with their parents in return for a more liberal curfew.
Having some flexibility along with basic rules will help parents accommodate some variance in the teen's mood and "daily form."
"We act as if teens are the same person all the time, but none of us are. We have good days, bad days and average days," he says.
He recommends that parents gauge what kind of day the teen is having before imposing restrictions.
"If the teen is having a really bad day, maybe that's not the time to let them stay out really late," he says.
Mr. Bernstein also says that for curfews to be effective, teens must be completely clear on their parents' expectations, such as if and when the teens must call home and check in and when they're expected home.
Also, it should be clear what the consequences are if they miss their curfew, he says. Common consequences include losing cellular phone privileges and access to a car as well as being grounded.
However, parents also have to be sure their curfews are reasonable or they won't be effective, says Mr. Shepherd, the law professor. A 9 p.m. curfew for a 17-year-old, for example, probably would backfire, he says.
"If they're not reasonable, they just become another combative flash point ...," he says.
Life lessons
Talking and negotiating with their parents about curfews and other types of restrictions also can help teens learn important life lessons, Mr. Bernstein says.
"You learn that you don't always get what you want, you learn to compromise, and you learn that actions speak louder than words," he says.
Teens also can learn the two-way street of trust. If they and their parents build up trust, the benefits are mutual, says 16-year-old Sarah.
"I don't want to lose their trust and have to call them all the time and tell them every single detail or where I am and what I am doing," she says.
Her mother, Mrs. Candell, says she is more likely to make exceptions to the house rules because Sarah has been very responsible so far. She never has violated her parents' trust, Mrs. Candell says.
"Would I let her stay at a party 'til 2 a.m.? It just depends on the circumstances. I might," she says, "but there would have to be parents present."
Teens also can learn empathy during curfew discussions, Mr. Bernstein says. Parents can talk to their teens about their own sleep needs -- that they need to go to work refreshed and that they can't relax until their children are safe at home.
Sarah and her mother, though, say they don't think teens would care about their parents' possible sleep deprivation.
"It's all about 'me' for teens. It's not about the parents," Mrs. Candell says.
Her daughter adds: "It's the parents' problem if they can't go to sleep. That's their choice."
Whether that's true or not, parents across the nation likely are thinking the same thing as the summer begins, Mr. Bernstein says: "Oh no, here we go again, it's the summer curfew nightmare."

More info:
Books --
•"How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do if You Can't," by Neil I. Bernstein, Workman Publishing Co., 2001. This book gives parents advice on how to guide their children through the sometimes thorny teenage years. It covers topics such as setting limits (including curfews), building self-esteem and instilling morality and empathy.
•"Staying Connected to Your Teenager: How to Keep Them Talking to You and How to Hear What They're Really Saying," by Michael Riera, Perseus Publishing, 2003. This book gives parents strategies for improving communication and creating a connection with their teenage children. Teenagers are more likely to adhere to parental guidelines and restrictions if they have a solid underlying connection with their parents, according to the book.
•"Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind," by Michael J. Bradley, Harbor Press Inc. 2003. This book gives advice on rule-making, enforcement and problem-solving strategies. It covers topics such as modeling appropriate values and behaviors as well as respecting a teen's space and choices. It includes information on how to set curfews.
Associations --
•The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: 703/247-1500. Web site: www.highwaysafety.org. This nonprofit organization does research on traffic safety and aims to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and property damage resulting from crashes on the nation's highways. The group provides information and articles on restricted driving laws for teenagers.
Online --
•About.com, a media company owned by the New York Times, has a Web site aimed at parents of teens (www.parentingteens. about.com). This site has tips for parents on how to establish and enforce curfews.
•Teenagerstoday.com (www.teenagerstoday.com), a Web site run by IParenting Media, has information on curfews. It also has articles on how parents can maintain good communication with their teenage children."

Md. Teenager Sentenced to 2 Life Terms

2005-06-08T20:05:00.000-04:00

Md. Teenager Sentenced to 2 Life Terms: "Md. Teenager Sentenced to 2 Life Terms
Month-Long Rampage Killed 2 in Pr. George's

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 8, 2005; Page B01
During a span of nearly a month last year, Anthony J. Cole went on a violent rampage: He murdered two people, tried to kill two others, committed an armed carjacking and sexually assaulted a woman.

Cole, who was 17 at the time and lived in Capitol Heights, attacked dozens of Latino and African immigrants in Riverdale Park, Landover Hills, Langley Park and Bladensburg. The victims were working people, strangers to Cole, targets of opportunity.

When he was arrested Sept. 15, Cole confessed to Prince George's County police detectives. He even identified two of his robbery victims from photographs.

Cole's reckoning came yesterday in Prince George's Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, six counts of first-degree assault and the carjacking and sexual attack.

His sentence: two terms of life in prison, to be served consecutively, plus 40 years, to be served consecutively to the life sentences.

Circuit Court Judge Graydon S. McKee III also sentenced Cole, who now is 18, to 455 years in prison for the other crimes but allowed those years to be served concurrently with the other sentences.

Assistant State's Attorney Fran Longwell said Cole probably would not get a parole hearing for about 60 years.

Longwell said that the guilty pleas were a good resolution and that the sentences were appropriate.

"I don't think this kid has any conscience," the prosecutor said. "Pretty scary."

Cole acted alone in all but two of the crimes, armed robberies in which an alleged accomplice is facing charges, Longwell said.

Cole said little during yesterday's hearing. His attorney, Assistant Public Defender Denton Lynch, declined to comment.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said, "The defendant preyed upon very vulnerable members of the community and was basically a one-man crime wave. It's good for all of us in Prince George's County that he's off the streets."

According to a statement of facts acknowledged by Cole and submitted by Longwell to McKee as part of the plea agreement, Cole's crime wave began Aug. 15 and ended Sept. 12.

As the crimes went on, Cole became increasingly violent, going from brandishing handguns to shooting his victims, according to the statement.

In the Aug. 15 attack, Cole and another assailant robbed two men at gunpoint. Sept. 5, four people were standing in front of an apartment building in Hyattsville when Cole, armed with a handgun, confronted them. He was rifling through one of the victims' pockets when Baudilio Ramos Osorio, 37, tried to run.

Cole shot him in the back, according to the statement of facts. Ramos Osorio was pronounced dead at Prince George's Hospital Center.

Four days later, about 9:30 p.m., Ricardo Jimenez Santa-Maria was standing in a Riverdale Park parking lot, preparing to give money to a cousin.

Cole stepped toward the cousin, pointed a handgun at her and demanded money. When Jimenez Santa-Maria stepped in front of his cousin, Cole shot him, according to the statement of facts. Jimenez Santa-Maria also was pronounced dead at Prince George's Hospital Center."

Ivey introduces homicide reduction plan

2005-06-08T20:03:00.000-04:00

Ivey introduces homicide reduction plan: "Ivey introduces homicide reduction plan

by Tiesha Higgins
Staff Writer
June 8, 2005
The Prince George’s County States Attorney’s Office rolled out a homicide reduction plan for the county Wednesday, involving federal, county and municipal law enforcement agencies in an effort to turn the tide on the county’s rising homicides.

As of late March, county homicides were up 85 percent compared to the same period last year. So far this year, there have been 73 homicides.

States Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, with the help of the University of Maryland has come up with a plan patterned after a long-term homicide reduction strategy that succeeded in Boston and was later used in Rochester, New York and the District. "We just need everybody to come together and work on a single strategy," said Ivey, who has met with County Executive Jack B. Johnson to discuss the plan.

Johnson is still reviewing the plan, but is likely to be supportive of the proposal, Ivey said. The plan would supplement, the county police department's Violent Crimes Task Force.

Besides Johnson, Ivey has met with county law enforcement agencies, as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

ABC 7 News - Ivey Calls for More Federal Help on Crime

2005-06-08T19:55:00.000-04:00

ABC 7 News - Ivey Calls for More Federal Help on Crime: "Ivey Calls for More Federal Help on Crime
Wednesday June 08, 2005 7:09am

Upper Marlboro, Md. (AP) - Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey believes the feds can help county police stem the rising homicide rate.

Ivey says he urged County Executive Jack Johnson on Tuesday to explore greater federal involvement and coordination in fighting crime in the county. Ivey also tells The Washington Post that he urged the county executive to appoint a task force to look for crime patterns that could help police.

Ivey says Johnson agreed to try to arrange a meeting with federal law enforcement officials.

But Johnson spokesman Jim Keary has a different view of the meeting, saying no strategies were discussed or approved.

Keary says county is already working with federal agencies, including the F.B.I."

Mastermind behind area rental scam found guilty

2005-05-25T20:18:00.000-04:00

Mastermind behind area rental scam found guilty: "Mastermind behind area rental scam found guilty
E-Mail This Article

by Natasha Brown
Staff Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 24, 2005

County Circuit Court Judge Julia B. Weatherly found the mastermind behind the regional rental scam scheme that left at least 65 victims nearly homeless and out of thousands of dollars guilty Monday of 11 counts. There was not a jury trial.

Lamondes "Monte" Williams, 35, of Temple Hills faces 31 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He did not enter a plea bargain. He faced 12 counts of aggregate theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft above the amount of $500 and one count of employing a pyramid scheme.

He also faces 15 years for being convicted of a felony theft scheme against individual victims, 15 years for being convicted of conspiracy to commit aggregate theft over $500, and an additional year and up to a $10,000 fine for being guilty of a pyramid promotional scheme.

"We are glad that the judge decided to find this defendant guilty. Justice has been done for these victims. This scam-artist must be held accountable for the hardship, disruption of life and economic loss of hundreds of people," said State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey in a written statement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Isabel Cumming and Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Japp and featured over 300 exhibits and 59 witnesses over three weeks.

Sentencing will be held on July 15. Restitution will also be discussed on this date."

State Comes Up With Money to Help Ivey Fight Car Thefts- The Washington Times: Metropolitan - May 20, 2005

2005-05-20T18:25:00.000-04:00

Steele seeks to put brakes on PG auto thefts - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - May 20, 2005: "Steele seeks to put brakes on PG auto thefts

By Gary Emerling
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Ehrlich administration has joined the effort to stop the high number of vehicle thefts in Prince George's County and surrounding areas.
Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele yesterday presented a $700,000 check to the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.
The money was made available through a special budget appropriation by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican.
"We're doing something that's long overdue and very, very important," Mr. Steele, a Republican, said yesterday while in District Heights to give the check to Maryland and county officials. "We are here today to begin to resolve the vehicle-theft epidemic that affects the county."

Prince George's County has had the worst car-theft problem in the state and will receive $550,000 from the council.
Officials say they have already made significant progress in improving on the 18,485 vehicle thefts reported in 2004, reducing the rate so far this year by 16 percent. But they say the money is needed to increase enforcement.
"A lot of the money will [also] go toward advertising campaigns so our citizens can help protect themselves," said Chief Melvin High of the Prince George's County Police Department.
The department will receive $300,000 to bolster the Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement team, which will have as many as 40 officers from the region to catch thieves, recover vehicles and shut down chop shops, where stolen vehicles are cut up for parts.
About $100,000 will go to the county's state's attorney's office to assist in the prosecution of car thieves. Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said the office now has four prosecutors, an investigator and a paralegal specifically assigned to handle such cases.
Officials also are trying to establish an auto-theft court under one judge for consistent sentencing.
"We're not going to get anything done until we send our young people to jail and send them a message," said state Sen. Ulysses Currie, Prince George's Democrat.
Some of the money will also go toward such public-awareness campaigns as the "Watch Your Car" program, in which vehicle owners tell police their cars are not used from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. If officers see the vehicle out during that time, they are authorized to stop it and verify ownership."

At summit, participants voice concerns, solutions

2005-05-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

At summit, participants voice concerns, solutions: "At summit, participants voice concerns, solutions

by Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writer
May 19, 2005
Like many teenagers, Yajaira Arechiga, 16, enjoys playing sports.

But, for this Langley Park youth, going out to play in her neighborhood is not just another day in the park.

"I choose not to go out to practice because I don't feel comfortable," she said, noting that groups of men loiter outside residences and harass women. "I usually wait for my dad to come home. He takes me to a park."

Her sister, Zaira Arechiga, 15, agreed. "I don't like going out because the men say rude things."

These sisters were among about 200 Langley Park residents and stakeholders, like businesses and homeowners, community activists and organizations, at Saturday's Crime Free Langley Park summit.

The event was hosted by the State's Attorney's office and moderated by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC).

Elected officials and representatives of organizations involved in the summit dealt with issues relating to youth, school, and residential and commercial safety.

State's Attorney Glenn Ivey told participants, "This is an outstanding opportunity for people to work together."

Participants were divided into small groups, each charged with identifying area concerns and seeking solutions to problems of crime.

NCPC Vice President Darryl Jones told participants, "We need to mobilize our community to implement strategies we believe can work."

One possible strategy is acquiring funding for the crime preventing 'Weed and Seed' program that is already in place in a community, along New Hampshire Avenue.

Rusty Wallace, assistant director of the Silver Spring Regional Center in Montgomery County, advanced the idea.

He said he and others would work with Ivey's office to help Langley Park obtain the necessary funding.

Capt. Andrew Ellis, assistant commander of District, noted police meet regularly with apartment managers and community groups, such as Association of Neighbors, PUENTE, Inc., CASA de Maryland and the Spanish Catholic Center.

The community's woes also include robberies and thefts. "I think Latinos are targeted [as victims] because robbers know they carry a lot of cash." he said, This is because undocumented immigrants are not able to open bank accounts, Ellis said.

Other problems in the area include alcoholism, overcrowded living spaces, and mobile vending and gang activity.

According to county police crime statistics, from October 2004 to March 2005, there were two homicides, 54 calls for robbery, 251 for drug and 175 for theft. There were no rapes in the Langley Park area.

At the meeting, resident Marilynne Ocando said damaged cars left on street poses a problem. Olive Kamara voiced concerns over lack of security and people "using public streets to work on cars."

Jacinta Carvallo said although she understands some undocumented immigrants do not have the means to obtain an apartment legally and instead live with others in a unit, she noted overcrowded residences pose a safety problem.

Resident Maynor Corea added that prostitution is also a concern. "The kids see all of this going on; police need to further enforce the law."

Some solutions proposed at the summit to youth-related issues that included targeting students to do community service with the police department, adding English-language classes for families and working with the private sector to create culturally based arts programs.

Solutions were also put forward on how to improve resident/police relations: Recruiting bilingual police officers, adding more officers and hiring interpreters.

Other suggestions involved creating more multi-lingual public service announcements on drunk driving, encouraging residents to report problems to apartment managers and creating a place where undocumented immigrants could save money.

The NCPC will document the groups' findings for the summit's steering committee, which will then prioritize the solutions, Jones said.

Ruby Stemmle, special assistant to Latino affairs for Ivey's office, said county, state and federal funding would be sought for the implementation aspect of the proposed solutions.

E-mail Corina E. Rivera at crivera@gazette.net."

Capitol Heights man gets life in prison for murder

2005-05-17T15:19:00.000-04:00

Capitol Heights man gets life in prison for murder: "Capitol Heights man gets life in prison for murder

by Jennifer Donatelli
Staff Writer
May 16, 2005
A Capitol Heights man was sentenced Thursday to life plus 20 years for killing a man in Capitol Heights nearly a year ago.

A Prince George’s County jury convicted Deangelo Antwan Hargrove, 20, on six counts of criminal acts: first-degree felony murder, armed carjacking, first-degree assault and using a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, said State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey in a statement.

"This sentence by the bench is important. We want the community and particularly the city of Capitol Heights to rest assured that violent carjackings won’t be tolerated. We will catch carjackers, try them and send them to jail," he said.

The sentence stems from an incident July 8, 2004. When officers arrived at the 1400 block of Elkwood Lane just before 1 a.m., they found Donte Thomas Lewis, 18, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead about 6:25 a.m.

Circuit Court Judge James J. Lombardi handed down 10 years to run concurrent to life on the handgun charge, two years to run consecutive to life on the armed carjacking of Lewis’ friend, and 10 years to run concurrent to the armed carjacking charge."

Children Are Dying -- We Must Listen To Glenn Ivey

2005-05-14T21:45:00.000-04:00

Children Are Dying -- We Must Do More: "Children Are Dying -- We Must Do More

Saturday, May 14, 2005; Page A20
Demetric Austin, 11, was the victim of random gunfire while he was playing basketball three months ago ["D.C. Boy's Wounds Don't Heal," Metro, May 8]. Bullets grazed his back and arm. As a result, he has nightmares and is afraid to go outside.

Yet when Demetric's mother talks about the shooting, people seem to brush it off because Demetric was not killed. How did we become so callous?

Perhaps our indifference stems from the fact that 24 children were killed last year in the District -- almost twice as many as the year before -- many of them by gunfire. Some children reportedly sleep in bathtubs to reduce their chances of being killed in their beds by the gunfire that regularly punctuates the night in their neighborhoods.

Demetric wants to move from Southeast to live with relatives in Northwest because he would feel safer there. But Chelsea Cromartie, 8, was killed last May in her Northeast home by gunfire from outside, and Donte Manning, 9, was killed just weeks ago by a random bullet as he played outside his Northwest home. So nowhere is safe. What can we do?

First, social services agencies, both public and private, should provide care for Demetric and other young victims. Other institutions, including area universities, also can help.

We also should listen to Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey ["How to Take Back Our Streets," op-ed, April 8]. Because the violence is disproportionately affecting African Americans, Mr. Ivey has called upon his fellow black public officials, black churches and other segments of the African American community to bring greater resources and coordination to bear upon this issue. He also is encouraging people to become mentors and to offer educational and economic opportunities.

Public officials must do more than hold news conferences to decry the violence after it happens. We all must do more. We owe it to Demetric, Chelsea, Donte and far too many others like them.

DARRYL W. JACKSON

Washington

The author is a former co-chair of the D.C. Coalition Against Drugs and Violence."

Ivey's Political Plans? Stay Tuned

2005-05-12T20:59:00.000-04:00

Ivey's Political Plans? Stay Tuned: "Ivey's Political Plans? Stay Tuned

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 12, 2005; Page PG02

So what is Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) running for?

It's still a mystery.

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Attorney general? Maybe lieutenant governor? Congress, perhaps?

So far, the only thing he has crossed off the list is challenging County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) for his job.

If any of the more than 200 people who packed the ballroom at Ivey's recent fundraiser at the Greenbelt Marriott were expecting an answer, they went home without one. Most, like Dan Rupli , who called himself "a proud member of the Glenn Ivey-for-something committee," didn't seem to mind.

"He's a great fella," said Rupli, a lawyer from Frederick. "And he's going places."

Where would Rupli like to see him go?

On the gubernatorial ticket with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley . "I think he'd make a great lieutenant governor," Rupli said.

Although Ivey didn't make any announcements, he did acknowledge several former and current elected officials in the crowd. He called O'Malley, Johnson, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan , U.S. Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume , U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lierman and Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. to the microphone.

"We have a lot of outstanding candidates in the room," Ivey said, imploring the crowd to begin working hard on campaigns

"And we can no longer be on autopilot. We will get our butts kicked if we do."

He thanked former county executive Wayne K. Curry , Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler , former U.S. senator Joseph D. Tydings and former state senator Tommy Broadwater."

Vehicle thefts off 16% in PG - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - May 05, 2005

2005-05-12T13:47:00.000-04:00

Vehicle thefts off 16% in PG - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - May 05, 2005: "Vehicle thefts off 16% in PG

By Gary Emerling
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Prince George's County officials say adding police officers and prosecutors to its program to reduce auto thefts has reduced the number of stolen vehicles in the county by 16 percent compared to the same time last year.
"We're putting together a really legitimate auto-theft team," said Delegate Barbara A. Frush, a member of the county's Auto Theft and Vandalism Prevention Task Force, which began its work in January after a statewide summit on the problem.
Officials say the task force has three main components ? police work, public awareness and legislation ? and that County Executive Jack B. Johnson has provided $300,000 for overtime, equipment and other expenses.

County spokesman Jim Keary says the number of year-to-date auto thefts in Prince George's has fallen from 5,134 in April 2004 to 4,280 in April 2005, which shows the new task force is working.
"I've never seen a task force move so rapidly and with such vigor and dedication as this one," said Mrs. Frush, Prince George's Democrat.
When the task force started, the region already had a police unit dedicated to catching car thieves. However, task force members said the 10 federal and state officers working as the Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement team, or WAVE, was too small and needed to coordinate better with prosecutors and courts.
The new team, which started operations April 15, has 28 members and has made 13 arrests and recovered 19 stolen vehicles in its first two weeks, Mr. Keary said.
The team, known as WAVE 2, will eventually have as many as 40 police officers from the District and Prince George's, Charles and Montgomery counties and other law-enforcement agencies. Though officers will continue to focus on catching thieves and recovering vehicles, they also plan to go after chop shops and use more statistical analysis.
Capt. Russell San Felice of the Prince George's County Police Department, the WAVE 2 commander, said the team will soon add one investigative and two tactical-enforcement squads.
"It's a much more comprehensive approach to auto theft regionally than we've ever had before," he said.
However, the county still has a significant car-theft problem.
For example, the 18,485 vehicles stolen last year in Prince George's were more than the 17,376 taken throughout the rest of Maryland in 2004.
Mr. Keary said public awareness is still as important as sophisticated analysis in reducing auto theft. He said that roughly one-third of vehicles stolen in the county have the keys left in the ignition. Police have so far warned motorists about unattended vehicles, but will soon begin issuing them $55 tickets.
Task force members are also monitoring General Assembly legislation and a $700,000 budget amendment by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, to pay for auto-theft initiatives. One bill allows audio recordings from bait cars to be used as evidence in prosecuting vehicle thieves. Another requires car-theft victims to make only one court appearance. A witness' signed affidavit can be used as testimony if further prosecution is needed.
"We don't have to drag people back to court because we lose them," said Mrs. Frush, a key sponsor of the bills. "Once you've gotten your car back, you want it over and done with."
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey has been pushing for tougher prosecution of car thieves, saying parents should pay restitution for damages done by juvenile car thieves and that offenders should be given jail sentences.
"It sends the wrong message to the community, especially young people, when a guy gets caught stealing a car and all he gets is community service," Mr. Ivey said.
Mr. Ivey said four prosecutors, assisted by an investigator and paralegal, are now specifically assigned from his office to handle auto-theft cases. He said officials are also trying to establish an auto-theft court under one judge for consistent sentencing. He said the court could be established as early as June."

Ivey Spencer Rematch shaping Up

2005-05-12T13:40:00.000-04:00

Are Bland, Johnson getting closer, politically?: "Part of the club
Helping to found the African-American Democratic Club of Prince George's County, it seems, was a good political move for Mark K. Spencer, a former deputy state's attorney. The group had more than 200 people at its kick-off event April 29.
Spencer, who serves as parliamentarian for the new group, will need a lot of backing if his challenger is the increasingly popular incumbent Glenn F. Ivey. Spencer is planning to run for state's attorney again in the next election."

Gang member sentenced to life in prison

2005-05-11T01:16:00.000-04:00

Gang member sentenced to life in prison: "Gang member sentenced to life in prison

by Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writer
May 6, 2005
A Suitland man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2004 brutal gang-related death of a Landover resident.

Mario Ayala, 22, of Suitland was given that sentence in connection to the death of Ashely Antonio Urias. Ayala belongs to the MS-13 gang and Urias allegedly belonged to MS-13’s rival, 18th Street gang, according to State's Attorney Glenn Ivy's office.

"It was a hard fought trial with an innovative approach. The sentence reflects the facts in the case and the brutal nature of the attack," Ivey said in a statement. "This sentence shows that justice was done and shows this type of senseless violence will not be tolerated in our community."

Urias was found May 21, 2004, brutally beaten "just inside the wood line at a back corner of Washington National Cemetery in Suitland. DNA evidence pointed to Mario Ayala, Alexis Ayala and Everec Chacon.

Alexis Ayala pled guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy charges Jan. 24, and will serve 30 years in prison. Chacon is waiting a tentative trial date of May 16, and is being held without bond in the Prince George’s County Correctional Facility."

Van Hollen Scores on Mfume at Bowie Young Dem's Dinner

2005-05-01T20:33:00.000-04:00

Members of the First Family All on the Same Page: "Young Democrats a Big Lure

With the campaign season heating up, the annual Prince George's County Young Democrats event on April 22 turned into a big draw for the state's political heavy hitters.

The lineup of speakers introduced by Young Democrats chapter President John Mack included Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and his predecessor, Wayne K. Curry , Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan , past and present U.S. representatives Kweisi Mfume , Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey .

Baltimore Deputy Mayor Jeanne Hitchcock stood in for her boss, Martin O'Malley , who was attending his daughter's birthday party.

The event was a casual affair, with many retiring to the bar in Bowie's Florian Hall as speakers tested their stump speeches. Only Van Hollen, who arrived late, turned up in a tuxedo, which prompted Mfume to quip that, if the congressman had placed a napkin over his arm, he might have been mistaken for a waiter.

Van Hollen said he was dressed in black tie because of an earlier event, but he was ready with a retort.

When it was his turn to speak, he draped a napkin over his sleeve, stepped to the microphone and said: "I'm here to serve.""

Glenn F. Ivey at the Young Democrats Dinner in Bowie

2005-05-01T20:31:00.000-04:00

Members of the First Family All on the Same Page: "Young Democrats a Big Lure

With the campaign season heating up, the annual Prince George's County Young Democrats event on April 22 turned into a big draw for the state's political heavy hitters.

The lineup of speakers introduced by Young Democrats chapter President John Mack included Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and his predecessor, Wayne K. Curry , Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan , past and present U.S. representatives Kweisi Mfume , Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

Baltimore Deputy Mayor Jeanne Hitchcock stood in for her boss, Martin O'Malley , who was attending his daughter's birthday party.

The event was a casual affair, with many retiring to the bar in Bowie's Florian Hall as speakers tested their stump speeches. Only Van Hollen, who arrived late, turned up in a tuxedo, which prompted Mfume to quip that, if the congressman had placed a napkin over his arm, he might have been mistaken for a waiter.

Van Hollen said he was dressed in black tie because of an earlier event, but he was ready with a retort.

When it was his turn to speak, he draped a napkin over his sleeve, stepped to the microphone and said: "I'm here to serve.""

Rushern Baker Watch: Baker and Ivey attend annual conference of the 2nd Episcopal District of the AME Church - Washington Post2005/4/29

2005-04-30T12:41:00.000-04:00

Rushern Baker Watch: Baker and Ivey attend annual conference of the 2nd Episcopal District of the AME Church - Washington Post2005/4/29: "Attending the chamber event were Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, who lately has become a fixture at any big event in the county; Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas F. Gansler; U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is considering a run for U.S. Senate; Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey; and former delegate Rushern Baker, who was working the crowd as he considers another run for county executive in 2006."

Ivey's intentions?

2005-04-29T11:12:00.000-04:00

It's all in the names -- and the seating arrangement: "Ivey's intentions?
Glenn F. Ivey, Prince George's County state's attorney, is remaining mum on his political aspirations for the 2006 elections.
'I haven't ruled in or out for any of the offices for 2006, including running for re-election,' said Ivey.
However, Ivey said he is not considering a run for county executive, despite past rumors otherwise. He also said he would not run for Maryland Attorney General as long as incumbent J. Joseph Curran Jr. is in the race. "

The Sentinel: County Jury Finds Bowie Woman Guilty Of ID Theft

2005-04-22T17:50:00.000-04:00

The Sentinel: "County Jury Finds Bowie Woman Guilty Of ID Theft

By Jennifer Linchy
Sentinel Contributing Writer
A Prince George's County jury found a Bowie woman guilty of identity fraud late last week.

Lynne Holland, 36, received 95 years in jail at her April 14 sentencing for identity theft against Obrient Hill Jr., three counts of felony theft against BB&T Bank, and one count of conspiracy to commit felony with Christopher Brown. Brown has two warrants out for his arrest in connection to the crime.

Janet Waddy, owner of Custom Title where the loans were settled, testified Holland sold two properties, which she purchased for $35,000 and $29,000 earlier in the day, to Brown posing as Hill for $80,000 each on December 11, 2002.

BB&T issued the Hill impersonator two loans totaling $141,600 for the purchase, with Holland walking away from the transaction with $20,640.

The real Hill only learned of the illegal transaction in his name when he received two BB&T payment coupon books in the mail in late December of 2002.

He had given his personal information to Holland when he had been interested in purchasing investment properties in Baltimore from her, but later asked for his information back when he decided not to proceed with the deal.

Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey's spokesman Ramon Korionoff said Maryland ranked in the top ten states in regards to identity theft, and that the number of incidents continues to increase.

Korionoff said the State Attorney's economic crimes team has particularly sought these crimes to prosecute, with two of its attorneys working currently on about twenty identity theft crimes each.

"We are prosecuting ID theft as stringently and strongly as possible," Korionoff said."

baltimoresun.com - Glenn Ivey Mentioned for U.S. Senate seat

2005-04-21T16:10:00.000-04:00

baltimoresun.com - Rep. Cardin expected to announce run for U.S. Senate seat: "From Thursday's Sun
Rep. Cardin expected to announce run for U.S. Senate seat
Democratic leaders told he’ll make it official soon
By Andrew A. Green
Sun Staff
Originally published April 20, 2005, 10:09 PM EDT
Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin plans to announce Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Maryland's Paul S. Sarbanes, several sources said Wednesday.

Cardin, 61, a 10-term congressman and former speaker of the House of Delegates, has shied away from runs for higher office before. But the Baltimore-area Democrat has told party leaders of his intention to make a bid to succeed Sarbanes, who announced last month that he will not seek re-election next year. Cardin has e-mailed and telephoned hundreds of supporters and beefed up his campaign staff in preparation for the run, top Democrats said.

Jamie Fontaine, a campaign spokeswoman for Cardin, declined Wednesday to discuss to his plans, saying only that the congressman would "announce his intentions very soon."

Cardin, who is known as low-key and cerebral, much like the man he would seek to replace, would be a formidable candidate in both the Democratic primary and the general election, many political observers say.

"Ben would make an excellent candidate," said his Democratic colleague, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Baltimore County, who said he has spoken with Cardin about his plans but declined to comment on them. "He's got a tremendous amount of knowledge. He knows the issues that are so important to our state."

If he does enter the Democratic primary, Cardin would join former NAACP head Kweisi Mfume, who announced his plans to run last month, and A. Robert Kaufman, a Baltimore civic activist who has made several unsuccessful runs for office.

Reps. Elijah E. Cummings of Baltimore and Chris Van Hollen of Montgomery County have also expressed interest in the race, as has Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey. Ruppersberger announced two weeks ago that he would not run for Senate.

A poll conducted forThe Sun last week found Cardin in second place among Democrats in a hypothetical three-way primary with Mfume and Van Hollen. Mfume led with 32 percent, Cardin had 26 percent and Van Hollen 16 percent, and a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.

But of the three, Cardin was strongest against Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, who has not declared his intentions but is regarded as a potential GOP candidate for the seat.

In a hypothetical matchup, Cardin led Steele 41 percent to 37 percent, based in large part on Cardin's strength in Baltimore County, a crucial jurisdiction for Republicans seeking statewide office. The margin of error for that question was 3.2 percentage points.

The poll found that more than other likely Democratic candidates, Cardin was supported strongly by both blacks and whites.

Matthew Crenson, a Johns Hopkins University political science professor, said Mfume has an edge in the primary because his leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People makes him recognized statewide, an advantage he said Cardin doesn't have.

"Although he's been around a long time and was speaker of the House of Delegates, he's still identified mostly with Baltimore," Crenson said. "I think Mfume doesn't have a geographic attachment in the eyes of the voter."

State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who went to law school with Cardin, said he thinks the congressman's intelligence and experience will endear him to the highly educated and politically savvy voters in the Washington suburbs, while the new boundaries of his district have increased his visibility with voters across the Baltimore region.

"He complained about redistricting, that it spread him out and took him away from his Jewish base, but now I'm sure he's very glad he's in Howard County and Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County," Miller said.

A Cardin run for U.S. Senate would likely create a domino effect in other offices.

State Sen. Paula C. Hollinger of Baltimore County and Del. Maggie L. McIntosh of Baltimore City, both Democrats who chair committees in the legisla ture, have said they would strongly consider running for Congress if Cardin's seat were vacant.

Baltimore County Dels. Bobby A. Zirkin and Jon S. Cardin -- the congressman's nephew -- have also expressed interest in running for Congress, as has Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens. All three are Democrats."

Glenn Ivey PG state's attorney to speak to Laurel Democrats

2005-04-21T16:05:00.000-04:00

Laurel Leader: "PG state's attorney to speak to Democrats

Glenn Ivey, state's attorney for Prince George's County, will discuss politics and crime at the Greater Laurel Beltsville Democratic Club's May 2 public forum.

The 7:30 p.m. free event will be held at the Greene Turtle at 14150 Baltimore Avenue. Jason Waskey, a club spokesman, said the county's efforts to tackle the increasing number of auto thefts in the area and police reports of violent gangs such as MS-13 being present in the Beltsville area are two issues Ivey will discuss.

"I'm sure he'll also talk about and take questions on local and state elections that are coming up," Waskey said.

The Greater Laurel Beltsville Democratic Club sponsors public forums periodically. Past speakers have included Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley."

Ivey wins a Major First For Day Laborers (washingtonpost.com)

2005-04-19T20:04:00.000-04:00

Immigrants on Bowie Job Win Back Pay (washingtonpost.com): "Immigrants on Bowie Job Win Back Pay
Group Helps Day Laborers Bring Felony Theft Case Against Subcontractor

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 19, 2005; Page B01

For six weeks, Josue Lagos awoke at 4 a.m. six and sometimes seven days a week to pick up as many as a dozen fellow day laborers in a van and drive to a site in Bowie where they toiled in 10- to 12-hours shifts to build a four-story luxury condominium building.

Lagos and many of his fellow workers, all of them Latino immigrants, were paid the first week or two by Francisco Sandoval, the subcontractor who hired them. But as the weeks went by in June and July of 2003, Sandoval stopped paying them, always promising he would come through the following week, Lagos and other workers said in interviews.

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With no income, Lagos and his wife, who was six months pregnant, were reduced to eating once a day, Lagos said. They were evicted from their Wheaton apartment and had to stay at a friend's home.

Lagos and several of his co-workers said they obtained a measure of justice yesterday when Sandoval pleaded guilty in Prince George's County Circuit Court to seven misdemeanor counts of failure to pay wages.

Prince George's prosecutors had originally charged Sandoval with 12 counts of felony theft, the first time a state prosecutor in Maryland has charged an employer with a felony for not paying day laborers, said Steve Smitson, an attorney with Casa of Maryland, a nonprofit immigrants' rights group based in Silver Spring.

Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said the plea agreement ensures that the dozen workers Sandoval was originally charged with not paying will receive restitution.

Each year, Casa of Maryland investigates hundreds of reports by workers, many of them immigrants, who say they were not paid for their work. Some of the immigrants are undocumented and are vulnerable to exploitation by dishonest employers, Smitson said.

Through civil actions, the organization recovers about $250,000 annually for defrauded workers, and it has 400 civil cases pending on behalf of laborers and domestic workers who allege nonpayment of wages, Smitson said.

Ivey said he hopes Sandoval's guilty pleas will deter employers from cheating day laborers.

"This is really a historic day in Prince George's," Ivey said during a news conference. "If you hire people, you have to pay them. You can't rip them off. We'll prosecute you."

Smitson said he hopes the case sends a message that "the resurgence of Prince George's will not be built on the backs of workers who are cheated out of their wages."

Sandoval's attorney did not return a phone call.

According to Assistant State's Attorney Doyle L. Niemann, Sandoval shorted 12 workers of $39,390. A sizable chunk of the money was recovered after Casa of Maryland filed a civil action against the general contractor, Smitson said.

The general contractor settled the matter by agreeing to pay $22,000 to the workers, Smitson said. Sandoval still owes them more than $17,000, prosecutors said.

Ivey said prosecutors will attempt to reach a settlement with Sandoval regarding how much money he will pay the workers. A restitution hearing is scheduled for May 19.

Originally from Honduras, Lagos, 30, said he has been friends with Sandoval for eight years and had worked for him off and on without any problems until the Woodland Lake Condominiums job nearly two years ago.

Lagos and Arnold Osorio said they and the other laborers completed the building but were not paid for their last six weeks of work. They and 10 other workers decided to fight back, and they went to Casa of Maryland for help. Thirteen workers who had not been paid declined to join the group, Osorio said.

Smitson said he knew the workers had a good case when Lagos showed him detailed time sheets he had kept for each worker.

"People shouldn't be afraid to seek help," Lagos said. "It's possible to fight against people like" Sandoval."

Workers win labor case

2005-04-19T20:01:00.000-04:00

Workers win labor case: "Workers win labor case
E-Mail This Article

by Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 19, 2005

Three Langley Park residents were among 12 workers who proclaimed victory Monday over an employer they said refused to pay them.

Santiago Ramirez of Langley Park said he worked in carpentry for Sandoval for six weeks in a Bowie condominium project. "He paid us for one week," he said, adding he was promised $12 an hour for six days a week.

Ramirez said Sandoval told him and the other workers he would pay them after they completed another job in Virginia.

According to documents provided the State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey’s office, Sandoval owed the workers a total of $51,390.

Doyle Niemann, who prosecuted the case, said it is significant because, "Traditionally, wage payment violations are enforced by the state commissioner of labor," but it was the State’s Attorney’s office that followed through on the case.

Ruby Stemmle, special assistant to Latino affairs for the State’s Attorney’s office, said, "It makes it worth it, the function of our office serving the Hispanic community.""

Washington Examiner: Glenn Ivey nabs two carjack murder convictions

2005-04-18T09:58:00.000-04:00

Washington Examiner: News: "P.G. County nabs two murder convictions
By ROBERT ARKELL
Examiner Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:06 PM EDT

The Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office racked up two murder convictions on Wednesday afternoon.

Deangelo Hargrove, 20, of Capitol Heights, was found guilty of shooting Donte Lewis, 18, also of Capitol Heights, in the chest and stealing his car on the 1400 block of Elwood Lane in Capitol Heights on July 8, 2004.

County police started working together with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department when Lewis' car was found parked in the area around RFK stadium in the District the day after the murder was committed. Hargrove became a suspect when a witness to Lewis' murder identified him as the shooter.

Hargrove faces life plus 95 years in prison for one count of first-degree murder, two counts of armed carjacking, one count of first-degree assault and two counts of illegal use of a handgun.

'A strong message'
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said he hopes the conviction will help put a dent in the rising number of carjackings the county has had so far this year. "I hope it's a strong message to people in the community who are thinking of committing this kind of crime," Ivey said.

The conviction was also a sign of the strengthening relationship between county and Washington police officers, Ivey said. "I think it's a good indication of the cross-border cooperation we have been having in these kinds of prosecutions," he added.

Hargrove will be sentenced May 12 before Prince George's Circuit Court Judge James Lombardi.

Kidnapper gets 60 years

A jury found Robert Odum, 27, of Capitol Heights, guilty of kidnapping. Odum was sentenced to 60 years in prison by Prince George's Circuit Court Judge Michael Whalen. The conviction stems from the retrial of a carjacking and double homicide that took place in June 2002. Lee Ann Brown, 24, of Texas, and Michael Patten, 29, of Fort Washington, were found shot to death just off Livingston Road in Accokeek."

State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey leads memorial service for crime victims

2005-04-17T20:19:00.000-04:00

County hosts memorial service for crime victims: "County hosts memorial service for crime victims

by Marcus Moore
Staff Writer
April 11, 2005
The county’s State’s Attorney’s Office hosted their sixteenth annual memorial service for crime victims and their families on April 10.

The event, held at the Prince George’s Community College in Largo, was designed to observe victims’ rights. This years ceremony was held to observe the 25th annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is April 10 to April 16.

"This ceremony is just a small way in which we can remember the lives of those whom we have lost to violence," said State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey in an issued statement. "The reality is that after a homicide has occurred and a perpetrator is sentenced, a closed case does not close the books for families of victims.""

Ivey and Duncan attend Johnson's State of the (PG) Economy Address

2005-04-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

Johnson: Prince George's economy still strong: "Johnson: Prince George's economy still strong

by Tiesha Higgins
Staff Writer
Apr. 7, 2005
County Executive Jack B. Johnson's State of the Economy Address, the third since he took office, covered a laundry list of successes.

From the $2 billion National Harbor project in Oxon Hill to Internosis, an information technology company that moved its headquarters and 170 high-paying jobs from Alexandria to Greenbelt last year, Johnson highlighted every sign of economic rejuvenation the county has had under his watch.

One of his biggest announcements was a newly signed agreement in which Konterra, a massive mixed-use development in Laurel, has partnered with upscale retailer Forest City of Cleveland.

"For those of you who stayed through the lean years, the wait has been worth it and for the new arrivals, good timing," Johnson said in his speech before several hundred lawmakers, business leaders and citizens Tuesday night.

Among those present were County Council Chairman Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville, Councilwoman Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Capitol Heights, Councilman Douglas J. J. Peters (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie, Councilwoman Marilyn Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton, Councilman Tony Knotts (D-Dist.8) of Temple Hills, and Councilman William Campos (D-Dist. 2) of Hyattsville. Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, Del. Victor Ramirez (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier and Del. Michael Vaughn (D-Dist. 24) of Capitol Heights also attended

Johnson pointed to evidence of a strengthened economy. "We are making prudent investments in our infrastructure and technology and we have a great business community, a smart, well-trained workforce and a government committed to freeing businesses to build our tax base and create jobs," he said.

The county had the highest bond rating in its history, and a $50 million surplus in the fiscal budget, he said.

Adding fuel to the celebratory fire, Aris Melissaratos, Maryland secretary of Business and Economic Development, weighed in as well.

It's hard not to get excited about the things going on in Prince George's County," Melissaratos said. He predicted the county's unemployment rate would drop to the 2.3 to 2.5 percent range within the next few years.

The county's unemployment was 4.7 percent in January, slightly higher than the state average of 3.8 percent, after adding 4,652 new local jobs last year.

Improvements in education and public safety--two areas heavily funded in Johnson's proposed fiscal 2006 budget--were also highlighted.

Johnson's speech turned serious when he mentioned his controversial effort to reduce crime at 22 apartment complexes.

"I never said or inferred ... that this program is designed to move law-abiding citizens out of their homes," Johnson said. "This program is simply about compliance and creating safe communities so the families who live in them can have the same quiet enjoyment that you and I share in our homes and neighborhoods."

E-mail Tiesha Higgins at thiggins@gazette.net."

nbc4.com - News - State Attorney Glenn Ivey Looks For Answer To Rising Crime

2005-04-08T10:49:00.000-04:00

nbc4.com - News - Prince George's County Looks For Answer To Rising Crime: "Prince George's County Looks For Answer To Rising Crime
Officials Plan To Implement New Strategy Within 30 Days

POSTED: 6:48 pm EDT April 6, 2005
UPDATED: 7:04 pm EDT April 6, 2005

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. -- Prince George's County State Attorney Glenn Ivey is spearheading an effort to develop an anti-crime strategy in the county, which has seen a rise in crime recently.

Last year, the county's homicide rate doubled to 151. This year, there have been 44 murders with only 16 of the cases closed. Ivey said the trend needs to stop.

"We're having way too many homicides," Ivey said. "One is too many, but the spike that we've had I think is completely unacceptable."

Ivey and his team have reviewed strategies developed by law enforcement agencies nationwide, hoping to develop a successful plan of attack. The county is modeling its program after one implemented in High Point, N.C., once rife with drugs and crime. High Point officials told Ivey research should be the first step in implementing a successful strategy.

"We know where the hot spots are," Ivey said. "I think what we need to do is take it to the next level and figure out exactly who's causing it and what the dynamics are."

Ivey said he wants to see the first phase of the new approach implemented within the next 30 days.

"We need to do a better job in Prince George's County of having a real focused and coordinated approach," he said.
Copyright 2005 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."

Ivey Wins Landmark case - Ballistics Database Yields 1st Conviction (washingtonpost.com)

2005-04-02T16:05:00.000-05:00

Ballistics Database Yields 1st Conviction (washingtonpost.com): "Ballistics Database Yields 1st Conviction
Oxon Hill Man Tied To Murder Weapon

By Ruben Castaneda and David Snyder
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, April 2, 2005; Page B01

Evidence linking an Oxon Hill man to a murder weapon -- the equivalent of a handgun's fingerprint -- yesterday helped Prince George's County prosecutors win a first-degree murder case.

The verdict against Robert Garner, 21, marked the first time that prosecutors in Maryland have used information from a statewide ballistics database to obtain a conviction, law enforcement officials said. The conviction comes as some Maryland lawmakers are trying to kill the Integrated Ballistics Identification System because they say it is ineffective.

After a four-day trial, the Circuit Court jury convicted Garner of killing Kelvin Braxton, 22, outside a Popeyes chicken restaurant in Oxon Hill the evening of April 23. Garner is scheduled to be sentenced May 6.

Although the weapon, a .40-caliber handgun, never was found, county police and prosecutors connected the firearm to Garner through 10 shell casings found at the scene. A handgun leaves unique markings on shell casings each time it is fired, according to firearms experts.

The casings recovered at the murder scene matched a casing that was on file with Maryland State Police, showing that the weapon was purchased by Garner's then-girlfriend (now his wife) in a Forestville store about three weeks before the killing, according to trial testimony.

"That evidence was the cornerstone of our case," said Glenn F. Ivey, the Prince George's state's attorney. "It was powerful evidence. I hope this verdict helps our efforts to have the [ballistics identification database] continued and expanded."

The database was created by state lawmakers in 2000; New York is the only other state with such a law. The program came under criticism this year after Maryland State Police issued a report saying it was costly and ineffective.

Since the law's inception, state police have gathered test-fired shell casings from more than 43,000 handguns sold in the state, according to the report, which was compiled last fall. Police had used the database 208 times, yielding six "hits," or matches, the report said. The program had cost the state $2.6 million and had produced no convictions, the report said.

Gun advocates cited the report in calling for the program to be ended.

Andrew Arulanandam, a National Rifle Association spokesman, said the markings that firearms leave on shell casings can be altered, rendering the identification program ineffective. Arulanandam said yesterday that the Garner case did not change the NRA's position.

Del. Joan Cadden (D-Anne Arundel), a sponsor of legislation to end the program, said she was unaware that evidence obtained from the database was being used in a Prince George's murder prosecution until informed yesterday by a reporter.

No vote has been taken on the legislation. "If it doesn't pass this year, we have another year to study it," Cadden said.

According to court testimony, Braxton tried to shake Garner's hand about 7 p.m. inside the Popeyes in the 6200 block of Livingston Road.

Garner refused to shake hands, and the men exchanged angry words, according to testimony.

After Braxton got his food order and slid into the passenger seat of a friend's car, Garner opened fire, hitting Braxton multiple times, according to prosecution witnesses. Braxton tumbled out of the car and tried to crawl away, but Garner stepped up to him and fired a shot into his head, witnesses testified.

County homicide Detective Charles Richardson asked state police to check a shell casing found at the scene against its database, and the casing matched a gun purchased by Garner's girlfriend, according to trial testimony.

In his closing argument Thursday, Assistant State's Attorney William D. Moomau referred to the Maryland law requiring state police to gather shell casings. "Thank goodness Maryland has it for cases like this," Moomau said.
"

nbc4.com - Glenn F. Ivey: Two Men To Be Indicted In Basketball Coach's Murder

2005-04-01T18:14:00.000-05:00

nbc4.com - News - Two Men To Be Indicted In Basketball Coach's Murder: "Two Men To Be Indicted In Basketball Coach's Murder
Robert Gail Was Killed Following February Car Accident

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST March 31, 2005
UPDATED: 7:10 pm EST March 31, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Prince George's County State's Attorney, Glenn F. Ivey, announced Thursday that Lawrence Irving Green, 22, of Lanham, Md., and Byron Israel, 18, of Washington, D.C., will be indicted for the murder of Robert Gail, which occurred Feb. 14, 2005, in Riverdale, Md.

Gail was a basketball coach who was taking his son to practice when he became involved in a traffic accident with the defendants, who were allegedly fleeing from a home invasion in a stolen vehicle. According to the indictment, when Gail confronted them, Green shot and killed Gail while Gail's 11-year-old son looked on.

Prior to the shooting, police said, Green and Israel invaded a home in Lanham, where they tied up two young women at gunpoint and demanded money. Green allegedly sexually assaulted one of the women. A young man in the basement heard noise and went upstairs to investigate. The defendants allegedly then beat him, and one of them fired shots in his direction, grazing his head. The victims claimed the defendants then demanded the keys to a vehicle and fled in an SUV belonging to one of the women.

Police said that while attempting to escape the area, Green and Israel had a minor collision near Riverdale Road and Lamont Street with Gail, who was on his way to basketball practice. Gail was a coach for a youth basketball team in the New Carrollton/Riverdale area. The defendants reportedly did not stop and Gail followed them a short distance. Police say a confrontation occurred, during which Gail was shot and killed. The defendants allegedly fled through the woods up to Route 450.

Before this incident, Green served 3½ years of a mandatory five-year sentence for second-degree assault, use of a handgun and conspiracy to carjack. He was released from prison in December 2004."

Lanham, District men to be indicted for basketball coach murder

2005-03-31T23:43:00.000-05:00

Lanham, District men to be indicted for basketball coach murder: "Lanham, District men to be indicted for basketball coach murder

by Judson Berger
Staff Writer
March 31, 2005
Lawrence Irving Green of Lanham, and Byron Israel of the District will be indicted for the Feb. 14 murder of a youth basketball coach, County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey announced March 31.

According to the indictment, Green allegedly shot and killed coach Robert Gail in front of his son, after a traffic accident in Riverdale. The collision occurred near Riverdale Road and Lamont Street while Gail was taking his son to a basketball practice. Gail coached a youth basketball team nearby.

Police say Green and Israel were fleeing in a stolen vehicle from a home in Lanham, where they previously tied up two women and demanded money.

Sharon Dukes, special assistant to Ivey, said Green will also be charged with sexually assaulting one of the women.

Green was recently released from prison in December 2004, after serving three and a half years for second-degree assault, use of a handgun and conspiracy to carjack."

Laurel infant in critical condition after suspected child abuse

2005-03-29T18:39:00.000-05:00

Laurel infant in critical condition after suspected child abuse: "Laurel infant in critical condition after suspected child abuse

by Ayesha Ahmad
Staff Writer
March 29, 2005
Laurel police and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office are investigating a suspected case of child abuse after a 2-month-old baby girl from Laurel was hospitalized with a skull fracture and other trauma.

The infant, born Jan. 5, was taken by her parents to Arundel Medical Center March 26 because the mother thought she had teething problems, and was familiar with that hospital, said Laurel police spokesman Jim Collins.

"Doctors are still treating the infant," Collins said. "She’s in very critical condition on a respirator."

The skull fracture was old, Collins added, and there was some new trauma.

Annapolis police contacted Laurel police at about 2 p.m. on March 26 to report the incident because the family lived in the 1100 block of Twelfth Street in Laurel.

When Laurel police arrived, the baby was being readied for transport to Children’s Hospital, but Children’s opted to send a team to Arundel instead because of concerns about air pressure on the baby’s head injuries during the flight.

Laurel police investigators have been in close contact with the office of State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey, Collins said.

"We’re tracing down all leads and we’re interviewing all parties associated at this time," said Ivey spokesman Ramon Korionoff. "As of now, we haven’t determined whether there’ll be any charges."

But Collins added that police hope to file charges as soon as possible against whoever is determined responsible.

"This is probably the lowest crime that somebody could commit, against [children or infants] who can’t speak for themselves or defend themselves," he said. "We take it very personally and we want to make sure that whoever is responsible is charged and let the courts do what they have to do.""

W*USA 9 News

2005-03-26T15:48:00.000-05:00

W*USA 9 News: "Slurpee Killer Guilty
Written By The Associated Press
Created:3/25/2005 3:29:07 PM
Last Updated:3/25/2005 6:41:31 PM

A Suitland teen-ager has been found guilty of killing another youth over a girl and a 7-eleven Slurpee.

A Prince George's County jury on Friday found 16-year-old Emmanuel McClain guilty on four counts in the beating death of 18-year-old Michael Bassett.

Police and prosecutors said McClain beat Bassett outside a convenience store on Silver Hill Road in Suitland last May after Basset offered to buy a Slurpee for a girl standing nearby.

Bassett was left for dead near a busy roadway and was hit by oncoming traffic. He died from injuries sustained at the scene.

State's Attorney Glenn Ivey says justice has been done and closure can now come to the Bassett family.

McClain faces at least 65 years in jail when he's sentenced on May 12th.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed."

Residents fear fate of crime bills

2005-03-24T17:51:00.000-05:00

Residents fear fate of crime bills: "Residents fear fate of crime bills

by Meghan Mullan
Staff Writer
March 24, 2005
Local residents are worried that several crime bills before the General Assembly in Annapolis this month may die in committee before passing both houses.

Members of the District 21 delegation have sponsored some of the bills, which focus on auto theft, gangs and witness intimidation. “All three are issues of concern and it would be better for all of us [if these were addressed in the legislature],” said Barbara Hamm, spokeswoman for the county police. But residents said the bills aren’t widely discussed.

“No one seems to know that there are bills … in the Legislature that would help stop crime,” said Karen Coakley, president of the Beltsville Citizens Association.

Coakley said she is fed up with growing crime rate in Beltsville that has historically been a low crime area.

“Crime rates are increasing, the police asked me to get involved. People complain about the lack of [police] response [time] but they’re [legislators] trying to do something about it and the media hasn’t reported that.”

Two bills on auto theft would give police more leverage in gaining evidence to prosecute thieves. One would allow for an audio wire tap to be placed in a bait car.

The second would allow for victims to sign an affidavit instead of appearing in court multiple times to prosecute people involved in the theft of their vehicle.

“I am constantly stunned by the number of car thefts [in the area],” said Roy Labs of Beltsville.

But witness intimidation laws are what Coakley and Labs said need to be upgraded the most.

“Witness intimidation can undermine the entire judicial system,” Labs said.

Two laws against intimidating witnesses and another to allow evidence from an intimidated witness to be used in court without the witness being present have caused controversy in Annapolis.

Del. Joseph Vallario (D-Dist 27-A) of Upper Marlboro, who heads the Judiciary Committee, has said he will not pass a law that allows for evidence from a witness who is not present. Sen. John Giannetti (D-Dist. 21) of Laurel said the hearsay portion of the witness intimidation law will likely not pass over Vallario’s objections but that other witness intimidation laws will pass this session.

“They [other bills] will crack down on intimidating a witness, making it a new felony with extra jail time,” Giannetti said.

Giannetti said he is well aware that gang issues are on the minds of local residents. “I’ve heard again and again, ‘what are you doing about gangs?’” he said.

An anti-gang bill prohibiting threats of physical violence with the intention of coercing someone into a gang is currently before the Senate.

“My prediction is its going to get through,” Giannetti said.

He said that working with legislation defining gangs has been difficult. “[A gang] looks like a Boy Scout troop [in writing],” he said. Working out correct legal language has taken time, Giannetti said.

The county’s chief prosecutor, State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D), is lobbying the Legislature to get “some measure passed with stronger penalties [for those who intimidate witnesses] at very least,” said Ivey spokesman Ramon Korionoff.

“Witness intimidation is a rampant problem in Prince George’s and Baltimore [counties],” Korionoff said.

Korionoff said Ivey is counting on passage of a bill that will increase jail time for those convicted of witness intimidation to 20 years.

“We want something where they will think twice before intimidating a witness,” he said.

Del. Barbara Frush (D-Dist. 21) of Beltsville said she is in favor of stronger laws against those who intimidate witnesses, a problem she is keenly aware of near her community. “There are cases of witness intimidation. A man was chased into Laurel Lakes and he drowned [because he was going to testify against] a gang member who committed murder. This is a major problem…. We need to stop it right now and move on it very quickly,” she said.

The last day of the session is April 12, none of the crime bills have been voted on in both houses of the Legislature. Some are in the house Judiciary Committee, which Vallario chairs.

“He’s tough,” Frush said. “Putting a bill in his committee like going to purgatory.”

Vallario did not return phone calls for this story.

E-mail Meghan Mullan at mmullan@gazette.net."

baltimoresun.com - Ivey Considering decision on entering Senate race

2005-03-23T22:19:00.000-05:00

baltimoresun.com - Cardin close to decision on entering Senate race: "Cardin close to decision on entering Senate race
Activist Kaufman to file; others mulling a run
By Gwyneth K. Shaw
Sun National Staff
Originally published March 23, 2005
WASHINGTON - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin said yesterday that he is still seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate and plans to announce a decision soon.
"I am pretty much on schedule. I've talked to a lot of people, and they've all been very encouraging," he said. "We're going through this process, and I'm hoping to complete it within the time frame I've set out, which was a couple of weeks."

Cardin, 61, is one of several Democrats who have expressed interest in the seat held by Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, who announced this month that he will retire when his term ends after next year.

So far, only Kweisi Mfume - a former Baltimore congressman who recently resigned as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - has formally announced his candidacy. Yesterday, A. Robert Kaufman, a civic activist who has made several unsuccessful runs for statewide office, said he would file as a candidate Monday.

Other Democrats are mulling whether to jump into the race. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger opened an exploratory fund-raising account last week, while aides to Reps. Chris Van Hollen and Elijah E. Cummings said yesterday that both are still thinking about running. So is Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

All are testing the waters, consulting friends, family and - most important - people who understand political polling and fund raising across Maryland.

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele has said he is seriously considering a run and will make further announcements in the next few weeks.

Cardin, who represents parts of Baltimore and the surrounding area, was elected to Congress in 1986 after spending almost 20 years in the state House of Delegates. In January, he became the top Democrat on the trade subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

He has flirted with the idea of running for statewide office before, most recently in 1998, when he considered challenging then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening in the Democratic primary.

Cardin said that if he decides to run, he will announce a formal candidacy, skipping the more tentative step of forming an exploratory committee.

Asked whether an announcement could come by the end of this week, he said, "A lot depends - I can't answer that, because I have not concluded what I'm going to do.""

Ivey mentioned for Senate Seat

2005-03-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

www.GovExec.com - Jostling For A Seat (3/22/05): "Jostling For A Seat
By Charlie Cook, National Journal

Washington-area political junkies may reside at the epicenter of the political universe, but opportunities to watch interesting and trulycompetitive Senate and House races in our own backyard have been few and far between.

The 1994 Senate race in Virginia between Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb and Republican Oliver North was great political theater, as was Robb's losing effort to fend off George Allen six years later. Maryland's 8th Congressional District hosted a hot Democratic primary and general election in 2002, when Democrat Chris Van Hollen defeated Mark Shriver in the primary and then unseated eight-term GOP incumbent Connie Morella. Great races all, but they were hardly enough to sate the appetites of true campaign aficionados.

Now, thanks largely to the decision of five-term Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., to retire, 2006 might be a banner year for competitive federal races in this region.

Maryland is a solidly blue state. It gave Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry 56 percent of its vote in 2004. The state hasn't had an open-seat Senate race since 1986, when Charles Mathias, the last Republican to represent Maryland in the Senate, retired and then-Rep. Barbara Mikulski trounced Reagan White House aide Linda Chavez.

So, there's no shortage of Free State Democrats with Senate aspirations. Former Rep. Kweisi Mfume, past president of the NAACP, has announced he'll run, while Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2) and Van Hollen (MD-8) have established exploratory committees. Reps. Elijah Cummings (MD-7) and Ben Cardin (MD-3) are also contemplating the race, as is Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey. Every House member who runs will open up a congressional seat, and although all these districts are reliably Democratic, voters should at least see competitive primaries next year.

Even if the Democratic primary comes down to Mfume, Ruppersberger, and Van Hollen, they would create a contest with complicated dynamics.

The first is racial. Mfume, Cummings, and Ivey are black, and African-Americans make up 28 percent of the state's population. If more than one black candidate is in the race for the Democratic nomination, that will split the African-American vote.

The next dynamic is geographic. Mfume's old congressional district was centered in Baltimore. Cummings represents a large part of that city. Ruppersberger, a former county executive of Baltimore County, and Cardin represent the Baltimore suburbs. If at least two Baltimore-oriented candidates are in the race, that might help Van Hollen, who represents Montgomery County, or Ivey, whose base is in Prince George's County, both in the Washington suburbs.

The final dynamic is old Maryland versus new Maryland. Baltimore used to be the state's demographic and political hub, but growth in the suburbs along the Washington-Baltimore corridor has given the state a more suburban feel. Cummings, whose district includes parts of Baltimore and the fast-growing Howard County suburbs, and Cardin, whose district includes Anne Arundel County, are the only potential candidates who straddle both worlds.

Regardless of how many Democrats run, these dynamics virtually guarantee a competitive primary.

Maryland Republicans have been way outnumbered at the federal level for decades and now hold only two of the eight House seats. They are also scarce in the state Legislature, where Democrats hold a 2-to-1 edge. However, the election of Republican Robert Ehrlich to the governorship in 2002 has given the GOP hope of becoming a more viable party in the state. Republicans also hope that a crowded Democratic primary will provide their party an opening in the Senate race.

Taking advantage of that opening, though, would require recruiting a solid candidate. National Republicans would like to run Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a 46-year-old African-American lawyer. Steele's candidacy would attract national attention and money, making him competitive in a general election -- and perhaps even a good bet, if the Democratic nominee is also black. Without Steele, Republicans' odds of prevailing in the Senate race are much longer.

The possibility that Maryland will host competitive general-election races for governor and for the open Senate seat, plus contested primaries for several House seats, should give the region's campaign enthusiasts plenty of action in 2006."

JRP "One Angry Man"

2005-03-14T15:23:00.000-05:00

JRP "One Angry Man": "One Angry Man
By Patricia Cohen, Staff Writer
Washington Post
May 30, 1997

Paul Butler says he lost just one trial as an assistant U.S. attorney.

It was a classic "dropsy": the dealer catches sight of the cops, drops the bag of dope and runs. This time, the kid claimed the police set him up and then beat him.

"I destroyed his case," Butler says matter-of-factly. Butler is proud of his conviction rate during a six-month assignment as a prosecutor in 1990. At a trial's start, he would unfold his 6-foot-3 frame from the chair, turn his brown oval face toward the jury box and announce, "My name is Paul Butler and I represent the United States of America," nudging the syllables of the last few words for emphasis.

"The African American jurors, the older women in particular, would just beam," Butler says in his rich bass, as if they were thinking, "You go, boy, you represent the United States of America."

So when the foreman in the dropsy case stood and pronounced the black defendant "not guilty," Butler was shocked. All 10 black jurors refused to speak to him after the verdict, but one white
juror finally admitted that the others talked her into letting the kid off.

Butler had often heard colleagues complain of black jurors refusing to send black defendants to prison despite indisputable guilt; it was a staple of a prosecutor's training. But when it happened to him, he was indignant. "I was angry . . . I win all my cases."

Now, from his fourth-floor office at George Washington University Law School, Paul Butler, 36, has become the leading spokesman for "jury nullification," urging African American jurors to ignore
rock-solid evidence of guilt and set nonviolent black defendants free.

In the backwash of O.J. Simpson's acquittal, Butler's calls to put loyalty to race above loyalty to law have fueled anxieties about the nation's trial system. While fear of renegade jurors has
prodded some state legislatures to consider abandoning unanimous jury verdicts, a federal appeals court last week declared that judges have a duty to prevent nullification. In the District,
some judges have started issuing what's become known as an "anti-Butler" warning to jurors; a New York Times editorial this week chided Butler, and angry GW alumni have demanded
unsuccessfully that he be fired.

"I do want to subvert the criminal justice system," Butler declares unapologetically. A system that treats black crack smokers more harshly than whites who snort powdered cocaine doesn't deserve respect, he says.

What seems remarkable, however, is not simply that someone is advocating nullification, but that this former prosecutor, this Justice Department veteran, this product of the establishment, is
its preeminent champion.

How did Paul Butler move from there to here?

Career Advancement

"I think Paul's law review article grew out of his experience at the U.S. Attorneys Office," says Glenn Ivey, a friend of Butler's since Harvard Law School and a former prosecutor who now works on Capitol Hill. "In Washington, D.C., all the defendants you see are pretty much black, and you're
locking them up mainly on drug violations."

But back then, Butler says, sending black men to jail didn't trouble him. He was depressed by statistics that showed 42 percent of African American men in the District of Columbia were
under the criminal justice systems supervision, but he continued to have faith in the process.

"If I were thoughtful, I would have thought about the relationship between poverty and black crime," Butler says of his prosecuting days. "But that was too expensive for me as a black man. I would have had to leave the office."

No, says Butler, there was no lightning flash of insight, no crystalline epiphany. His championing of jury nullification came as a gradual peeling off of rationalizations like the leaves on an artichoke.

His friends were the first to start picking at the outer layers. They teased him when he took a high-paying job at the tony firm of Williams & Connolly in 1987, the only black associate out of
about 120 lawyers. ("Paul used to call meetings of the black associates and sit there in his office by himself," says colleague Marc Srere, remembering Butler's piquant joking.) Butler, as if trying to convince himself once again, ticks off the reasons he joined the firm: the $50,000 in school loans to
repay, the top-notch litigation experience. Still, the accusation that he had sold out by representing rich corporate clients stung.

A desire to move "closer to the good guys" pushed him to join the Justice Departments public corruption unit in 1990. As preparation, he was first assigned for six months to the U.S. Attorney's Office to gain trial experience. The courtroom competition, the public performance: Butler loved it, even if it meant locking up black kid after black kid. He was the government's "hired gun" and he was bent on winning. But his friend Odeana Neal insisted that he was still on the wrong side. Now an associate professor at the University of Baltimore law school, Neal and 10 or so African American friends gathered once a month for dinner and discussion, first at Harvard and then in Washington. Like a Greek chorus, the group provided running commentary on everyone's lives. "It was troubling to me that so many of us had chosen [to be prosecutors] and I thought they had chosen it because it was prestigious and afforded a decent amount of money," Neal says. "We have an obligation to do good by the rest of the community."

Some of the prosecutors, like Glenn Ivey, fiercely disagreed that they weren't serving their own people. Protecting African Americans from drug dealers was doing good, he argued. But Neal
remembers that Butler, normally voluble, grew contemplative. The discussions cut deeply. After a while the evenings became so rancorous the topic was banned from discussion.

What replaced it was the Marion Barry trial. Despite seeing the crack pipe, the white rock of crack cocaine and the videotape of D.C.'s mayor smoking, a handful of the black jurors refused to convict him on 13 of 14 drug counts. To Butler's surprise, a few black assistant U.S. attorneys privately celebrated. Barry had been entrapped because he was a powerful black man, they
believed.

If the daily task of prosecuting black drug users barely affected Butler, the Barry case hit him like a stack of law books. "It made me appreciate the subversiveness of the little people, these African American jurors," Butler says, still marveling at the audacity of the secretaries, clerks and assistants who filled the jury box. "The U.S. Attorney's Office gave them Barry on a platter to fry . . . . And they refused to convict."

The jury's insurgency was less troubling than Barry's personal victory. At the same moment Butler was scrutinizing his own responsibilities as an African American, here was Barry, who had flagrantly let blacks down. "You have to conduct yourself in the best way, not to bring disfavor on your people. If it applies to a lawyer like me, then what about the mayor?" Butler says. "I felt betrayed."

So if Butler had been on this nonviolent drug offender's jury, would he have voted guilty or not guilty?

Butler pauses, fiddling with the paper clips in his desk drawer: "I don't know. I don't know."

Birth of a Notion

Butler liked the high-powered public corruption unit (and the fact that most of the defendants were white), but he had trouble seeing himself as a career prosecutor. When he heard of a
teaching opening at the George Washington University law school, he applied.

As part of the interview process, he delivered a 20-minute lecture to the faculty. His subject was the Barry trial -- how every move, from the appearance of Louis Farrakhan to the mayor's charge of entrapment, was a calculated attempt by the defense to play the race card.

Butler got the job and began to expand the lecture into a publishable article. He'd already seen how black criminal defendants and their lawyers tried to send a message to black jurors. Now for the next question: How would those jurors respond?

"We're talking about criminals," Butler explains, "so that the idea that law-abiding people would identify . . . with them in some way is just fascinating."

Critical race theory offered an explanation. The decade-old academic movement essentially argues that color blindness is an illusion; everything we see or do including the laws we pass is a
function of our race.

At the same time, Butler was preparing to teach a course in criminal law and began reviewing the classic justifications for punishments. "You never think about that when you're practicing,"
he says. "Why punish" is the traditional lecture the first day of class. Why punish black men for drug crimes, he asked himself.

He concluded that retribution has no place in what he had come to believe is a racist justice system, citing a Sentencing Project study that concluded African Americans receive three-quarters of drug-related prison sentences even though they make up only 13
percent of the nation's regular drug users.

"Criminal conduct among African Americans is often a predictable reaction to oppression," he wrote in the Yale Law Journal in November 1995. "For pragmatic and political reasons, the black
community is better off when some nonviolent lawbreakers remain in the community rather than go to prison." Let African Americans decide instead of the white-controlled criminal justice process.

Butler was referring primarily to victimless crimes, and not to violent ones, such as murder or rape. In robberies of the wealthy, nullification is an option, he wrote. Though the theft is "clearly wrong" and the race or class of the victim "irrelevant," it makes political sense to nullify: "If the rich cannot rely on criminal law for the protection of their property . . . perhaps they will focus on correcting the conditions that make others want to steal from them."

More than 100 years ago, the Supreme Court, in a dispute over instructions to the jury in a murder case, recognized that juries had the power to nullify. Abolitionist juries ignored the law to prevent returning runaway slaves to their owners, and white jurors in the Jim Crow South routinely freed white murderers when the victims were black. But Butler pushed the idea further, offering a legal justification for freeing clearly guilty criminals solely because of their race.

Suddenly his incendiary thesis was seen as the explanation for Simpson's acquittal on murder charges a month earlier (even though Butler believes the verdict was based on reasonable doubt
and not nullification). Butler was catapulted onto TV and into magazines and newspapers.

He won plaudits from other critical race theorists, some defense attorneys and even a few critics, who praised his intellectual courage in articulating the legal system's dirty little secret -- the one that the trials of Marion Barry, Bronx outlaw Larry Davis and the black men videotaped beating Reginald Denny during the Los Angeles riots suggested.

But while a few viewed Butler as a visionary, several prominent experts called him an arrogant self-promoter, a dangerous subversive or a racist. "Bad public policy, bad law . . . and morally reprehensible," declared Joseph diGenova, former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. "Erroneous claims, dubious calculations, and destructive sentiments," said Butler's former law professor Randall Kennedy.

Butler was impenitent. "It doesn't matter if a white person understands or agrees with it," he told interviewer Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes, "it's a power that we have, whether you or any other white person likes it or not."

The attention -- negative or not -- was thrilling. Butler had wanted to force a public debate and he had.

But some scholars worried it was too intoxicating. "It's one thing to be controversial, but he's so taken with notoriety," says one law professor familiar with his work. "We live in a time of rather significant racial tension, I don't think you can be cavalier about these ideas or pump them up through the TV cameras."

There is one point Butler openly concedes: that African Americans often want the criminal justice system to respond to drug use in their neighborhoods. He remembers, when living in Mount Pleasant, that a guy several houses down was selling drugs. "I wanted to call the police . . . and then I thought, You're the last person who should be mad, but I don't like it in my neighborhood."

Life in Chicago

The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Barry trial, the law school, the TV studios -- maybe those just insulate the heart of Butler's evolution. In order to understand where Paul Butler is now, maybe one also needs to go back to where he started, on the South Side of Chicago. "I didn't know a white person until I was 13 or 14," he says. "I never saw any except on television."

To a reporter preparing to write about him, Butler hands a poem by Nikki Giovanni: "I really hope no white person ever has cause/ To write about me . . . they'll probably talk about my hard
childhood/ And never understand that/ All the while I was quite happy."

When Butler writes about himself, he begins with the bicycle. He was 10 years old and pedaling to a shopping mall in an all-white Chicago neighborhood when a police car pulled alongside. A white officer rolled down the window and stuck his head out: "Is that bike yours?"

"Yes," Paul answered. "Is that car yours?" he added before speeding away. When he got home, his mother was furious.

"The police have a license to kill . . . and that's what they do to young black men, so you say Yes sir and No sir, " says Lindi Butler Walton, remembering the incident. She is a tall, striking woman with gray-streaked hair that falls behind her shoulders in dozens of tiny braids. Her entrance into a room ushers in a current of energy. She settles into a blue-flowered sofa in her house in Mattison, a comfortably middle-class suburban community about 40 minutes outside downtown Chicago.

"I never had a good experience with whites," says Walton, explaining that her son's childhood segregation was "purposeful." Growing up, Paul Butler remembers his mother slipping on a dashiki to march with Martin Luther King Jr. in Marquette Park, and his great-grandmother Mollie Washington warning, "You can't trust any white people."

Walton packs her camera to visit the apartment on Wabash Avenue on the South Side that she and her two children shared with Washington for a couple of years. Walton had dropped out of the University of Illinois when she discovered she was pregnant with Paul during her freshman year and was divorced soon after.

Those tough years are behind her now that she has her college degree, is financially secure and remarried. As the Walton's mustard-colored Jaguar exits the highway, Lindi's husband, Elmo,
clicks the door locks shut. Minutes later, he pulls up across the street from a tan brick apartment building splattered with graffiti. Glass crescents litter the sidewalk. In the first-floor windows of the apartment where they used to live, drooping yellow sheets fill in for curtains. "We didn't live like that," Lindi says after she poses for a snapshot in front of the building. "We were poor, but not poor poor."

From there, Elmo Walton drives to the three-bedroom beige brick bungalow Lindi bought for $18,500 in Princeton Park. At the neighborhood school, the other kids asked Paul if he was from the
Caribbean. Because he spoke perfect English, they assumed he was from another country. Teasing and fights were common, but he adds, "The teachers were excellent."

Her children "were going to be educated in black schools by black teachers," says Walton, who unrelentingly preaches education and taught in Chicago's public school system for 25 years. "Nobody understands or cares for you like your own."

Still, Walton wanted her son "to go someplace where he could go to Harvard or Yale" even if that meant putting him in a predominantly white school. So when he reached the ninth grade, she sent Paul to the 150-year-old St. Ignatius prep school, which the legendary Mayor Richard Daley's sons attended.

"White people were a shock," Butler says of his first day at St. Ignatius. That he could even get along with white classmates was something of a surprise.

By the time Butler arrived at Yale, he was used to living easily in a predominantly white world, though he avoided assimilating. At Harvard Law School, he was known as a "race man," working to recruit more minority faculty. Odeana Neal remembers a class in which Prof. Kennedy was explaining how conciliatory the freed slaves were after the Civil War to the whites who once owned them. Butler was astonished. "Paul's first question in that class was, Didn't the former slaves have access to guns?"

In explaining his own view of whites, Butler says that by the time he reached college, "I thought maybe white people had changed . . . [from] a time when all white people were white supremacists.

"Now I have white friends who are good people who I trust," he says. His sister is married to a white man, and Butler once lobbied unsuccessfully with his all-black discussion group for a white friend to be allowed to attend.

From those first days behind a desk at St. Ignatius to those first days of lecturing in front of a GW classroom, Butler has struggled to reconcile his family's fearsome stories about whites with his own day-to-day experiences: "I still don't know how to fit it all together," he confesses.

Success and Anger

"It's funny when people talk about Paul being a radical," Odeana Neal says. "If you're poor and uneducated, the stereotypical black, [white people] understand having a different viewpoint,
they understand anger. But when you have a similar experience as they do and they have a different perspective, it comes as a shock."

Ellis Cose wrote about the undercurrent of fury that runs under the skin of many middle and upper class African Americans in his book "The Rage of the Privileged Class." "I don't know Paul Butler well enough to speak about his individual case," says Cose, who recently edited a book of essays on justice including one by Butler (and who disagrees with his thesis). "But he certainly fits the profile of a lot of people I interviewed" -- successful and tremendously angry.

Butler agrees: "It's the sum total of a lot of trivial slights . . . that are insignificant alone." He remembers, for example, the colleague who mentioned Butler could be a contender for deputy
attorney general without considering the AG job itself.

But if it isn't odd that Butler wants to undermine the system that helped produce him, the perception that it's strange is the very reason for his renown. Butler's Harvard degree and
prosecutor's bona fides -- those are in part responsible for the remarkable attention his work has received.

And for his continuing success. Butler can be seen opining on CNN, ABC, CNBC and Court TV; he writes a column in Legal Times and rides the legal lecture circuit. This week he's finished another article, for next month's issue of the Colorado Law Review. In it, he argues that affirmative action should be used to correct the disparity in sentencing blacks arrested on drug charges, a proposal that is sure to enrage both supporters and opponents of affirmative action. "Either more whites would have to be arrested or fewer African-Americans should be. Alternatively, affirmative action might require identical sentence for similar white criminal conduct such as powder cocaine use and black criminal conduct such as crack cocaine use."

Butler leans back in his chair. Last month, the faculty voted to grant him tenure. His intellectual journey is just beginning, he says. "Now I can say what I really think.""

2006 U.S. Senate Races - Ivey Mentioned as Possible Sebate Candidate

2005-03-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

2006 U.S. Senate Races - Modern Vertebrate: "Maryland (Sarbanes-D) - Sen. Paul Sarbanes, 72, announced in mid-March that he will be retiring after 30 years in the Senate. No candidates have declared their intentions to run just yet, but possible candidates include former NAACP president and former Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D), Rep. Albert Wynn (D), Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D), Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) and Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey (D). Also, former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) may be ripe for a political comeback. For the Republicans, possible candidates include Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, state Sen. E.J. Pipkin and—don't think he wouldn't—Alan Keyes."

Maryland lawmakers consider ending signature ballistic fingerprinting system - Ivey says it is needed!

2005-03-13T17:07:00.001-05:00

Local News - The Daily Times - www.delmarvanow.com: "Gun program could be shot down
Maryland lawmakers consider ending signature ballistic fingerprinting system

By Sarah Abruzzese
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS -- Maryland's marquee ballistic fingerprinting program, which has cost the state $2.5 million to date, is imperiled by an unsupportive administration that has called for its end and zeroed out its budget.

A few years ago, the program that requires every new weapon sold in Maryland be ballistics tested and filed was heralded as state-of-the-art gun control. President Clinton watched then Gov. Parris N. Glendening sign the landmark Responsible Gun Act of 2000 into law.

Today, opponents say the system doesn't work due to faulty information, biased technicians and incompatibility with the federal ballistics system. It, they say, should be abolished.

Proponents say ballistic fingerprinting offers law enforcement a valuable tool for investigating crime.

Del. Neil F. Quinter, D-Howard, said the program needs to be given more time to fully develop.

It is still too early to see if the system that began operating in 2000 is effective, Quinter said, because there is a lag between a gun's purchase and when it is used in a crime -- 3 to 6.1 years.

The sponsors said the purpose of the bill to kill the program is housekeeping.

With no money in the budget to support the program, said Del. Joan D. Cadden, D-Anne Arundel, "The program is already dead. ... We need to pass the legislation so state police won't be breaking the law."

The ballistic fingerprinting system cost $1.4 million to set up and state police estimated it will cost $435,269 in fiscal year 2005.

Concerns
As a legislator, Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Thomas E. Hutchins voted against Glendening's gun bill, even though he said he supported the ballistics testing component. Now he said the program should be cut.

The state's attorney for Prince George's County has a pending murder case where ballistics fingerprinting helped but he couldn't reveal details of the ongoing case.

"It has the potential to be equivalent to fingerprints and the DNA database," Glenn F. Ivey said. "You have to make sure you can reach a critical mass of data."

And there is a significant amount of data that could be put into the system, said a Baltimore City Police Department spokesman.

"Just to go by the number of shootings we have in the city," Officer Troy Harris said, "it would be thousands."

The state's ballistic database system has 43,729 casings and has had only 208 queries to date. Just six successful identifications have been made -- a reason opponents cite for dropping the program.

The state's DNA database, which has assisted in 224 investigations, took as long to bear fruit. Just two years ago it assisted in only 39 cases.

That DNA program, which began in 1994 and got its first hit in 1998, does work, the assistant director for the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division said. The lag in effectiveness was blamed on federal changes that entailed a complete overhaul of the state's system.

Reliability is also a problem, said Teresa M. Long.

The state has found 222 test firings conducted by gun makers that were inaccurate, she said.

"If you were to investigate other instances you may find them suspect," Long said.

Technicians interpreting the data also have biases, she said.

That shouldn't be the case, said the vice president for Strategic Planning & Marketing for Forensic Technology, which sold the ballistic fingerprinting system to Maryland.

"The system needs to be nurtured," said Pete Gagliardi. "The system needs to be fed. It depends on people. Technology is just a tool. It is only useful if someone uses it."

Forensic Technology has supplied 234 systems in the United States, many of them part of National Integrated Ballistics Information Network and New York's system, which also has a ballistic fingerprinting program similar to Maryland's.

When he learned Friday of the state's problem with biased information, Gagliardi offered to retrain the users -- for free.

Opposition
Gun advocates see the situation as a vindication of their opposition to the program.

"When ballistic fingerprinting was implemented," the National Rifle Association of America's State Liaison Jennifer H. Palmer said, "the NRA said it was a waste of time, money and resources. ... It doesn't work, it's ineffective."

A gun store owner from Baltimore said ballistic fingerprints can easily be changed and that the system only comes up with matches that eliminate guns, not positively identify them.

"This is not DNA," said Sanford Abrams. "This is not fingerprinting."

Gun owners on the Lower Shore also continue to be leery of the measure.

"If we were seeing some good results, I wouldn't have that much of problem with it," said Franklin Emerson of Pocomoke City. "But right now, it just seems to be a drag on our money and manpower."

Proponents of ballistic testing say Maryland's problem with the system is poor implementation of procedures.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence wants Maryland to work to connect its system with the federal one so testing could be done statewide. Maryland's system differs from the federal one, which collects ballistic information from crimes.

There are simple remedies to the problems the state police are reporting, the coalition's executive director said.

"These are minor issues you can easily overcome with a well-thought-out work plan," said Joshua Horowitz.

Doug Kramer of Salisbury agreed, saying the system needs to be refined more before it is complete shelved.

"I just feel like it got thrown out there too quickly," he said.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which heard testimony on one bill to eliminate the program on March 1, has not set a date for a vote.

No vote has been set for the bill in the House Judiciary Committee, which heard testimony Wednesday. Committee members appear divided on whether to scrap the system.

"It's confusing," said Del. Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery. "Opponents and proponents have their own set of facts."

"I think that repealing the bill, if it does not deserve to be repealed," Simmons said, "merely ratifies bad policy and bad administration."

Originally published March 13, 2005"

Maryland lawmakers consider ending signature ballistic fingerprinting system - Ivey says it is needed!

2005-03-13T17:07:00.000-05:00

Yahoo! News - Md. Sen. Sarbanes Announces Retirement

2005-03-11T13:57:00.000-05:00

Yahoo! News - Md. Sen. Sarbanes Announces Retirement: "Md. Sen. Sarbanes Announces Retirement

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
BALTIMORE - Sen. Paul Sarbanes (news, bio, voting record), a liberal Democrat who is the longest serving senator in Maryland's history, announced Friday that he won't seek a sixth term next year. Sarbanes, 72, was elected to the Senate in 1976.

He is a reliable liberal vote on economic and social issues, although he has often been upstaged by Maryland's other senator, the outspoken Barbara Mikulski, who was elected in 1986.

Sarbanes would become the second Democratic incumbent to retire rather than run again. Among Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee has long indicated he does not plan to seek a new term.

Sarbanes moved to the Senate after a career in the House that included a seat on the Judiciary Committee (news - web sites) during the Watergate impeachment hearings involving former President Richard Nixon.

Seemingly publicity-averse, Sarbanes' principal area of interest in the Senate has been the Banking Committee, where he has served as chairman or senior Democratic member for several years.

A retirement could also have repercussions in another high-profile race in Maryland next year. Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich is expected to seek re-election, and several Democratic challengers have begun maneuvering for the nomination to oppose him."

Illegal slot machines to be removed from all sites

2005-03-11T12:21:00.000-05:00

Illegal slot machines to be removed from all sites: "Illegal slot machines to be removed from all sites

by Sonsyrea Tate
Staff Writer
March 10, 2005
Illegal slot machines have been removed from some establishments in Prince George's County, a senior official of the Prince George's County Liquor Control Board has disclosed.

Board Chairman Franklin Jackson said the machines were seized from liquor stores.

"From what we understand, there were approximately 41 locations that have a liquor license that have [illegal slots], and they've all been removed," Jackson said in an interview with The Gazette. Machines were removed from a final location on Monday.

Franklin and some county officials are uncertain when illegal slot machines began proliferating in the county, but one state lawmaker said the machines apparently were installed in early January. Another lawmaker said he had been hearing of them since last year.

Del. Justin Ross (D-Dist. 22) of Greenbelt said he received a call about a year ago from a bar owner asking whether the machines were legal. The bar owner told him that others were buying and installing them, believing that they were legal.

"I think it's an embarrassment to Prince George's County," he added. "We're debating in Annapolis policy on slots machines, with the understanding that the money would go for education. These [illegal slot machines] are being run to the benefit of the liquor establishments."

Ross, who proposed legislation to close liquor stores at 10 p.m. in Prince George's, but settled for supporting legislation that would close them at midnight, thinks liquor store owners who installed the machines should have their liquor licenses revoked.

The penalty for possessing and using illegal slot machines is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

The county's chief prosecutor, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D), is working with county and state police to find and prosecute those in violation, Ivey's spokesman Ramon Korionoff said.

"We're working very closely with the Prince George's County police and the Maryland State Police, and we're in the midst of investigating reports of illegal gaming in Prince George's County," Korionoff said.

The investigation spans liquor stores, convenience stores, and coin laundries, The Gazette has learned.

On March 3, the Prince George's County Liquor Control Board went to Annapolis to brief a Prince George's Delegation House committee on their efforts to end the illegal activity.

Michael Herman, who is chief of staff to County Executive Jack B. Johnson, said Johnson is aware of the allegations of illegal slot machines in the county.

"He has directed that police look into the situation immediately, and if there are illegal slots in Prince George's, he will enforce the law," Herman said of Johnson's determination to keep slots out. "The county executive has said he does not want slot machines in Prince George's, legal or illegal."

E-mail Sonsyrea Tate at state@gazette.net."

Ivey Slams The Door On Illegal Slot Machines

2005-03-10T16:03:00.000-05:00

Ex-priest who abused teens going to jail - Thanks Glenn Ivey

2005-03-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

Ex-priest who abused teens going to jail: "Ex-priest who abused teens going to jail
BY JAMES WASHBURN
THE COURIER

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Lincoln resident Francis Benham, a 68-year-old former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty in December to second- and third-degree sex charges dating back to the 1970s, was sentenced to 18 months in jail Friday.

Circuit Judge Michele Hotten officially sentenced Benham to two, 10-year concurrent prison terms stemming from the convictions. But, as part of a plea agreement reached between Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey and Benham’s defense attorney, all but 18 months of the simultaneous prison terms were suspended, said Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for Ivey.

In addition to the jail term, Benham also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his discharge from jail and is to refrain from contacting the victims in the case or with any one under the age of 18, Korionoff said.

Hotten also ordered Benhem be clinically evaluated by a member of the Association for the Treatment of Sex Abusers, he added.

During the hearing, Benham listened to victim impact statements from a 40-year-old Pennsylvania woman and a 42-year-old Maryland man who were the victims of Benham’s sex crimes that occurred between 1977 and ’79 when Benham served as a priest at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Forestville, Md.

The female victim, Donna Benden of Fairfield, Penn., said Friday that Benham forced her to have oral sex and sodomized her during the two-year period that began when she was only 13. According to court documents, Benham forced her to have conventional sex and sodomized her inside the church two to three times a week.

"He was like a mentor to me before anything happened," Benden said in a telephone interview with The Courier. "I also looked to him as God.

"During that whole two years, he had me to believe that it was OK. And, that it was OK with God."

Since the time of the incidents, Benden said she has sought counseling, hoping to resolve her skepticism of trust – especially trusting leaders in organized religion.

"Every area of my life has been affected," she said, adding that she still thinks about the violations everyday as an adult.

"I truly believe in my heart that there are other victims," she said. "And, if there are others – I wish they would come forward."

The Maryland man told police in May that when he was 15, Benham molested him on six occasions inside the church between July 1977 and April 1978, according to court records.

The victims also heard Benham apologize and publicly admit to all the allegations.

Lincoln police arrested Benham in June on a Prince George’s County, Md. arrest warrant. He worked at several Catholic churches on the East Coast from 1963, when he became ordained as a priest, until he moved to central Illinois in 1987."

Ivey Takes Hard Line on Illegal Slots in Pr. George's (washingtonpost.com)

2005-03-07T12:16:00.000-05:00

Reports of Illegal Slots Probed in Pr. George's (washingtonpost.com): "Reports of Illegal Slots Probed in Pr. George's
Lawmakers Told of Dozens of Sites

By Hamil R. Harris and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 4, 2005; Page B01

Prince George's County police are investigating reports of a proliferation of illegal slot machines, known as "gray machines," in liquor stores, convenience stores and coin laundries across the county, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said.

County liquor control officials told state lawmakers during a meeting yesterday that they had identified 63 locations where "gaming-type machines" were operating. Ivey (D) said his office recently received a tip about machines at 10 sites.

"We contacted police, who are investigating," Ivey said. "If they find them, we'll definitely prosecute."

Video gambling machines long have been a part of the cultural fabric in some parts of the state. They flourish in the bars on Holabird Avenue in the Baltimore suburb of Dundalk, though bartenders tell customers that the machines are just for fun and don't pay out.

In recent months, however, there have been several reports of gray machines appearing in parts of the state where they were uncommon -- Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

State lottery officials said their employees have seen machines at taverns and coin laundries in Suitland, Riverdale Park and Takoma Park and have expressed concern that they could be siphoning away business from keno and other legal lottery games.

Franklin D. Jackson, who chairs the Prince George's liquor control board, told a House subcommittee yesterday that inspectors have come across video gambling machines in stores across the county and instructed store managers to unplug them.

Prince George's lawmakers said they were enraged by the reports of the machines in their jurisdiction in light of their recent efforts to keep the legislature from locating a slot machine parlor in the county.

"This is the most outrageous thing that I could talk to you about," Del. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George's) said of reports so far that many of the machines are in Prince George's. "Why didn't they take the machines to Howard County? Why didn't they take them to Montgomery County?"

Lawmakers said it remains unclear whether the machines are for gambling. Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's) said he has been told the games dispense prizes, not coins.

Jackson said that before a crackdown can occur, he is waiting for state officials to determine whether they are gambling machines.

The distinctions between games of chance that are permitted in Maryland and those that are banned often are thin. Laws in Calvert County, for instance, have enabled the Rod 'N' Reel restaurant to install rows of machines that are nearly identical to the slots found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City but for one key difference -- they dispense redeemable cards to winners instead of coins. Winning cards can be cashed in behind the bar.

Ivey said that there are no provisions to allow those machines in Prince George's, and that this would be the first time in his recollection that such reports have surfaced.

"I have not heard about illegal gambling in the county for a while, but maybe this has been under the radar screen," he said.

County liquor officials told the delegates that they suspect a Baltimore business of offering to sell the machines to area businesses with a claim that they are legal.

Those at the meeting said they wanted police to respond swiftly.

"It is appalling," said Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Prince George's). We need to make sure that the police stomp it out immediately.""

Despite rise in murders, police chief touts crime drop

2005-03-03T17:54:00.000-05:00

Despite rise in murders, police chief touts crime drop: "Despite rise in murders, police chief touts crime drop

by Sonsyrea Tate
Staff Writer
Mar. 3, 2005
Prince George's County Police Chief Melvin C. High testified Friday before the Prince George's County Delegation in Annapolis, telling legislators that police-enforcement efforts are effective and overall crime is down.

He said that auto theft is down 21 percent, rapes are down 3.4 percent, robberies are down 3 percent, carjackings are down 8 percent and total property crime is down 11.5 percent.

High acknowledged that homicides in the county are up there had been 26 homicides in the county at the time of his testimony, nearly twice the number at this point last year but said his department is making progress solving them.

Arrests have been made in 10 of the 26 homicides that have occurred in Prince George's this year, outstanding warrants have been issued in two, and suspects have been identified in six others.

High's overall crime numbers, however, may not include crimes reported to municipal police. For example, while county officials use police department reports to show 15,000 auto thefts in 2004, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey and a judge appointed to a countywide auto-theft task force say more than 17,000 autos were stolen.

"We are basing our statistics on a combination of auto thefts reported to Prince George's County police and to police departments in the municipalities," said Ramon V. Korionoff, Ivey's spokesman.

Still, High touted his department's successes.

"We advertised 24 of our most wanted felons, and to date we have arrested 10 of the 24 thanks to the help of the public with tips to our confidential tip line," High told the delegation.

Some county residents disagree with the claims of success, however.

"So far, this year is much worse than last year. And last year was a bad, bloody year," said Rushern Baker, a former Prince George's Delegation chairman, who is rumored to be planning a run for the office of county executive.

Baker issued a news release proposing police personnel programs to recruit and retain officers.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson last year committed to hiring at least 150 officers each year for the next two years he is in office and the next six years if he is re-elected. But county personnel officials have said the department has had a difficult time recruiting officers. Meanwhile, the rate of attrition within the department about seven officers leave per month has left the department short of a full complement of at least 1,420 needed to police the streets. Police union officials have said they need at least 2,000.

"To end the murder crisis, we must start by being aggressive in utilizing recruitment and retention programs that we have," Baker said. "Aggressively pushing the retire-rehire program is an immediate first step we can take."

The retire-rehire program allows retired police officers to receive their pension and at the same time be paid a salary if rehired.

Union officials also have said that new police initiatives have been unsuccessful because of a lack of manpower. But High, last week, said some of the programs are working.

High told the delegation that the department's Report a Gun Program removed 1,294 guns from county streets in 2004, and 243 more so far this year. With 24 of the 26 homicides in the county this year caused by firearms, High said it is critical to get the guns off the streets.

"Citizens are encouraged to report to us those who are selling or using illegal weapons, and we offer $1,000 for information leading to an arrest," he said.

High said the police can only impact homicides minimally.

"Homicides [are] contradictory to other crime issues in our county that have either decreased or remained flat," High said.

Since High's testimony, two more homicides have been committed in Prince George's County. Both were committed by using firearms.

High urged the delegation to support Johnson's legislation requiring all liquor stores in the county to close at midnight, instead of at 2 a.m., seven days per week.

He also asked the delegation to support another bill in the General Assembly that would implement a surcharge on new building construction. The money would be used to hire additional police officers to respond to the growing residential and commercial demand for services.

E-mail Sonsyrea Tate at state@gazette.net."

Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich Plays Politics With Law Enforcement

2005-03-01T23:23:00.000-05:00

W*USA 9 - USA Tonight:

"Slots On The Sly
Written by Bruce Leshan
Created:3/1/2005 7:40:24 PM
Last Updated:3/1/2005 8:04:44 PM

They may be making millions, but it's not going into the state treasury.

For three years, slots have been one of the biggest issues in our region.

Now, there's dramatic evidence that even as the Maryland legislature argues, storekeepers in the state are making big bucks.

Bruce Leshan has more on 'Slots on the Sly'.

What does this guy have to hide? Could it be he's running a mini slot parlor at Riggs Grocery in Prince Georges County?

Right there in plain view there are five machines with guys lined up to play them, hoping to make big money.

No one's keeping track of the odds. No one's keeping track of whether the dollars people are pumping into the machines actually give them a chance to win, but clearly they think they do.

People are also hoping to clean up at the A-1 Laundromat in Riverdale. The same goes in Prince George's County, where there are a dozen slots here.

All you have to do is stick in a dollar and get a chance to win points. For every 100 points, you win a ticket.

Joanne says she's A-1's owner, but she doesn't want to give her last name and she insists she's just doing what scores of other storekeepers are doing.

Maryland suspects there are 5000 of these machines around the state and Maryland may be losing millions of dollars that would be flowing into state coffers if slots were legal.

The governor's office has been encouraging 9 News to investigate illegal slot parlors.

Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich says instead of just sending Maryland State police to shut down the machines, he'd rather work through local authorities, and he says they've been contacted.

But Prince Georges States Attorney and Police insist they were unaware of the problem.

They say they are just now starting to investigate after 9 News told them what we found.

If the machines are paying out, it's illegal and state's attorney Glen Ivey promises to prosecute.

Click on video to see Bruce Leshan's report on USA Tonight."

Former priest misses hearing for sentencing

2005-02-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

Former priest misses hearing for sentencing: "Former priest misses hearing for sentencing

THE COURIER

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — The sentencing hearing for Frank Benham of Lincoln has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. Friday after Benham missed a court date Thursday morning.

Benham is to be sentenced on second- and third-degree sex charges dating to the 1970s when he was a priest at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Forestville, Md.

Benham has entered into a plea agreement with Princes Georges County Assistant State’s Attorney Renee Battle-Brooks, chief of sex and family crimes for the office, in which he admitted to one count of child abuse with a 10-year-old boy and one count of sodomy with a girl, 15.

Through his attorney, Fred Bennett, of Greenbelt Md., Benham was to seek a lesser sentence of probation or home monitoring, according to Ra-mon Korionoff, spokesman for States Attorney Glenn Ivey.

Benham faces a possible sentence of 20 years on the molestation charge and 10 years in prison on the sodomy charge.

Benham was to appear before Circuit Judge Michelle Hotten Thursday but Ben-ham’s attorney later told the court he had a conflict and could not make it to court with Benham, according to Korionoff."

Task force bares plans to fight auto theft

2005-02-26T10:37:00.000-05:00

Task force bares plans to fight auto theft: "Task force bares plans to fight auto theft

by Sonsyrea Tate
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 24, 2005
Members of County Executive Jack B. Johnson's Auto Theft and Vandalism Task Force this week told the Prince George's County Council of how they plan to tackle the serious auto theft problem in the county.

Task Force members, including Circuit Court Judge Phillip Nichols, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, and Assistant Chief of Police William L. Tasker, told the council of what they have learned so far about the 17,600-plus auto thefts last year, and the roughly 18,000 vehicles projected to get stolen this year.

"You just assume that as part of living in this world, cars are going to get stolen, but in our county we're looking at over 18,000 this year, 50 a day. That works out to about 1,600 a month," Nichols said. "We don't get a third of those back. We're only arresting about 5 percent. The national arrest average is 12 percent. We're not good at prosecuting insurance fraud."

Nichols said that most auto thefts fall into one of three categories: auto insurance fraud, criminal enterprise, and joy rides by kids. In Detroit, Mich., which also saw a high incidence of auto thefts in recent years, about 40 percent of the thefts were found to involve auto insurance.

Although the statistics are staggering, Nichols said the stories he hears in court compelled him to join forces with others to address the problem. He told of a single mother who took her children to church, parked on the church lot and returned to find her car gone. He also told of youth telling that they did not "steal" the car they were charged with stealing. Some said they simply saw the keys in the ignition and decided to borrow the car.

"We can't arrest our way out of this," Nichols said. "We have to prevent our way out of this."

Community activist Phillip Lee, who is president of the Kettering Civic Federation, told the council that when he and a group of his neighbors joined police one morning last week to identify cars left running unattended, police issued 38 citations between 6:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.

"What we think residents know, they do not know," Lee told the council. "You'd be surprised at the number of people who do not know that you cannot leave your car running in the driveway. It is a violation of the law."

Police have been issuing such warnings throughout the county as part of a public awareness campaign. Soon, they will begin issuing fines.

"We need to make people understand that police cannot solve this problem by themselves," Lee added. He disclosed that he and the Public Outreach sub-committee of the task force will be working with civic and homeowner associations across the county to teach residents what they can do to help reduce the auto theft epidemic. County officials say at least 30 percent of the auto thefts are "give-aways," that is, autos conveniently stolen because keys were deliberately left in the ignition. Nationwide, the number of cars stolen with keys in the ignition is 20 percent.

Ivey, who last year sold reduced-price steering wheel locks and broadcast public service announcements warning drivers not to leave their cars running while pumping gas, running into a store, or warming up outside their home, said he supports plans for an auto theft court. He said he recently talked to a court administrator about establishing a study group to determine the feasibility of such a court. He hopes the report will be complete in March and the court may be established in June.

"An auto theft court is a step in the right direction. It will allow for uniformity in sentencing, and consolidation of resources," Ivey said. "The prosecutors and police officers can work together in one location."

Tasker said although the task force may recommend the police appoint an auto theft unit with up to 80 officers -- the number of officers it took in an auto theft unit in Baltimore City to reduce auto thefts there -- that number may be difficult to achieve with the shortage of police officers in Prince George's County and the difficulty of recruiting more quickly enough to keep pace with attrition. The task force also may recommend recruiting retired police officers to work specifically on auto theft prevention.

Tasker said that 35 individuals, including officers from the county Sheriff's Department, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, and Maryland State Police have committed to reducing and eliminating auto thefts in Prince George's. Tasker also is recommending the purchase of optimal scanners, which feature infrared lights that scan license plates to immediately determine if they are stolen.

Members of the task force said auto thefts are "gateway" crimes that often lead to more serious crimes.

Councilman David C. Harrington (D-Dist. 5) of Cheverly, noting a homicide last week that involved two individuals in a stolen car, asked task force members whether there is any connection between the rise in homicides in the county and the high incidence of auto thefts.

"In Baltimore City, six auto thefts were related to murders last year," Judge Nichols said. "All of this is somewhat connected. That's why we say auto theft is a gateway crime."

Councilman Thomas Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel said that council members, who meet with community groups regularly, can also help spread prevention tips.

Deputy Chief Administrator Al Cornish, who chairs the task force, said Johnson is awaiting a comprehensive plan from the task force soon, and plans to invest at least $300,000 to reducing auto thefts.

"The approach that's being taken by the county executive is really a comprehensive approach," Cornish told the council.

Nichols noted a trend of auto theft spikes that began in New York, moved through Philadelphia, and trickled into Prince George's when Philadelphia cracked down on auto thefts about two years ago. "We have a reputation now for chop shops and things we shouldn't have a reputation for," Nichols said.

Dernoga said he has receives a number of complaints about possible chop shops operating in neighborhoods, and he hopes county police will work more closely with the Department of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs and the courts to shut them down.

E-mail Sonsyrea Tate at state@gazette.net."

nbc4.com - Glenn Ivey offers New Crime Fighting Strategies for PG County

2005-02-26T10:24:00.001-05:00

nbc4.com - News - New Crime Fighting Strategies Considered In Prince George's County: "New Crime Fighting Strategies Considered In Prince George's County
Prince George's Authorities Battle Increase In Violent Crime

POSTED: 6:38 pm EST February 23, 2005

WASHINGTON -- In Prince George's County, Md., 26 people have been murdered in the past 54 days, and police are searching for new ways to deal with the increase in violent crime in the county.

Sources told News4 that County Executive Jack Johnson and Prince George's County police are considering actions to stop the violence in the county.

The proposals include bringing back retired detectives to help work on homicide investigations, targeting violent offenders, looking for parole and probation violations in order to get potential criminals off the street, and conduct roadblocks in high crime areas, which would increase visibility of police in those areas. The roadblocks begin this weekend.

Also under consideration is the Boston strategy, which is a crime fighting technique supported by state's attorney Glenn Ivey. If implemented, police would bring in an entire gang and warn the members that if one member does something wrong, police will go after everybody in the gang.

"I think it could work in Prince George's County," Ivey said. "I know they're testing it out in the District. I think it may be one of the reasons their numbers have gone down with respect to homicides. I think if we sort of partner with the District, we could really have an effective approach to reducing violent crime in Prince George's County."

Prince George's County even has a bounty. Any citizen who knows someone in the county who has an illegal gun or is selling an illegal gun could qualify for a reward by calling (866) 643-2369.
Copyright 2005 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."

nbc4.com - Glenn Ivey offers New Crime Fighting Strategies for PG County

2005-02-26T10:24:00.000-05:00

Judge gives Adelphi man convicted of murder 36 year sentence

2005-02-24T15:36:00.000-05:00

Judge gives Adelphi man convicted of murder 36 year sentence: "Judge gives Adelphi man convicted of murder 36 year sentence
E-Mail This Article

by Meghan Mullan
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 22, 2005
A county Circuit Court judge sentenced an Adelphi man to 36 years in prison for the murder of a Landover man.

Circuit Court Judge Richard H. Sothoron Jr. handed 30 years Feb. 17 to Jhamaal Hears, 31, of Adelphi for the 2004 murder of Cory Woodland.

Hears also received five years in the assault of Tracie Claggett to be served consecutively and one year in the assault of Stacy Woodland, 8, who is the son of Claggett and Cory Woodland. The time is to be served concurrently with the 30-year term. All the victims were from Landover.

A jury found Hears guilty Jan. 12 on one count of second-degree murder and on two counts of second-degree assault. The defendant was involved in a domestic violence incident in the early morning hours of March 20, 2004, with Claggett and Stacy Woodland. The victim returned to the home of Clagett and Stacy Woodland to make sure that they were safe. The defendant claimed that he stabbed the unarmed victim in self-defense. "This sentence reflects the facts in the case," said Assistant State’s Attorney Karen Mason, who handled the proceedings. "It was a tough trial, and we agree that defendant deserved to [be] held accountable for his actions. We hope the family will now be able to start on the road to healing."

State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey agreed. "The sentence handed down today shows that the defendant will pay for his actions," he said. "It culminates much hard work on the part of our prosecutors. We believe this verdict reflects our desire to show these kinds of crimes will not tolerated.""

OSI Forum: Blakely, the Kennedy Commission, and Beyond

2005-02-22T13:06:00.000-05:00

OSI Forum: Blakely, the Kennedy Commission, and Beyond: " Glenn Ivey
State’s Attorney, Prince George’s County, Maryland

Glenn Ivey was elected and is currently serving as State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Originally from North Carolina and Virginia, Mr. Ivey earned his college degree from Princeton University, graduating with honors; and his law degree from Harvard Law School. Following graduation from law school, he joined the litigation department at the prestigious Baltimore law firm of Gordon, Feinblatt. Mr. Ivey served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1990-1994, handling numerous criminal jury trials, appeals, and grand jury investigations. Because of Glenn's expertise in criminal law, he was selected to be an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Maryland School of Law, and has made numerous television appearances as a legal commentator. Prior to his work as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Ivey worked extensively on Capitol Hill, serving as the Chief Counsel to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, as Paul Sarbanes’ counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee, and as Congressman John Conyers' senior legislative assistant."

Glenn Ivey. "We want justice done for the family and for the community."

2005-02-15T12:34:00.000-05:00

Jury convicts man of ex-girlfriend's murder: "Jury convicts man of ex-girlfriend's murder

by Meghan Mullan
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 15, 2005
A Cuban man faces life in prison after being convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, a housekeeper at the College Park Motel.

A county jury found Roberto Dueno Puerto, 40, of no fixed address, guilty of first-degree murder and theft. The verdict stemmed from the April 30, 2004, incident where Puerto stabbed and cut Iris Gonzalez, 44, of the District, 56 times, said Ramon Korinoff, spokesman for State’s Attorney Glen Ivey.

Gonzalez's body was found "hog-tied, beaten and bloodied" in the Route 1 hotel, Korinoff said.

Prosecutors argued that the victim was tortured and demeaned by the suspect and that the autopsy photos illustrated the kinds of wounds inflicted. Gonzalez is survived by two children ages 26 and 15.

"It is good that this defendant will do time for what he did to his former lover," said State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. "We want justice done for the family and for the community."

Puerto's sentencing hearing has been set for March 10. He faces life imprisonment. "

Lake Arbor recognizes one of its own

2005-02-10T20:19:00.000-05:00

Lake Arbor recognizes one of its own: "Lake Arbor recognizes one of its own

by Brooke N. Garner
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 10, 2005
The Lake Arbor Civic Association normally holds its general meeting on the first Wednesday of every month.

However, the Feb. 2 meeting was anything but normal.

Instead of discussing new developments and membership dues, the Lake Arbor community paid tribute to one of their own, the new Chair of the Prince George's County Council Samuel H. Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville.

"Sam is a part of us," said Elaine Wright, editor of the association's newsletter.

"I am pretty proud of this association and I enjoy the fact that he's leading the way for us."

Dean was named Lake Arbor's first "Person of the Year" by the association.

"I have enjoyed working with him over the years," said Elizabeth Hewlett, chairwoman of the county planning board. "We don't always agree but we are both honest and try to do what's best for the county. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award."

Dean has been a member of the Lake Arbor community since 1990 and served as president of the civic association from 1994 to 2001, leaving to assume his current position on the county council. He also helped to incorporate the Lake Arbor Foundation, Inc. in 1997, an organization that owns and operates the Lake Arbor Foundation Center.

"Lake Arbor is truly a unique community. When there is a need to come together, we come together," Dean said. "We have some great and honorable people here and I think we can be a model for the world."

The association put together a video presentation entitled "The Many Faces of Sam" that showed snapshots of Dean from many of his public appearances. This was followed by a musical rendition from Membership Committee Chair Sharon Walton who sang "Open My Heart" by Yolanda Adams.

"We could never do enough for Sam Dean," said one of the founders of the association and current president Richard Day. "I started something but Sam defined it."

Some of the guests that came to celebrate with Dean included the President of the Largo Civic Association Chuck Renninger, Acting Fire Chief Lawrence H. Sedgwick, Sheriff Michael Jackson, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, Vice-Chair of the County Council Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, Councilwoman Marilynn M. Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton and past principal of Kettering Middle School and Ernest Everett Just Middle School Dr. Marian White-Hood.

"Sam has been such a model of what activism should be," Ivey said.

"He has had an impact on so many lives and it is a great opportunity for us to benefit from his leadership."

Both Ivey and Jackson, who presented Dean with a plaque from the Sheriff's department, admitted to visiting Dean and his wife prior to running for their current positions.

"He is a very quiet, meticulous, and organized gentleman," Jackson said of Dean. "He's an example that you can be progressive and aggressive when necessary. I am proud of him and admire what he does and the way he does it."

Along with the plaque, Dean received a proclamation from Del. Melony G. Griffith (D-Dist. 25) of Suitland who was unable to attend, the Holy Bible on audio tapes from Dr. White-Hood and a small token from the association.

"I consider myself to be a Christian and a very spiritual person. I ask myself what my purpose is on this Earth," Dean said. "I came to the realization that 'service' is why I'm here."

E-mail Brooke N. Garner at bgarner@gazette.net"

Duncan and O'Malley in Prince George's, again - Glenn F. Ivey for lieutenant governor?

2005-02-10T20:16:00.000-05:00

Duncan and O'Malley in Prince George's, again: "Duncan and O'Malley in Prince George's, again
E-Mail This Article

by Sonsyrea Tate
Staff Writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 10, 2005

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) has been doing it since November. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) has been doing it since early January. That is, stumping through Prince George's County, courting votes for their 2006 gubernatorial bid.

"Doug Duncan and Martin O'Malley are terrific leaders. I think [highly of] the jobs they've done in Montgomery and Baltimore City," said Jim Rosapepe, president of the Laurel Democratic Club, and member of the Board of Regents at the University of Maryland. "I think their records are very strong in terms of education, homeland security, environmental protection, health care." Rosapepe thinks Prince George's residents are anxious to meet them both.

Prince George's, a Democratic stronghold, is considered a key battleground in the state. Last year Democratic registrations jumped a stunning 34 percent to 341,019, compared to stagnant numbers in the Baltimore region. Prince George's County fell just short of Montgomery in number of votes for Kerry -- 244,211 to 236,698 -- due to lagging turnout, according to unofficial results.

Candidates discuss
the issues

Duncan, who has been active in Prince George's for years, in 2004 picked up speed attending large community events, churches and backyard bar-b-cues. He also has been courting business leaders.

"He seemed very pro-business, a very affable guy," said M.H. "Jim" Estepp, founder of the Prince George's County Business Roundtable, which Duncan addressed in a meeting. "He seemed to say that a lot of his time would be devoted to Prince George's crime, education, transportation, some of the major needs we have."

On Feb. 3, O'Malley addressed a capacity crowd at the Plato Diner in College Park. The Greater Laurel Beltsville Democratic Club hosted the event, which drew about 70 people. Club members questioned the 42-year-old, quick-witted mayor on everything from where he stands on tuition increases at the University of Maryland, to the Intercounty Connector, funding for local roads, abortion, same-sex marriage, and slots. They also wanted to know what he would do to reduce auto thefts in the county.

O'Malley said it took his administration a couple years to make a dent in auto thefts in Baltimore. Red light cameras helped. As governor, he would employ a regional approach and allocate money to a regional task force on auto theft. He supports keeping college tuition increases at a minimum.

"We have to stop talking about [higher education] as a privilege and look at it as an investment," O'Malley said, answering one woman's question.

O'Malley explained his support for the ICC, a road which the Prince George's County Council opposed in a resolution, citing concerns that the highway would facilitate more development in Montgomery County at the expense of development in Prince George's. The council also cited concerns that the highway would lead to more not less traffic congestion and car pollution. The Prince George's council has supported building a Purple Line instead. But O'Malley maintained the ICC position he has held for the past five years.

Cutting a dark suit and an "I love College Park" lapel button, O'Malley said, "I'm still for the ICC, but I think it should be built in the most environmentally friendly way."

Asked his position on "choice," O'Malley said, "I am pro-choice. I would like to see our country progress to a place where abortion is very, very rare. What is the best way to get to that point? Not by criminalizing it and driving it underground, but by relying on people with their consciousness making decisions with their doctors."

On slots, O'Malley said he is not opposed to a reasonable compromise to allow the racetracks to survive.

"I think it is foolish, unwise, and dishonest to tell us that this is a great revenue source to fund our schools and public safety," he added. "To say that, I think is close to moral bankruptcy."

Many who attended said they were impressed.

"I thought he was a very strong, very polished candidate," said Kristen Liu. "It's been a very interesting campaign. Duncan knew the local issues better, but I thought O'Malley's vision of Maryland as a national leader was exciting."

O'Malley went from the Plato Diner to the Red Hot and Blue in Laurel. There, he met with about 50 people who also were concerned about car thefts.

On Feb. 21, at Oliver's Restaurant in Laurel, the Laurel Democratic Club will host Duncan again.

The Laurel Democratic Club first hosted Duncan at the Plato Diner in January. Duncan had an audience of about 60 then. The events have been co-sponsored by the Maryland University chapter of the Young Democrats.

"I think he was received well. I think some people know him well and some people wanted to get to know him," Rosapepe said.

Ties that bind

Duncan has been visiting churches regularly with Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson. But so has O'Malley.

"I went with Jack Johnson and met a whole big group of senior citizens at Martin's Crosswinds," O'Malley said, when asked about his campaigning in the county. He said he has traveled with Johnson to public and private events.

"It's a dynamic county that's diverse and strong," O'Malley said. "It's a county that represents a tremendously powerful block of families. So, I plan to be here pretty consistently."

Neither candidate has mentioned a possible lieutenant governor running mate, but Johnson earlier this year told reporters he would not be interested in that position.

"If I ran for statewide office, I would not be interested in the number two slot," Johnson told reporters in an impromptu press conference after his mid-term review forum.

Political insiders have suggested that Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey and former leader of the Prince George's Delegation, Rushern L. Baker III, may be under consideration.

Fundraising

Duncan and O'Malley trail their Republican opponent, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., in fundraising.

In his first two years in office, Ehrlich Jr. has raised a record $6.6 million for his re-election campaign, and has more than $5.1 million cash on hand.

The Democrats likely to fight for his seat -- Duncan and O'Malley -- are far behind in the money chase.

Duncan raised $1.7 million in the past two years and has $1.45 million on hand. O'Malley pocketed $2.5 million in campaign contributions over the past two years and has more than $1 million cash on hand.

O'Malley has yet to contact the Business Roundtable, a group of Prince George's business leaders working to help shape county policy.

"We've never heard from O'Malley. Never been contacted by him or his people," Estepp said. "We don't know what his positions are other than what we've read in the papers."

E-mail Sonsyrea Tate sonsyrea@gazette.net"

Laurel Leader: Judge says area invaded by car theft rings

2005-02-03T17:31:00.000-05:00

Laurel Leader: "Judge says area invaded by car theft rings

02/03/05
Gwendolyn Glenn
When Tina McGuffey walked out of her home on Briarchip Court one rainy morning, the last thing she expected to see was an empty driveway where her 1993 Dodge Grand Caravan was normally parked.

"I thought maybe my husband had moved it or driven it, so I called him and he said he had not," McGuffey said. "So here I am holding keys in my hand and it dawned on me that my van had been stolen right out of my driveway."

When police recovered McGuffey's van several weeks later in Southeast Washington, D.C., she said the inside had been trashed and the passenger door lock had been removed, as well as the ignition switch.

According to McGuffey, about the same time that her vehicle was taken, a close friend's car was stolen in the Whiskey Bottom area, and her pastor's car was stolen out of the church's parking lot on Laurel-Bowie Road.

Those thefts all took place in 2003. Laurel police report that the city has seen a 20 percent drop in car thefts since then - from 281 stolen vehicles in 2003 to 242 last year.

Prince George's County as a whole, which has the highest auto theft rate in the state, has not seen that improvement. According to police statistics, 17,628 cars were stolen in Prince George's in 2003 and more than 18,000 reported auto thefts occurred last year.

"If Prince George's was a state, we'd be ranked No. 17 in the nation," said Circuit Court Judge C. Philip Nichols. "We're up to 50 cars being stolen a day, and half of the cars stolen in Maryland are in Prince George's."

Nichols, who grew up in Laurel, became intensely interested in auto thefts after learning of an area woman whose car was stolen, and who had to walk home from church with her children. He also chairs the county's Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, and is spearheading efforts to combat auto theft in Laurel and the county.

Nichols said he has learned that Prince George's has become an auto- theft capital. He traces the issue back to a few years ago when New York City officials declared war on car thieves and increased resources.

He said many of the car theft networks moved to Philadelphia, where officials also increased efforts against car thieves. Nichols said Prince George's is the latest stop for the auto theft rings.

"It's easier to store cars here. Land is cheaper," Nichols said. "We've developed an East Coast reputation for chop shops here and that is the problem."

He recently unveiled a comprehensive plan he thinks will have a significant impact on the problem. Additionally, a broad range of county and local officials are banding together with state delegates, community groups and business representatives to take a more aggressive approach in reversing the area's auto theft rate.

"Part of the problem is that we never took a strategic look at auto theft in the past, but just let it happen, and now it's caught up with us," Nichols said.

A major element - and one of the most difficult components - of Nichols' plan calls for 80 police officers from police forces throughout the county to be assigned to handle only auto theft cases.

"In Baltimore County, they have 40 police assigned to their auto theft unit and they have half the problem that we do, so if we have twice the problem, we need twice the 40 officers," Nichols said. "We need 80 badges. ... We need to borrow them for a bit to get the numbers down to something workable. ... Right now it's a fire out of control."

City Councilman Fred Smalls attended a meeting Nichols held in Laurel last month on his auto theft initiatives, and Smalls serves with Nichols on Prince George's County's auto theft task force, which was formed in December.

"We will ask for the 80," Smalls said. "The officers will come from a number of law enforcement agencies. For example, the 27 municipalities may be asked to provide a total of 10 officers, so Laurel may only have to give one officer."

Smalls said County Executive Jack Johnson has committed $300,000 for the initiative, and he said additional funds from the county will be allocated to pay for overtime expenses accrued by officers assigned to the auto theft unit.

"We're going to ask for the best officers and not the ones departments can do without," Smalls said. "We might bring in retired officers as well."

Nichols recommended additional training for all officers assigned to auto theft units. Last week, 30 police officers from northern Prince George's attended a one-day class on vehicle theft, and several others are scheduled. The classes are being conducted by Baltimore County Det. Sgt. Robert Jagoe.

"We now have 45 officers working under one command on auto theft, and in 2004, we saw a 10 percent drop in auto thefts in the city, and a 10 percent drop in Baltimore County," Jagoe said.

In addition to the 80-member police unit, Nichols also wants a court established to hear only auto theft cases, and a team of prosecutors assigned to handle the cases.

"If we have an auto court, and the same three prosecutors working the cases, we can be efficient," Nichols said.

State's Attorney Glenn Ivey, whose car was stolen in 2002, agreed with Nichols and said his office "added a prosecutor for juvenile auto theft cases six months ago, and a circuit case prosecutor was added two months ago," which gives Nichols the three he said is needed.

"It's a move in the right direction, but we also need a court docket that focuses on auto thefts only," Ivey said. "That way we'll get more uniformed sentencing and treatment."

Judge William Missouri, the Circuit Court's chief administrative judge, said he will set up a committee to study the merits of an auto court, and what types of auto theft cases the court should hear.

"The court has to be established correctly, but the study has to be done before the end of 2005 because this is a big problem that needs to be addressed and quickly," Missouri said.

In 2003, Missouri approved the establishment of a drug court, that took more than a year to be put in place.

"This is a different story because we have the blueprint there for establishing a new court," Missouri said. "We need to have the support of the governor and county officials in a joint effort to get detectives and an auto theft unit large enough to impress upon thieves that we're serious."

The state's Vehicle Theft Prevention Council reported that nearly 30 percent of thefts are carried out by professional car thieves, and the rest mainly by opportunists who prey on the 95 percent of vehicles that have no anti-theft devices and vehicles left with the keys in the ignition.

Nichols wants to educate the public about the simple things they can do to prevent auto crimes, such as not leaving them unattended while they are being warmed up. County police reported that during a three-hour period Jan. 20, eight auto thefts occurred in Clinton as a result of vehicles being warmed up and unattended.

"One-third of all the cars stolen in 2003 were because owners left their keys in the ignition," Ivey said. "It only takes five seconds to pop open a door, and it's hard to prosecute these cases because we have to prove that they were wrong. It's also illegal to leave keys in a car, and insurance companies do not always cover stolen cars with keys left in them."

Last year, when James Creech of Kettering left his 1998 Lexus running unattended in the street, car thieves stole the Lexus as he watched.

"I was rotating the cars in the carport, and I saw them go down the street when I backed the Lexus out," Creech said. "When I pulled the Maxima into the carport and was getting out, they stopped in the street, less than 50 feet from me, and one of the guys jumped out of the car and into mine. It was so quick, I couldn't stop them."

Creech's car was found a few weeks later, and one of the car thieves was apprehended six months after the incident.

Nichols and other officials said in Prince George's, only 5 percent of car thieves are ever caught. The national average is 12 percent. Of those that are caught, Nichols said half of the cases are dismissed because either the victim or the arresting officer fails to appear in court.

For this reason, Nichols is pushing for legislative changes that will not require victims to appear in court.

Legislation allowing the victims to do affidavits instead is expected to be introduced in both houses of the General Assembly this week. Additionally, state Sen. John Giannetti and Dels. Brian Moe, Barbara Frush and Pauline Menes, all of whom represent Laurel, are drafting a bill that will change the state's wiretap law where auto thefts are concerned.

"Our trap, bait cars can be fitted with a camera, but not a voice recorder, and we agree with Nichols that voice recordings can be effective in convictions," Menes said. "They (car thieves) will sometimes say, 'I thought I was in my car that is the same color,' so it will be useful to get the words they said inside the bait car. ... We're not talking about broadening the wiretap law in general, but a narrow change for auto thefts only."

Giannetti said the county delegation also plans to introduce a bill that will allow a state income tax credit of up to $200 for people who install tracking devices in their cars.

Nichols' plan also calls for the use of new technology, such as cameras that can determine from a license plate if a car is stolen. He also wants large rewards offered for tips that lead to auto recoveries and convictions.

"This is a great plan," Nichols said. "We can't miss. (But) we can't do this piecemeal if we want it to work."

E-mail Gwendolyn Glenn at gglenn@patuxent.com."

Suitland man found guilty of murder

2005-01-31T11:35:00.000-05:00

Suitland man found guilty of murder: "Suitland man found guilty of murder

by Courtney A. Burns
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 31, 2005
A Prince George’s County jury found Mario Ayala, 22, of Suitland, guilty of first degree murder, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glen F. Ivey announced Friday.

The guilty verdict stems from the fatal beating of Ashely Antonio Urias, an alleged gan member, age unknown, of. Three members of the notorious street gang MS-13 are alleged to have beaten the victim to death with a baseball bat and golf club.

The incident occurred in a Suitland cemetery last May, according to a press release from Ivey’s office.

At approximately 1 p.m. on May 21, 2004, the bludgeoned body of Ashley Antonio Urias was found just inside the wood line at a back corner of Washington National Cemetery in Suitland. The autopsy revealed at least 15 head wounds, including several resulting in skull fractures, fractures of the face, and one blow that was so strong it dislocated his head from his spine.

Beer bottles on the scene were later analyzed for DNA evidence and it was determined that Mario Ayala’s DNA was present on one of the bottles.

Alexis Ayala, Mario Ayala’s co-defendant, was arrested on June 17, 2004. Mario Ayala and Everec Chacon were arrested in Port Washington, N.Y., June 23, 2004.

"I am certain that the gang expert testimony was a major factor in a verdict of 1st degree, as opposed to 2nd degree murder," said Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Gwinn.

Alexis Ayala plead guilty to second degree murder and conspiracy charges Jan. 24 and will face sentencing March 17, on the same charges. Everec Chacon is awaiting a tentitive trial date of May 11 and is being held without bond in the Prince George's County Correctional Facility."

Md. Gang Member Guilty in Slaying (washingtonpost.com)

2005-01-29T22:14:00.000-05:00

Md. Gang Member Guilty in Slaying (washingtonpost.com): "Md. Gang Member Guilty in Slaying
Expert Testified on Group's Activity

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 29, 2005; Page B02

At first, the beating death of Ashley A. Urias, 38, in a Suitland cemetery in May appeared to be a tragic but unremarkable end to a night of heavy drinking and spontaneous brawling among four intoxicated men.

After investigating, however, Prince George's County police and prosecutors concluded that the beating was a planned hit on a gang rival by members of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, a gang responsible for an increasing amount of violence in the Washington area, according to officials.

When one of three men charged in the killing, Mario Ayala, 21, of Suitland, went on trial for first-degree murder this week, Prince George's prosecutors used a novel approach. They showcased evidence of Ayala's membership in MS-13. And in what may be a first in Maryland, prosecutors called a gang expert to testify about the gang's violent nature.

A Fairfax County gang detective, Michael Porter, testified that MS-13 gang members are obligated by their gang compatriots to attack rival gang members.

After deliberating for about three hours over two days, a Circuit Court jury convicted Ayala yesterday of first-degree murder.

The expert testimony on gang life was "not only critical to the case, I think it will be useful in future prosecutions of gang activity," said Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

Prosecutors and court officials said they believe the testimony by Detective Michael Porter of the Fairfax County police gang unit marked the first time a gang expert testified in a criminal trial in Maryland. There is no case law on the issue in Maryland, attorneys involved in the case said.

Latino gangs, including MS-13, which is comprised primarily of Salvadoran immigrants, have in recent years drawn increased attention from police in Maryland, Virginia and the District.

Northern Virginia officials have said that 10 murders have been committed by Latino gang members since 2000.

In the District, three members of the Latino gang Vatos Locos were convicted in D.C. Superior Court last month of carrying out a conspiracy that left four rival gang members dead.

In Prince George's, three members of MS-13, including one of Ayala's co-defendants, are facing murder charges, said Assistant State's Attorney Laura J. Gwinn, chief of the state's attorney's violent crimes unit.

Porter's testimony was crucial in obtaining a first-degree murder conviction, said Gwinn, who said in her closing statement that Ayala and two co-defendants decided to attack Urias after they learned he was with a rival gang.

According to testimony, Ayala and two other men -- his cousin, Alexis Ayala, 22; and friend Everec Alvarez-Chacon, 27 -- were drinking with Urias in the Suitland area in the early hours of May 22.

Urias offered to buy more beer, and the men piled into a truck allegedly driven by Alvarez-Chacon. After Urias purchased beer at a convenience store, Alvarez-Chacon drove to Washington National Cemetery in Suitland, according to prosecutors.

After he was arrested, Mario Ayala told Prince George's police that he was urinating in the cemetery when he heard a commotion, and saw Urias threatening to kill his cousin and friend with a baseball bat.

Ayala said he picked up a golf club from the bed of the truck and struck Urias once. During the evening, Ayala said, he learned that Urias was a member of a gang known as 18th Street. Urias was badly beaten about the head and died of blunt force trauma.

Porter testified that 18th Street is MS-13's chief rival. MS-13 gang members are expected by fellow members "to, in their words, get at members of 18th Street. No question," Porter testified. Failing to attack a rival would lead to a beating, Porter testified.

Gwinn, in an interview, said Porter's testimony put the attack in context. "Otherwise, it's just four drunk guys in a fight," she said.

Circuit Court Judge C. Phillip Nichols Jr. scheduled Ayala's sentencing for March 25. Alexis Ayala has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. Alvarez-Chacon is awaiting trial for first-degree murder."

TheWBALChannel.com - News - Ivey Mention for Maryland Attorney General

2005-01-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

TheWBALChannel.com - News - Gansler Compiles War Chest For Possible A.G. Run: "Gansler Compiles War Chest For Possible A.G. Run
POSTED: 7:11 am EST January 28, 2005
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Montgomery County State's Attorney Doug Gansler said he hasn't decided whether to run for attorney general in 2006, but he's amassed more than $850,000 in campaign money.
The state campaign finance figure dwarfs the war chests of all other possible candidates, including five-term incumbent Joseph Curran, whose spokesman said he has about $35,000 on hand. Curran said he plans to run for a sixth term, but he's spending his time on his job.
State officials said Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey has almost $15,000 in his campaign treasury, and Montgomery County Council President Tom Perez has about $7,600."

Trial set for teen charged with crime wave

2005-01-18T17:59:00.000-05:00

Trial set for teen charged with crime wave: "Trial set for teen charged with crime wave

by Courtney A. Burns
Staff Writer
Jan. 18, 2005
Motions and trial dates have been set for Capitol Heights teen, James Anthony Cole, who was indicted by a grand jury on 139 criminal counts in November.

"The current motions date is Feb. 11, and trial set for March 8," said Ramon Korionoff, communications director for the office of Glenn Ivey, the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County.

Cole, 16, allegedly committed several crimes in Langley Park, Riverdale Park, College Park and other areas in the county.

"All of the alleged victims are immigrants," Ivey said in November. "This defendant is alleged to have been a one man crime wave in Langley Park, Riverdale Park and College Park through August and September, where he is accused of committing two murders, one sexual assault and several armed robberies of Latino, West African and South Asian residents."

Cole was arrested on Sept. 12 on an unrelated robbery charge, he then allegedly lead investigators to crime sites.

"It is an important first step that the grand jury decided to indict this suspect," Ivey said. "We look forward to prosecuting this case.""

State's attorney holds open house for the public

2005-01-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

State's attorney holds open house for the public: "State’s attorney holds open house for the public

by Brooke N. Garner
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 11, 2005
State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey will be hosting the State’s Attorney’s Office 2nd Annual Open House from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 13

The open house will be held in and around room 349 M in the County Courthouse in Upper Marlboro.

"It will be pretty informal," said Ramon Korionoff, communications director for the State’s Attorney’s Office. "It’s an opportunity for the community to mingle and mix and discuss things happening in the county."

Ivey will be present to address the crowd and thank the community for getting involved in the civic and court process.

"We will let the community know what they can expect in 2005," Korionoff said. "And what further the office can do."

Light refreshments will be available. "

Glenn Ivey praises Chertoff as good choice to run Homeland Security

2005-01-11T15:42:00.000-05:00

Chertoff praised as good choice to run Homeland Security, work with both parties: "Chertoff praised as good choice to run Homeland Security, work with both parties

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

BY DONNA DE LA CRUZ
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - When President Clinton took office, he fired all the U.S. attorneys who had served under his Republican predecessor except one: New Jersey U.S. Attorney Michael Chertoff. Chertoff had won support from a high-profile Democrat, then-Sen. Bill Bradley, who asked that he be kept on.

That's as good an example as any that as Homeland Security secretary, Chertoff would be able to work with members of both parties, his supporters say.

New Jersey Sens. Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, both Democrats, praised President Bush's nomination of the Elizabeth, N.J., native, with Corzine calling him "one of the most able people and public servants he has ever known." Lautenberg said Chertoff's anti-terrorism experience will serve the country well.

Scott Christie, the current U.S. attorney for New Jersey and a Bush appointee who once worked for Chertoff, said his former boss "works and develops consensus in what he does and politics takes a backseat to doing the right thing for him.

"This speaks to the fact that he's recognized by both parties as a consummate professional first," Christie said.

The son of a rabbi, Chertoff, 51, was tapped by New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato to be the Senate Republicans' chief counsel for the Clinton-era Whitewater investigation. Chertoff also investigated the suicide of Vincent Foster, a Clinton aide and former law partner of Hillary Clinton, and other allegations against the Clintons.

Glenn Ivey, a former Democratic attorney on the Senate Whitewater Committee, said that if Chertoff is "as tough on terrorists as he was on the Democrats in the Whitewater investigation, the nation is in pretty good hands."

Ivey, now Prince George's County, Md., state's attorney, said that Chertoff is "not going to be Mr. Congeniality, but maybe that's what you need" to force 22 different agencies inside the Homeland Security Department to work smoothly together.

Chertoff headed the Justice Department's criminal division from 2001 to 2003, where he played a central role in the nation's legal response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, before the president named him to a federal appeals court position in New Jersey.

Corzine praised Chertoff's work in 2000 as special counsel to New Jersey's Senate Judiciary Committee investigating allegations that former state Attorney General Peter Verniero, suppressed evidence of racial profiling by the state police.

Robert Mintz, who worked for Chertoff in New Jersey, and represented Verniero during the racial profiling hearings, called his former boss "tough, but scrupulously fair."

"While he was the U.S. attorney in New Jersey, he was one of the hardest-working members of the office, someone who was widely respected not just here, but across the country, for being a U.S. attorney who could lead the office effectively and who also was the best trial lawyer in the office," said Mintz, who chairs the white collar defense practice at the Newark, N.J., law firm of McCarter & English.

As New Jersey's U.S. attorney from 1990 to 1994, Chertoff oversaw high-profile prosecutions of Jersey City Mayor Gerald McCann, New York chief judge Sol Wachtler and the kidnappers and killers of Exxon executive Sidney Reso. Chertoff personally handled the stock fraud trial of Eddie Antar, founder of the failed Crazy Eddie discount electronics chain.

Chertoff graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and went on to clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice William Brennan from 1979 to 1980. After spending a few years with a private law firm, Chertoff was hired by Rudolph Giuliani, then the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, where he prosecuted mob and political corruption cases.

"Having already assumed a great deal of responsibility in the investigations of al-Qaida, Michael Chertoff has made clear his commitment to keeping America safe," Giuliani said. "From this base of experience, he'll be a superb Department of Homeland Security secretary and continue the development of this important department.

In 1986, as head of the prosecution in the "Mafia Commission" case, Chertoff won the conviction of top bosses of La Cosa Nostra on charges including murder, extortion and racketeering.

After leaving the U.S. Attorney's office in 1994, Chertoff took on several high-profile private clients, including the Columbia-HCA health care chain which paid hundreds of millions of dollars for Medicaid fraud.

In 2003, President Bush nominated him to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which sits in Philadelphia. He has handled a number of routine reviews of immigration decisions and appeals of criminal convictions. "

Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey Supports New Witness Intimidation Penalties

2005-01-08T19:43:00.000-05:00

ABC 7 News - Ehrlich To Push for New Witness Intimidation Penalties: "Ehrlich To Push for New Witness Intimidation Penalties
Saturday January 08, 2005 12:16pm

Annapolis (AP) - Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich wants to give prosecutors broader powers to fight witness intimidation.

Spurred by concerns in Prince George's County and in Baltimore, aides say Ehrlich plans to propose legislation that would reclassify witness intimidation as a felony punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

The issue caught attention last month when at least one store in Baltimore started selling an unusual DVD called "Stop Snitchin'." The video included local men talking about retaliation for talking with authorities.

Pro basketball player Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets appeared briefly on the DVD, although Anthony says he had nothing to do with the DVD and must have been taped while visiting a "tough neighborhood" where he grew up.

Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey tells The Washington Post he supports the goals of Ehrlich's legislation but is backing a rival proposal from a Prince George's Democrat, Senator Leo Green."

Man indicted on 10 counts, including murder

2005-01-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

Man indicted on 10 counts, including murder: "Man indicted on 10 counts, including murder

by Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writer
Jan. 7, 2005
Earl Whittley Davis of the District was indicted Dec. 6 by a county grand jury on 10 charges, including the murder last August of Jason Schwindler, a Dunbar Armored Car employee in Hyattsville.

According to state’s attorney’s office, Davis, 34, will remain held without bond. Arraignment has yet to be set. Beside Schwindler’s murder, other counts against Davis include robbery with a deadly weapon, use of a handgun in commission of crime of violence and carjacking.

He has also been charged with theft of over $500, two counts of theft of under $500, conspiracy to commit murder, and conspiracy to commit armed carjacking, the indictment said.

State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey said, "It is an important first step that the Grand Jury decided to indict this suspect. We look forward to prosecuting this case."

Davis allegedly shot Schwindler at the BB&T Bank, at 3505 Hamilton Street in Hyattsville when [Schwindler] attempted to make a deposit at the bank.

According to the state’s attorney’s officie , fingerprints and DNA matched the DNA found on the hat that was dropped by suspect Davis.

A large black bag containing several guns and ammunition was recovered from the Cherokee jeep used in the act. DNA on the gun found in the Cherokee also matched that of Davis, a statement from the office said."

Grand jury indicts two in regional rental scam case

2005-01-05T16:32:00.000-05:00

Grand jury indicts two in regional rental scam case: "Grand jury indicts two in regional rental scam case

by Natasha Brown
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 5, 2005
A grand jury has handed down a 14-count indictment against two people in connection with what the county State’s Attorney’s Office has called the largest single conspiracy and apartment theft ring in the county.

Lamondes Dorian Williams, 35, of Temple Hills and Kimberly Lachelle Alston, 26, of Suitland each face 12 counts of aggregated theft and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft above the amount of $500.

Authorities have not yet apprehended Williams or Alston.

"We are glad that the grand jury decided to indict these suspects," said State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. "We want justice done for these tenants and businesses."

According to charging documents, Williams was the owner of Professional Sales Group while Alston was the manager. The company, also known as PSG and Get EZ for Less, assisted people with bad credit obtain rental apartments, homes, cars and phones.

The indictment stems from months of research and investigation from local, federal and state agencies.

Victims would go to PSG’s Greenbelt office and pay their first and last months rent plus an administrative fee.

The charging documents state that Williams and Alston collected cash or money orders each month but failed to pay victims’ rent as promised.

Investigators believe that over 50 victims paid approximately $187,000 to Williams and Alston.

About 14 families in Springhill Lake lost money when they sublet apartments through PSG.

The public is asked to call police or local authorities with information or tips that could lead to the capture of the two suspects.

"These suspects must be held accountable for the hardship, disruption of life and economic loss of hundreds of people," Ivey said."

Ivey deals with cases of Officers under Investigation

2005-01-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

WTOPNEWS.com: "Prince George's Police Officers Under Investigation
Updated: Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005 - 11:54 AM

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - Prince George's County prosecutors are reportedly looking at pending drug and gun cases where evidence was furnished by three county police officers who are under investigation in another incident.
Prosecutors say the investigation could affect the officers' credibility as witnesses and state's Attorney Glenn Ivey tells the Washington Post that prosecutors will pursue the cases if they think they can do so without using the three officers.

Some defense lawyers say there could be dozens of pending drug and gun cases affected but Ivey says he doesn't know how many cases there may be.

Officers Jeremy Bull, Herbert Pettiford and Derrick Spence are under investigation in an incident where Pettiford's marked cruiser was found abandoned in the woods.

The investigation involves whether the officers are telling the truth about what happened on December 2. Pettiford says he and two other officers were at a nightclub and his take-home cruiser was parked at his house and must have been stolen. The cruiser may have hit another car on South Osborne Road the day of the incident.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)"

Grand jury determines Fairmount Heights officers acted properly

2005-01-01T21:27:00.000-05:00

Grand jury determines Fairmount Heights officers acted properly: "Grand jury determines Fairmount Heights officers acted properly

by Guy Leonard
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 30, 2004
A Prince George’s County grand jury has determined that two Fairmount Heights police officers who shot and killed a hostage taker back in September acted properly and have brought no charges against them.

Chief David G. Rice and Cpl. Timothy Kingston were informed of the grand jury’s decision Dec. 28. The case involved the death of 29-year-old Calvin Braxton of Cottage City.

Standard procedure in Prince George’s County dictates that anytime an officer uses lethal force or discharges a weapon in the line of duty that the facts of the case be reviewed by a grand jury.

State Attorney Glenn F. Ivey’s office said both officers responded to pleas of help from a resident, John Skinner, who told them as he walked into their department head quarters that he had been taken hostage by Braxton.

Braxton, who was later found to have a pellet gun, had forced Skinner to get a vehicle released from an impound lot.

Rice and Kingston went outside to confront the suspect and when the Braxton tried to flee the scene in the vehicle, they opened fire on the vehicle and Braxton.

Braxton was hit several times by gunfire from Kingston, and after he was removed from the vehicle. The officers attempted CPR on Braxton.

Braxton was later transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center and died at 11:40 a.m.

Ivey said he decided not to prosecute the officers for because of the alleged threat made against Skinner and the dragging of Kingston after Braxton had hit him with a vehicle before the shooting started.

"We presented all the facts to the grand jury," Ivey said. "The grand jury concluded no criminal conduct on the part of these officers in this instance. I agree with their decision.""

Glenn Ivey, Prince George's state's attorney's New Crime-Fighting Methods Will Reduce Homicides

2005-01-01T21:25:00.000-05:00

WTOPNEWS.com: "Prince George's Police Hope New Crime-Fighting Methods Will Reduce Homicides
Updated: Friday, Dec. 31, 2004 - 2:20 PM

BALTIMORE (AP) - Authorities in Prince George's County are hoping to begin the new year with fresh crime-fighting strategies to try to stop a rising number of murders.
The number of homicides have spiked up from 128 murders in 2003 to 148 in 2004.

Police Chief Melvin High said the county has partnered with municipal, state and federal agencies to intensify drug enforcement efforts. With robbery related homicides, added personnel have been assigned to investigative duties to close cases as quickly as possible.

Glenn Ivey, Prince George's state's attorney, said he believes the county needs to coordinate crime-fighting efforts with Washington, D.C., where homicide numbers have been going down.

"I think what we need to do is take a close look at what we're doing and what the district is doing and see if we can emulate the strategies that they've implemented," Ivey said.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)"

Ivey Locks Up The Shotgun Slayer - 33 YEARS!!!

2004-12-20T17:54:00.000-05:00

Hyattsville man gets 33 years for murder of teenager "Hyattsville man gets 33 years for murder of teenager: "Hyattsville man gets 33 years for murder of teenage

by Guy Leonard
Staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 20, 2004
A Hyattsville man has received a 33-year prison sentence for the murder of a Waldorf teenager last year.

Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Toni E. Clarke handed the sentence to Moises Medina Dec. 17 after he was convicted of the killing of Ryan Bradshaw in September.

The shooting took place in 2003 when Medina killed Bradshaw with a shotgun blast to the back as Bradshaw was running away from an altercation in the 5600 block of Annapolis Road in Bladensburg.

"This sentence is a just one," said State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey. "Hopefully, Mr. Bradshaw's family can start on the road to closure. We can now feel some sense of justice for Mr. Bradshaw’s loved ones."""

Prince George's Glenn Ivey focuses on decreasing auto theft

2004-12-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

Prince George's continues to lead state in auto theft: "Prince George's continues to lead state in auto theft

by Marcus Moore
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 16, 2004
The number of vehicles stolen in Prince George's County this year is on pace to eclipse last year's record-setting numbers, even though county police have dedicated more resources to resolving the auto theft problem.

A total of 15,063 cars were stolen in the county between Jan. 1 and Dec. 12, an increase from the 14,617 cars stolen during the same period last year, disclosed Barbara Hamm, the director of communications for the Prince George's County Police Department.

Of the 36,406 vehicles stolen in Maryland last year, 17,628 were stolen in Prince George's County alone -- a staggering 48 percent of the total -- making the county by far the leader in auto theft cases in Maryland, according to statistics provided by the Maryland State Police department.

Baltimore City, for example, was second in the state with 6,874 vehicles stolen last year, the department reported.

In Washington, D.C., 9,500 vehicles were stolen last year, said W. Ray Presley, executive director of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, a statewide group that has several programs aimed at stopping vehicle theft.

The State's Attorney's Office in Prince George's this week criticized the county police department for not detailing a greater number of officers to fight auto theft, many of which are perpetrated by men in their 20s and 30s, who steal cars to joyride, drag race or commit crimes.

"Without getting more police on the street, it becomes an interesting feat," said Ramon Korionoff, communications director for State's Attorney Glenn Ivey.

But according to Hamm, the police have done a great deal to try to stem the problem.

"The auto theft problem continues to be a problem we fight every day," Hamm said, adding that the police have dialogued with the community during town hall meetings and kept officers on constant patrol for stolen cars.

Hamm said that the county's police force has placed even more emphasis on the auto theft problem since last year's record-setting numbers. She declined to link the shortage of police officers to this year's rate of auto thefts, but did say that the hiring of additional officers would definitely be helpful.

"The more officers you have, the more you can stop the crime," Hamm said.

The county police department last year activated an auto theft task force, a joint initiative among the Maryland State Police, the Prince George's and the Metropolitan police departments.

Since Ivey took office two years ago, he has succeeded in negotiating stiffer penalties for auto theft. His office worked with the county police department on several programs, and promoted steering wheel locks at community meetings.

"Kids have decided it's cool to steal cars," Ivey told The Gazette's editorial board in May. "When I came in, nobody was getting any [jail] time." The maximum punishment was just a few days in a juvenile detention center.

Ivey worked with state Sen. Leo Green (D-Dist. 23) of Bowie to increase the penalty for auto theft. He sought up to 15 years in prison, and as much as $15,000 in penalties. The bill passed, and the sentence and fines imposed will be left to the discretion of the presiding judge.

Auto theft cases have been transferred from District Court to Circuit Court, where stiffer penalties could be imposed, Korionoff said.

"We hope that by adding stiffer penalties we send a strong message that auto thefts will not be tolerated," Korionoff said.

Korionoff said that the State's Attorney's Office has all but exhausted its resources in the fight to stop auto theft. During the last 16 months, the office received a $5,000 grant from GEICO Insurance to purchase 200 anti-auto theft steering wheel locks to sell to the community. The initiative, Korionoff said, was to encourage county residents to properly secure their cars.

"If you lock your cars and take your keys, then we'd save about 5,000 cars [from being stolen annually]," he said.

Korionoff said the State's Attorney's Office is pushing for state legislation that would fund several educational campaigns and promotional spots, such as posters and radio advertisements, for the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. In addition, Ivey's office sought restitution from parents whose teenage children stole cars. The victims were paid for damages and losses sustained during the period the vehicle was stolen.

The restitution, Korionoff said, could range from $700 to $2,000. Ivey's prosecutors have gotten at least 12 parents to make restitution to victims.

Money from the state has also helped to fund vehicle theft public awareness programs. In July, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich (R) awarded more than $300,000 to Prince George's to pay for some of the programs.

"We must maintain our efforts to reduce vehicle thefts in Maryland and focus our resources where they are needed most," Ehrlich said then.

Thomas Turner, the public awareness director for the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, thinks county police can do more if given the resources.

"There's no real concentration on auto theft," Presley said. "Law enforcement is trying to do what they can do, but somewhere along the line, the state's leaders are gonna have to stand up and realize that we have a problem."

E-mail Marcus Moore at mmoore@gazette.net."

Ivey Promises to Bring the Slurpee Murderer to Justice (washingtonpost.com)

2004-12-14T19:17:00.000-05:00

Mistrial Ruled in Case Of Death Over Slurpee (washingtonpost.com): "Mistrial Ruled in Case Of Death Over Slurpee

By Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 14, 2004; Page B02

A Prince George's County judge yesterday declared a mistrial in the case of a Suitland youth charged with murder in what prosecutors called the "thrill" killing of a teenager who allegedly angered the defendant by offering to buy a girl a Slurpee at a 7-Eleven store.

After deliberating for more than 15 hours over three days, the Circuit Court jury was unable to reach verdicts on five of seven counts against Emmanuel A. McClain, 16.

McClain was charged as an adult with first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, robbery and three related charges in the May 30 attack that left Michael A. Bassett, 18, dead on a busy Suitland road.

Friday afternoon, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two counts -- involuntary manslaughter and a riot charge. Judge Sherry L. Krauser directed the jury to continue deliberating.

Yesterday, in response to a question from Krauser, the jury said it still had reached verdicts on only two of the counts. Assistant State's Attorney John Maloney was willing to accept the partial verdicts, but defense attorney Antoini M. Jones declined. In Maryland, both sides have to agree for a judge to accept a partial verdict. All the charges will go before a new jury at a new trial, tentatively scheduled for March 21.

After Krauser declared the mistrial, Jones and Maloney said they learned from talking to jurors that the panel's position had shifted.

Friday, the jury had voted McClain guilty of involuntary manslaughter and the riot charge, the attorneys said. Yesterday, one juror changed his mind and voted McClain not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, the attorneys said. Also yesterday, the jury voted unanimously to find McClain not guilty of first-degree felony murder, the attorneys said.

The jury ended up deadlocked, 11 to 1, for conviction on second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, Jones and Maloney said.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said prosecutors will retry McClain. "We're ready to go forward. I'm looking forward to obtaining a guilty verdict," Ivey said.

"This is a very difficult case, emotionally and factually," Jones said. "I can understand a jury having difficulty with it."

Two other teenagers are also charged with murdering McClain. James Jarrell White, of Southeast Washington, who was 18 at the time of his arrest in June, and Antoine Queen, now 16, of Prince George's, will be tried after McClain, officials said.

According to evidence presented at trial, as Bassett walked into a 7-Eleven on Suitland Road sometime after 3 a.m. May 30, he offered to buy a girl a Slurpee. The girl accepted and walked into the store with Bassett.

Queen testified for the state that he was outside the store with McClain and heard McClain say words to the effect of, "Watch me start something." When Bassett tried to leave, McClain blocked the store exit and took a roundhouse swing at him, Maloney said. A series of photos from a store security camera depict McClain taking the swing, Maloney said.

Queen testified that McClain chased Bassett onto Suitland Road and stomped and kicked him. Bassett was left on the busy street, and two motorists ran him over. Maloney argued that Bassett was dead before the cars hit him."

Ivey Slams Judges who are Soft on Auto Theft

2004-12-09T18:37:00.000-05:00

Thefts of autos very high in PG - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - December 09, 2004: "Thefts of autos very high in PG

By Gary Emerling
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Police officials said yesterday the District has the highest automobile-theft rate in the country and that half of Maryland's thefts occur in Prince George's County.
The findings were announced during a summit on starting a multi-jurisdictional effort to curb the problem.
"Vehicle theft ... leads to other crimes and costs millions of dollars for police departments and insurance companies," said Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele. "Our goal is to form a cooperative partnership that ignores jurisdictional boundaries."

More than half of the 62,616 car thefts last year throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District occurred in the Washington metropolitan area. The District alone had 9,549 of them, which gave it the country's highest car-theft rate per capita.
Chief Charles H. Ramsey of the Metropolitan Police Department said the number of thefts in the city is down by 10 percent so far this year compared with last year, despite the region's high numbers.
Still, the thefts cost the region more than $150 million a year, including the rising cost of auto insurance for everybody who drives,
"The problem touches us all either directly or indirectly," Chief Ramsey said. "The [thieves] hit us in the pocketbook."
More than 14,400 vehicles have been stolen so far this year in Prince George's County, about half the total for Maryland.
Such numbers prompted officials to call the summit, hosted at the GEICO company headquarters in Chevy Chase and sponsored by the Maryland Department of State Police, the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Virginia State Police's Help End Auto Theft Program, also known as HEAT.
The area already has a regional task force that finds and arrests car thieves — the Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement Team (WAVE). But authorities say the 10-member team of state and federal officers is too small and must coordinate better with prosecutors and courts.
"We have a law-enforcement approach, but it's not" enough, said W. Ray Presley, executive director of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. "We're trying to get some sort of regular approach to sharing information between prosecutors, judges and juvenile courts."
Officials said juvenile joyriders are responsible for a high number of the thefts in the region.
Mark DeHart, a Virginia state trooper and coordinator of the HEAT program, said 13- to 20-year-olds are responsible for 62 percent of vehicle thefts in the state.
The District has a similar problem, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Among the worst was an accident in July in which a 12-year-old driving a stolen van was charged with killing a man on a mo-ped in Southeast. And a 16-year-old driving a stolen car in June was charged with the fatal hit-and-run involving an elderly woman in Northeast.
Almost 3,000 juveniles were arrested for unauthorized vehicle use from Jan. 1, 2000, to March 12, 2004, Metropolitan Police spokesman Kenny Bryson said this past summer. He also said some of those arrested had been charged more than six times.
Glenn Ivey, state's attorney for Prince George's County, said judges often will not sentence a first-time juvenile offender from a low-income family, leaving the offender free to steal again.
"What we're trying to do is get a step up on the consequences," Mr. Ivey said. "There needs to be real, negative consequences for stealing a car, and it's going to happen the first time."
Officials would like a program modeled after the Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Team, a combined effort between Baltimore County and Baltimore City that employs auto theft detectives and court liaisons to communicate between jurisdictions.
Authorities yesterday heard from auto-theft experts from as far west as Arizona on the successes and failures of their state programs. Speakers focused on public awareness campaigns, law enforcement, prosecution and juvenile prevention in hopes of creating the groundwork for a plan in the Washington area.
"The objective today is to follow up," said Mr. Presley, who said the next meeting will focus on committing to a long-term plan."

State's Attorney Glenn Ivey gets tough with Gangs by Fighting Truancy

2004-12-09T18:35:00.000-05:00

Truancy from school becoming a dangerous problem in area: "Truancy from school becoming a dangerous problem in area

by Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 9, 2004
With skipping parties being used as recruiting grounds for the growing gangs in the region, officials are looking into more ways to stop students from 'playing hooky.'

Sgt. George Norris of District 1 said there was a large skipping party in Riverdale in mid-November. "It's the biggest one we've come across. There were 90 people ranging from 12 to 27 years old."

Some of them were students from Riverdale's William Wirt Middle and Parkdale High, Bladensburg High, and perhaps some from Greenbelt's Eleanor Roosevelt High, he said. Some of them were from the District and some are in gangs.

Norris said about 20 officers responded to that party. "Officers got all 90 of them. We usually contact the schools. In this instance, the administrators responded and usually the schools notify the parents."

"We get calls, just in District 1, two times a week on average," he said. "A lot of gang members at these parties use [the parties] to recruit new gang members and gang associates."

Commenting on the party, Parkdale Principal Donald Horrigan said, "We collected IDs and we had conferences with the parents." Referring to truancy, he said, "It's very dangerous behavior. It's not just 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'," noting the 1980s movie. "This is the gang organization piece because some of these parties are kind of a ritual induction of members, where people get jumped in."

"We try to work at awareness, making sure students know it's dangerous," he said, adding security cameras monitor the building.

Horrigan continued, "We work with parents through daily notification of those students missing from school."

He said, "We also have a Spanish-speaking person who contacts the parents of everyone in the ninth grade who skips. Those students who skip are not allowed to park at the school anymore, especially if they transport [other] kids to these parties."

The school works with county and municipal police as well, he said.

School resource officer Michael Rudinski at Northwestern High School said, "We have found conclusive indication that some parties are gang related. They're using them [parties] to entice young people into the gang culture.

Such parties are usually identified by neighbors, through reports of shooting or via information gathered at the school, he said.

High-risk Northwestern students are put on the ACHIEVE, which stands for Adolescent Cooperative High Intensity Educational Value Enhancement, program.

Rudinski said 40 students are in the program. The program has been successful in a lot of cases. The school also works with the drug and alcohol prevention and education program Reality USA. But, he added, "The number one notice is slipping grades."

Since August, there have been 10 cases where parents have gone to court for their children who skipped at least 40 days of school, said State's Attorney Glenn Ivey.

"We're working with the school system to see if there can be a reduction from 40 to 10 days which would trigger a notification," he said.

John White, county schools' spokesman said, "We are reviewing the administrative procedure for any areas that need to be updated and looking at strategies to prevent truancy."

Ivey said efforts to start truancy centers in Northwestern, Oxon Hill and Suitland high schools are ongoing. "We're working with the school system to see if we can have truancy centers combined with the health and wellness centers that are already in the schools," he said, adding efforts to find a funding source are ongoing.

Dottie McNeill, president of the Chillum Ray Citizen's Association, said a call number for schools would help people report truants.

E-mail Corina E. Rivera at crivera@gazette.net."

Ivey Fighting For The "unworthy victim" - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - December 07, 2004

2004-12-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

There is no such thing as an 'unworthy victim' - The Washington Times: Metropolitan - December 07, 2004: "There is no such thing as an 'unworthy victim'

By Adrienne Washington

Was Doreen M. McClendon, the 37-year-old Greenbelt mother of four daughters, an "unworthy victim"?
Based on the extensive research of Barbara J. Hart, an expert on domestic violence, many battered women do view themselves as "unworthy victims." They become disillusioned with a criminal-justice system populated by judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, law-enforcement officers, as well as court administrators and clerks, who maintain that these victims somehow deserved what they got or "provoked" their battering predators.

The ugly truth is that domestic violence at its core is about control through violence — physically, psychologically, verbally, sexually and economically. But we all have heard the ignorant and insensitive lines before: "Why didn't she leave him?" or "She's just a woman scorned" or some other variation that belittles the charge and blames the victim while excusing the victimizer.
Miss McClendon was fatally stabbed Nov. 28, less than 10 hours after a Prince George's court commissioner denied a protective order that she was seeking against her boyfriend — the father of one of her daughters — after trying to evict him from her apartment.
"This case very graphically displays the risk a woman faces when leaving a violent relationship," said Lydia Watts, executive director and co-founder of District-based WEAVE (Women Empowered Against Violence), who referred me to Ms. Hart's research.
"Commissioners need to take that seriously, and to err on the side of caution makes a whole lot of sense."
The question today is whether Dennis P. Settles, a District Court commissioner, believed these age-old myths about "unworthy" domestic-violence victims when he refused to sign the protective order that Miss McClendon sought.
The larger question is whether Mr. Settles has been relieved of his sworn responsibility to issue protective orders. At the very least, has he been reassigned until he can take another domestic-violence course offered by the State's Attorney's Office before another woman stands before him begging for her life? We don't know because Maryland court officials are too busy running for cover to release any information about this case or this commissioner, other than to state that they are conducting an internal investigation. Shame on them.
What we do know is that a person must have a college diploma to earn $30,000 to $50,000 a year as a commissioner in the Prince George's District Court. However, there is no requirement for a law degree or any training in the law, which should be a minimum, to issue temporary peace and protective orders, warrant, bonds and other administrative paper injunctions when the court is closed.
Whose bright idea was it to let lay people act as commissioners and magistrates to determine emergency legal issues that some seasoned members of the bar have trouble interpreting? It's bad enough that domestic violence is society's dirty little secret, but when the judicial system lets a battered victim down, it sends a terrible message to others: We can't or won't protect you, even when you are bold enough to try to break away from your batterer.
And we wonder why they stay in these potentially deadly situations. Anyone who has ever left or been left in a relationship knows it's no cakewalk on any front. Add to that painful process a volatile partner, and you've got a potentially violent situation.
Studies, some cited by Ms. Hart, point out that the most dangerous time for a battered victim is when she attempts to leave, especially if law enforcement and the judicial system get involved. The deaths of 70 percent of the domestic-violence victims occur when they are attempting to separate. During the slow court process, half of the victims are abused again in retaliation.
On Nov. 28, Mr. Settles denied Miss McClendon a protective order that she sought against Kevin M. Tinsley about 2 a.m., according to court records. Miss McClendon was stabbed to death about 11 a.m. outside her apartment in the 6200 block of Breezewood Drive. Before the University of Maryland secretary took her last breath, she reportedly named her assailant to a daughter. Mr. Tinsley has been charged with murder.
Mr. Settles, who is described only as a "cash-flow specialist" on his Web site, checked a box on a prewritten form saying, "No reasonable grounds to believe that abuse (as defined in the statute) occurred." He curiously underlined the parenthetical clause.
Mind you, Mr. Tinsley is listed as a sexually violent offender on Maryland's sex-offender registry. Court records indicate that Miss McClendon stated that he physically abused her at least twice, for which she filed previous protective orders. They later was dropped. Because they had a 10-year-old daughter, she stated previously, she stayed with him for the sake of the children.
She wrote that he threatened, "I wouldn't be living if he had to go" when she tried to evict him from her apartment.
Why was this obviously desperate woman left to fend for herself? Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey yesterday said everyone has to do more to help battered victims navigate the system when they want to leave their victimizers. That goes for judges, who must give stiffer sentences; police and prosecutors, who must treat these cases with the same priority as others; and family members and friends, who must listen carefully and offer aid to those trying to get away.
Maryland state Sen. Gloria Lawlah, Prince George's Democrat, said denying the protective order "defies the imagination."
She added, "The system failed [Miss McClendon] because you've got to have folks working in the system who are well-educated on the issues and who are sensitive to the fragile mature of the situation. It's life or death."
She said the Senate will take up this issue when it reconvenes next month.
Their first order of business should be to pass a law requiring mandatory legal training and extensive domestic violence training for anyone legally bound to issue protective orders when an average of 1,200 are issued monthly in Prince George's County alone.
After all, Doreen McClendon and others like her seeking help are not "unworthy victims.""

Abandoned Police Cruiser Triggers Pr. George's Probe (washingtonpost.com)

2004-12-06T13:48:00.000-05:00

Abandoned Police Cruiser Triggers Pr. George's Probe (washingtonpost.com): Glenn F. Iveylaunches Investigation of Abandoned Police Cruiser

By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 5, 2004; Page C01

"Prince George's County police are investigating why one of their police cruisers was found by state police abandoned off Route 301 near Clinton on Thursday night, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

The case has attracted the attention of the county prosecutor's office, which is conducting a preliminary inquiry.

Glenn F. Ivey, the Prince George's state's attorney, said through a spokesman yesterday that his office was contacting police internal affairs officials. "After we gather the relevant information, we will determine how to proceed."

The cruiser was located by state police, who reported it to county police, said Barbara Hamm, a county police spokeswoman. She declined to say where the vehicle was found, whether it had been in an accident, if it had been stolen or what time it was discovered.

"It's a brand-new investigation," she said. "We don't want to discuss specifics. . . . We don't know all the details."

She said investigators are interviewing witnesses and spoke with the officer whose car was found.

State police Sgt. Robert Lipsky said that his department has no report of finding an abandoned vehicle in the Clinton region Thursday night and that he could provide no details.

He said that if a trooper came across the cruiser, an official report would not have been required and that it "was more than likely" the trooper simply would have called it in to county police.

Hamm said authorities are looking for help from the public.

County police ask anyone with information to call the Crime Solver hotline at 301-735-1111 or 800-673-2777."

Pr. George's May Be Kingmaker In Democratic Race for Governor (washingtonpost.com)

2004-12-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

Pr. George's May Be Kingmaker In Democratic Race for Governor (washingtonpost.com): "Pr. George's May Be Kingmaker In Democratic Race for Governor
Duncan, O'Malley Begin Jockeying Early for '06

By John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 5, 2004; Page C01
The host at yesterday's prayer breakfast was a popular state delegate from Prince George's County. But there, greeting guests with handshakes and hugs, was Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan.

Later in the morning, another out-of-town guest swooped in: Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. Like Duncan, he heaped heavy praise on state Del. Obie Patterson (D) as the 400 guests finished up a buffet breakfast in a hotel ballroom in Clinton.

Maryland Democrats will not choose their candidate for governor for another 21 months, but yesterday's event underscores the extent to which both leading contenders have started jockeying for position -- and the important role that Prince George's could play in determining who wins the party's nod to take on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R).

Nearly two-thirds of the state's registered Democrats live in just four jurisdictions: Prince George's, Montgomery and Baltimore counties and Baltimore.

Duncan has a strong base in Montgomery, and O'Malley is well positioned in Baltimore and its suburbs, where the telegenic young mayor is a constant presence on the evening news.

Among large jurisdictions, that leaves Prince George's, a county that is now home to more Democrats than any jurisdiction in the state and that delivered 82 percent of its vote for Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry.

Duncan, in particular, needs to win over those voters if he hopes to prevail in the Democratic primary against O'Malley, who has a sizable lead in early statewide polling.

"I have some great friendships there, and I hope to make some more," Duncan said in an interview last week.

A look at his political calendar suggests as much. In the past six months, Duncan has made more than 100 appearances outside Montgomery County at political dinners, civic clubs, churches and other places he can get an audience.

More than a third of those visits have been to Prince George's. The three-term county executive has become a regular Sunday morning worshiper in his neighboring county, attending services in 10 black churches in as many months.

Advisers to O'Malley say Prince George's is not nearly as crucial to the mayor's prospects if both he and Duncan move forward with gubernatorial bids. They argue that with strong performances in Baltimore and its suburbs, O'Malley would prevail if he merely held his own in other parts of the state.

O'Malley -- who was just reelected to a second term as mayor and will be sworn in Tuesday -- has gotten off to a slower start than Duncan in trying to line up Democrats to support his 2006 ambitions. But his aides pointed to two dozen appearances since May that have been part of an effort to boost the mayor's profile statewide. Aides say they expect such trips to ratchet up considerably next year, particularly in the Washington media market.

In the short term, the most important goal for both Democrats, advisers say, is to engage party activists and financial contributors whose support can be leveraged later, when more voters start tuning in before the September 2006 primary. Though it's very early in the process, those who know how it works say this part matters.

"Particularly for someone who may not be known statewide, it's important," said Sandy Brantley, a legal counsel to then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) and an early Duncan supporter. "You start that buzz among the activists . . . and those people start talking about you."

Although their mission is the same, Duncan and O'Malley face opposite challenges. Even Duncan supporters acknowledge that he lacks the charisma of O'Malley, who has a higher national profile in the party and fronts an Irish rock band in his spare time. But many who meet Duncan at events such as yesterday's breakfast find him personable and engaging.

O'Malley, meanwhile, is seeking to demonstrate that his policy depth justifies the kind of flash that landed him in Esquire magazine during his first term. Aides are quick to highlight CitiStat, a program that emphasizes accountability from city departments and has won kudos from policy analysts at Harvard University.

Among O'Malley's recent ventures outside his city was an appearance last month in Prince George's County before the Greater Washington Board of Trade, a business group whose membership includes companies in suburban Maryland. As about 35 business leaders nibbled on muffins and fruit, O'Malley touted "Baltimore's comeback" during a 20-minute speech -- foreshadowing a likely campaign theme.

He rattled off signs of renewal, including the return of cranes to the city skyline, new grocery stores and a virtual halt in the city's declining population. He also touted an overall reduction in violent crime during his tenure, but acknowledged that the city's homicide rate is "spitting back" at him.

As of Dec. 1, 264 homicides had taken place in the city, up 9 percent from the same time a year ago.

As he angles for openings against O'Malley, Duncan has made it clear in recent weeks that he intends to make the mayor's record an issue, as well.

Appearing at a gathering hosted by state Sen. Paula C. Hollinger (D-Baltimore County), Duncan suggested that O'Malley might feel compelled to remain as mayor rather than seek higher office. As ammunition, Duncan referred to an e-mail O'Malley had written to Kevin P. Clark, then his police commissioner, in which he said Baltimore was "in the midst of a shooting and murder wave with juveniles dying and schools out of control."

Given those problems, Duncan said, he would be surprised if O'Malley "jumps ship." And if O'Malley does run for governor, Duncan said in an interview, "his stewardship will be an issue."

O'Malley was dismissive of Duncan's comments, saying in an interview, "I don't spend a lot of energy worrying about what he's saying, what he's doing, what he's not doing."

Although Duncan has had a heavy focus on Prince George's, his political travels have taken him to all parts of the state -- including O'Malley's home turf.

Since June, Duncan has made at least 11 trips into Baltimore, including a panel discussion last week on development trends hosted by an environmental group, 1000 Friends of Maryland, which O'Malley also attended.

Afterward, Duncan was whisked across town in a black sedan to the campus of Ner Israel Rabbinical College, which was holding an awards dinner.

Duncan arrived just in time to don a black yarmulke and take his seat in the banquet hall before the master of ceremonies introduced him to a crowd of about 700 people, noting that it was his first appearance at the annual event.

Duncan's political committee paid $750 to purchase a full-page ad in the dinner program. It prominently featured his photo and proclaimed, "Mazel Tov and Congratulations to Tonight's Distinguished Honorees.""

Ivey Supports Victims Rights in Tow Truck Bill

2004-12-03T16:47:00.000-05:00

Tow truck bill withdrawn: "Tow truck bill withdrawn
E-Mail This Article

by Sonsyrea Tate
Staff Writer
Dec. 3, 2004
A bill to reduce tow truck fees and impose stringent regulations was withdrawn for substantial modifications this week after earlier protests from tow truck owners and advice from the county’s legal office.

Councilwoman Camille A. Exum (D-Dist. 7) of District Heights last month introduced legislation that would have required towing companies to be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to release vehicles within one hour of receiving a call from the vehicle owner or face a $1,000 fine.

The bill also would have limited fees a towing company could charge to $100 for regular-sized vehicles. That fee would have included $80 for towing and $20 for the first day of storage. The bill also would have prohibited towing companies from storing towed vehicles farther than 20 miles away from the place of removal and from storing vehicles outside Prince George’s County.

"We are making substantive changes as a result of talks with experts and individuals in the industry and with the Office of Law," Exum said, adding that she will introduce a modified bill next week.

State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) was scheduled to testify in support of Exum’s bill.

He planned to raise issues about victims of auto thefts who get hit with towing and storage fees.

"They steal your car and dump it somewhere, then the police come along and put a red sticker on it. It gets towed, and the owner gets stuck with the towing and storage fees," Ivey said in an interview Tuesday. He also planned to address multiple towing fees vehicle owners get when towing companies transfer the vehicle from one to another. He met a senior citizen in a seniors’ home who had her car towed, but by the time she tracked it down, she owed three tow companies. "That kind of stuff needs to be addressed, and this legislation would cut into that," Ivey said.

Several people whose vehicles have been towed testified in support of stringent towing regulations. Marlene Langert, of Adelphi, told of being threatened with having her vehicle towed when she escaped, leading a tow truck on a chase straight to a police station, where a police officer protected her long enough to secure cash from an ATM and pay the tow company to remove her from the tow list. She had parked in a garage in which she has a permit to park, but had failed to display the permit in the window.

"I know you cannot regulate attitudes, but his attitude was awful," Langert said of the tow truck driver who would not negotiate. "It was like, ‘I don’t care. We only take cash.’ The cash machine was two miles away." Langert has lived in the county 50 years. Others were also on a list to get towed because they also failed to show their permit, Langert said.

Another resident, Thomas Kane, of Bowie, testified in support of towing legislation, and hopes that the modified version would also prohibit towing companies from removing cars from lots outside stores.

"People with expired tags go to Shopper’s Food or a dollar store and come out to find their vehicle hooked up to a tow truck," Kane testified. "The laws says a vehicle can be towed if it has expired tags, and it doesn’t matter if they expired two weeks ago or two days ago."

Several towing representatives publicly thanked Exum for withdrawing the bill for modifications. Exum had met with the Prince George’s Tow Companies alliance on Friday at a Days Inn hotel in Temple Hills. A leader of that alliance, Adolphus Horne, of Duff’s Towing & Recovery said he is hopeful the modified bill will be fair.

"We do appreciate their reconsideration," he said of the council. "At this point, they’ve already shown a good faith effort – holding up the bill. So, in light of that, I’m sure we’ll come to some type of agreement.""

Ivey Calls for Statewide Gang Task Force

2004-11-22T22:29:00.000-05:00

Community leaders call for action after gang threats: "Community leaders call for action after gang threats

by Sonsyrea Tate and Corina E. Rivera
Staff Writers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nov. 18, 2004 With news reports of a threat to county police by MS-13, one of the region's most notorious gangs, law enforcement officials, community leaders and residents are gearing up to shut them down.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) said a statewide task force may be needed.

"A regional approach is important, but we need a statewide effort," said Ivey, who has worked with police and law enforcement officials from Montgomery County and Washington, D.C. on a regional approach.

County executives Jack B. Johnson of Prince George's, and Douglas Duncan of Montgomery, earlier this year convened a bi-county task force on gangs.

"If we have a statewide effort, we're more likely to include [support from] the state administration," Ivey added. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (R) last year vetoed a bill that would have created a task force to study youth gang activity.

State delegates Victor Ramirez (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier and Rosetta Parker (D-Dist. 47) of Hyattsville introduced legislation that would have prohibited a person from participating in a gang or recruiting for one, but their bill died in the General Assembly's Judiciary Committee for lack of support.

Ivey is working with state lawmakers on new anti-gang legislation to introduce in the 2005 General Assembly session. A statewide approach is needed, Ivey said, because gangs move into smaller communities or more rural areas when police enforcement is increased in the larger areas.

Ivey also proposes prevention programs to deter youth from falling into gangs in the first place.

"For the guys -- and girls, too -- because we have some girls in gangs. For those who are not all the way hard core, we need to pull them back to the road of education and employment," Ivey said. "We need tough prosecution, too. There are some guys we're going to have to lock up and put them away for as long as possible."

Much attention was drawn to gangs as municipal, county, and regional police and prosecutors announced programs to curtail gang activity. But it may be too soon to tell how effective the anti-gang activities have been.

County police and the State's Attorney's Office this week could provide statistics only for county police-related gang arrests and prosecutions. The statistics do not include arrests by the several municipal police departments.

Sgt. Tammy Sparkman, a county police spokeswoman, said that in 2003, three juveniles and eight adults were arrested for gang-related crimes and from January 2004 to the present, six juveniles and two adults were arrested.

Meanwhile, police this week remained on guard.

Percel Alston, president of the Prince George's Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 89, said Monday, "We understand there is a threat against Prince George's County police. It is an act of terrorism against the police and the community."

Community leaders said they will cooperate as much as possible with police.

Bill Hanna, executive secretary of Action Langley Park, a non-profit organization, said the entire community is needed to combat such violence.

"I'm not sure the police alone can do much more. The county is understaffed, and cuts in the COPS [Community Oriented Police Service] program will make the situation worse," Hanna said. "What the police can do with their limited resources is reach out more to local residents so that the residents will be the eyes of the police, willing to report crime and criminals without fear of deportation or other penalty."

Hanna said the school system could add after-school programs and bussing so that teens have something to do after school and on weekends other than hang out and get into trouble.

Langley Park-McCormick Elementary School has an after-school program for students already, school officials said.

Hanna said Action Langley Park will work with another community-based organization to start a teen mentoring program soon.

John Brill, Maryland International Corridor Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement [C-SAFE] program director, said his program initiated a mentoring program last spring through C SAFE's school community partnership. He plans to continue it this year.

"Mentoring helps students get the guidance and support that they need; we need to have more recreational activities. Also some parents don't know what to do with their child they need help," Brill said."

Wynn supports Ivey's run

2004-11-20T19:56:00.000-05:00

Wynn supports Ivey's run: "Wynn supports Ivey's run

by -Walter Lee Dozier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 27, 2002
U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Dist. 4) on Monday threw his support behind Glenn Ivey of Cheverly in his run for the state's attorney office.

In announcing his endorsement, Wynn said it was appropriate that it was made at the Capitol Heights Metro station. The metro station is near the Prince George's County border with the District at the intersection of Central and Southern Avenues, where there has been a recent surge in crime.

"Glenn has the experience and the grasp of this issue," Wynn said. "He also has the toughness to do the job."

Ivey, a former federal prosecutor, said his experience working in the District would help him create a needed partnership between the District and Prince George's County.

"We need to bring people together on common ground," he said.

Ivey, 41, will face off against deputy state's attorney Mark Spencer, 42, also of Cheverly, in the September Democratic primary. State's Attorney Jack Johnson, who is not seeking re-election, is a candidate for county executive."

The Sentinel: Violence Prevention Prize Goes to State's Attorney Glenn Ivey

2004-11-20T19:38:00.000-05:00

The Sentinel: "Ivey Presented With Hamilton Fish Award

Violence Prevention Prize Goes to State's Attorney
By Jackie Kucinich
Sentinel Staff Writer
WASHINGTON, DC, October 29—At a luncheon ceremony here Friday, Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey accepted the first annual Hamilton Fish Institute Violence Prevention Award for his work with violence prevention education.

"We celebrate his commitment to making schools safer for high achievement," said Dr. Beverly Caffee Glenn, executive director of the Hamilton Fish Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, as she presented the award to Ivey. "Mr. Ivey has furthered efforts to make our communities safe by supporting things like after school programs [and] gang prevention issues."

During his acceptance speech Ivey addressed several different issues that he is currently involved with, focusing on the proliferation of drugs and violence among young black males.

He said that throughout the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, African American men were incarcerated at record rates, and because of that, it became more accepted within their communities. Over the past 40 years politicians have shied away from determining and talking about the cause of this social acceptance, according to Ivey. He credited Bill Cosby and his controversial remarks this year with opening up the forum once again. While socioeconomic conditions and society are factors in the explosion of violence within this demographic, they are just the surface of a much larger problem Ivey explained.

"Even in those same communities, if you look back 10, 20 years ago, same kids, same conditions, just as black as these kids are today, they weren't killing each other in the numbers that they do today," he said. Ivey stressed it was critical to find a way to "break the cycle." He said that in some communities where there had been a long history of crime and violence, there was just an "expectation" that one-day everyone would go to jail. Along with the expectation is the notion that if an individual has not gone to jail, then they are not a "man" Ivey said.

He touched on several cases where young people where killed in disputes about girls and other frivolous, seemingly innocent matters.

"One of the points that is really troubling me, [is] the violence I saw in the early 90s seemed to be about 'business', drug dealers have disputes with other drug dealers...not good, but there was a rational to it," Ivy said. "[Today] there is no way to grasp what's driving [the violence]."

Ivey outlined possible solutions to the problems such as examining the cultural aspects and suggested starting a national campaign through the media to try and reverse some of the damage done by society's influences, such as negative rap music.

He criticized politicians for not taking up the issue of urban violence. He described the effort in the house to repeal DC law as "incredible" and said the effort was purely for political gain. He also criticized some of the large churches in Prince George's County who have refused to take part in an anti-domestic violence campaign, which is a problem at the heart of many of these larger issues of teen violence.

Ivey has several measures that will be introduced to the General Assembly this year and that are currently in full swing in Prince George's County. Among them are helping obtain federal funding for the Boys and Girls Club that would create an anti-gun violence program out of Northwestern High School and another in Suitland, a Gang Intervention and Prevention Partnership, domestic violence programs and helping develop a public school anti-crime curriculum.

HFI, serves as a "national resource for the research and development of school violence prevention strategies." HFI also serves as a memorial for the late New York Republican Congressman Hamilton Fish, who championed civil rights legislation. He served in the Congress from 1968 to 1995.

According to Glenn, Ivey embodies not only the qualities that the organization represents but continues to promote Fish's legacy through his work with violence "prevention and intervention.""

Ivey rules out making a run for 'Jack's' job

2004-11-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

Ivey rules out making a run for 'Jack's' job: "Ivey rules out making a run for 'Jack's' job

Nov. 18, 2004
Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) says he will not contest the county executive spot in the next election.
"I am definitely not going to run for county executive in 2006," Ivey told The Gazette last week.

"I don't think it's the right move for me or the county," he added, saying that he is happy serving Prince Georgians in his current capacity.

Ivey has been out front on anti-crime initiatives aimed at reducing auto thefts and finding alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug offenders and programs for at-risk youth. In the run-up to the presidential election this year, Ivey aggressively campaigned for Democratic candidate John Kerry. Ivey was reportedly in line for a state prosecutor's job if Kerry won, but Ivey told reporters that he was not actually seeking the job. He declined to say what, if any other position he might seek in 2006.

"I think it's too early for me on those types of issues," Ivey said. "A lot of people have connected my name to a lot of positions, and that's all very flattering."

As for who Ivey will support for county executive in 2006, the close friend of Rushern Baker, who is expected to run, he said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Ivey, in the past, reportedly was at odds with County Executive Jack B. Johnson, who preceded Ivey as state's attorney. They disagreed on Johnson's previous handling of high profile domestic violence cases that ended in a homicide. They eventually joined forces to convene a domestic violence task force, but still seemed to be working at odds promoting other crime-reducing programs.

Ivey is being courted as a possible running mate on the gubernatorial ticket.

In July, several top county officials staged a press conference to highlight increased penalties for posting commercial signs in the public right-of-way.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson, who recommended the law in November 2003, called the signs advertising cornrows and computer repair services and tax services and companies that sell signs, "litter on a stick."

Johnson's deputy chief administrative officers Al Cornish, James Dula and Vernon Herron joined other officials in front of the Home Depot on Central Avenue in Capitol Heights to assist Department of Public Works and Transportation crews in removing signs posted along roadways throughout the county. They said crews would go out quarterly removing signs.

The increased fines, which Johnson recommended and the County Council approved in November 2003, took effect in January. The fines range from $100 for a first offense to $1,000 to 90 days in jail for a third and any subsequent offenses.

Of course, politicians and political campaigns remain exempt. Hundreds of political signs were posted around the county in the months leading up to the general election on Nov. 2.

"There's always a difference between political signs and commercial signs," explained Johnson spokesman James P. Keary. "It's part of the political process. ... People are trying to be informed about the political process and who their candidates are."

Politicians are supposed to have limits, too. Their signs are supposed to be removed within 10 days after an election. However, this weekend, some signs remained in public right-of-ways. U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Dist. 4) of Mitchellville, who won his election handily, had a new sign posted saying, "Thank You," still standing along Branch Avenue near Iverson Mall on Sunday. And "Vote Democrat" signs remained along Pennsylvania Avenue and Route 202 on Tuesday.

Keary said the Department of Public Works and Transportation began notifying candidates last week that their signs needed to be removed.

This year the county has issued 252 notices of violations to company owners. Eighty-six were eventually fined. The county has collected $8,900 this year from the businesses this year. Politicians are also subject to fines. It could not be determined this week whether any of them have been fined.

Gaylord Hotels and the Peterson Companies will be joined by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., County Executive Jack B. Johnson and the County Council for a groundbreaking of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor on Dec. 2."