Wor. Co. Child's Advocacy Center -"Cricket Center" - To Hold Benefit

Children's Resource Intervention Center -
Kids Empowerment Team

Some Worcester County citizens may not be aware that there is a center for children that have been traumatized by physical or sexual abuse.  The Cricket  Center provides a much needed safe environment  for these children at a time when their whole world seems to be falling apart.


The Cricket Center could use the publics support.

Written By: News Editor, Shawn J. Soper


BERLIN -- Worcester County’s Cricket Center, created five years ago to advocate on behalf of victims of child physical and sexual abuse, is making a difference for the most vulnerable in the community, but the program continues to rely on the generosity of area residents to perpetuate the unfunded mandate.


The county’s Child Advocacy Center, or Cricket Center, housed in a satellite office on the Atlantic General Hospital campus, provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the growing problem of child physical and sexual abuse in the community. Using a “one-stop shopping” approach, the Cricket Center includes child protection workers, medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, AGH and Life Crisis staff all under one roof with the goal of easing the trauma of the young victims and their family members and facilitating the emotional healing process.


“In the past, a victim of child abuse or sexual abuse would first be taken out of school by a social worker, interviewed by the police, returned to school, then taken for a medical exam, probably interviewed by another police officer and then somebody from the state’s attorney’s office to begin the prosecution process,” said Cricket Center Program Manager Wendy Myers this week. “What we found out was that the system in place was, in most cases, re-traumatizing the victim. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. That’s just the way the system was set up.”


To that end, Worcester County’s Cricket Center, and similar child advocacy centers all over the state and across the country, combines all of the needed resources under one roof, easing the burden on the victims and their families with a comprehensive approach.


“It’s a safe environment where child victims and their families can speak with social workers, tell their stories to law enforcement officials and prosecutors, get the medical attention they need, meet with a SAFE nurse and Life Crisis officials all under one roof,” said Myers. “It provides an environment where they feel safe and can get the help they need without being dragged all over the county to the different resources. It’s a one-stop shop, kind of the Wal-Mart for child abuse.”


Myers said victim interviews are recorded and are admissible in court, often preventing the victims telling and retelling their stories, which can cause them to relive the trauma sometimes months later when the cases go to trial. In some cases, the fear of testifying against the accused is a deterrent to coming forward in the first place.


“There are often times when the kids don’t even have to take the stand,” said Myers. “Not always, because a defendant has a right to face his or her accuser in Maryland, but we can often prevent a child from going to court and testifying against their abuser.”

Child physical abuse and sexual abuse is a growing problem, but more often than not, the accused is someone familiar to the young victim. Statistics show 80 percent of the time the accused is someone with whom the child has a relationship of some sort.

“We were all warned about the scary stranger in the bushes, but most of the time, it’s someone the child knows and often closely,” said Myers. “It might be the boyfriend or girlfriend of a parent, someone who lives in the house or even an aunt or uncle.”


All of the services provided by the Cricket Center are free to the victims and their families, but finding the funding to sustain the program has become increasingly difficult. Worcester County’s Cricket Center, and similar programs across Maryland are mandated by the state, yet the state does not provide a dedicated funding source.


“We are not a line item on any budget,” said Myers. “We did get some financial support from the county for the physical building, but there are no funds dedicated for the daily operation. We do receive some grant money, but otherwise, we are completely supported by community donations. The community has been extremely generous, and without the support of the residents of Worcester County, we honestly could never make it.”
 
To that end, the Cricket Center is constantly battling to stay ahead of the funding curve with a series of fundraisers throughout the year.


The program’s next significant event is the Crickets on the Bay scheduled for next Sunday, Oct. 9, at Macky’s Bayside Bar and Grill from 4-9 p.m. The $50 admission price includes dinner and an open bar along with live music from “Bad Mojo.” The highlight of the evening will likely be a chance for participants to win a diamond valued at $3,500 donated by Park Place Jewelers. The event replaces the Cricket Center’s more formal black-tie gala held each year.

Tickets will not be sold at the door, although they can be purchased in advance as late as the day before the event. For more information, contact the Cricket Center at 410-641-0097, ext. 4204, or visit www.thecricketcenter.com for more information about the event.

Source;  http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2011/09/30/Top-Stories/Cricket-Center-Benefit-Key-To-Keeping-Advocate-Afloat

Delegate Mike McDermott Opinion On Hardwire Testing

Written by

Delegate Mike McDermott

Much has been stated lately regarding Hardwire LLC's use of the Worcester County Firearms Training Center site to test some of their armor products. The products are manufactured in Pocomoke City and are being utilized to protect our military members fighting to protect our freedoms around the world. The company is an Eastern Shore success story, starting in a garage and fast becoming a billion-dollar corporation and a star employer with an ever-increasing payroll.

Their product is bringing home our fighting men and women in one piece, and that's something for which we should all be grateful.

When important issues like this are discussed, common sense and known facts should not be checked at the door. This has not been the case with much that has been stated. Some would have you believe this area is a "pristine wilderness" that is going to soon have mushroom clouds on the horizon.

This is not a difference of opinion, it is an outright falsehood. We are talking about a barren surface mine and a large firing range, which has been discharging weapons and explosive devices for decades. Utilizing the same location to conduct much more limited and confined activities only makes sense.

To scare people with "ground water contamination" and some type of lost habitat is disgraceful and without any merit whatsoever.

We must have a balanced approach on land use. We need jobs and a prosperous local economy. This need not be in conflict with our environment. Eagles nest in the tall pines near the range, and one usually makes a low pass over the firing line each day I am there.

They have not fled the area; in fact, they prosper. They do this in the face of regular discharges of all manner of weapons and explosive devices for the past 20 years.

If you want to be taken seriously on the environment, intellectual honesty would be a good place to start.

We are a state that ranked dead last in job creation, and first in jobs lost. Hardwire could have located anywhere in the United States, but their president, George Tunis, chose to remain on the Shore with those who supported his dream. His product saves the lives of our real life heroes and has created a multitude of jobs and millions in tax revenues for Maryland and our local economy.

We need farming, fishing, tourism and industry to prosper.

"Governing for the good of the public" takes all of this into consideration minus the emotion and hyperbole.

I think the eagle gets it, and he does not seem to mind sharing.

» Delegate Mike McDermottR-38B, has served as range master for Worcester County for the past 20 years.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110919/OPINION01/109190317/Testing-appropriate-site

Justin Hadel Is Sentenced

Christine Sheddy, mother of three small children, went missing November 2007.

In  February 2010, the remains of  Ms. Sheddy  were found in Snow Hill on the property of a bed and breakfast.

Justine Hadel, who was convicted of  murdering Christine Sheddy,  received his sentence Friday,
September 9, 2011 in Worcester County, Maryland.

Hadel was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Never.

And to use the words from the Worcester County State's Attorney Office:

"Today we remember that no matter how hard you try, no matter how far you run, no matter how many lies you tell – justice will find you in Worcester County. If Justin Hadel doesn’t remember that, then he has a lifetime in the Department of Corrections to think about it."

I think that just about sums it up.

Worcester County New Deputies Graduate Top Of The Class

Congratulations freshman deputies and the best of luck in the future.


Written By: Staff Writer, Travis Brown
SNOW HILL -- The latest batch of Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies wrapped up their time at the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy (ESCJA) by taking all of the school’s top honors and graduating at the top of their class.

“We took every award,” said Sheriff Reggie Mason.

Freshmen deputies Shane Musgrave, Christopher Barrs and Mark Powell graduated from the Wor-Wic Community College-based academy on June 17. They graduated with the top three placements and between themselves, won the highest awards in their class for academics, physical fitness and firearms. The hat trick of awards is a first for outgoing Worcester Sheriff’s cadets and also marks the largest class of group to ever graduate at once.

“This is the first time we’ve ever put three in the academy,” said Mason.

Mason explained that watching all three of his deputies distinguish themselves to such a degree was “a shock.”

“You never expect that,” he said, stressing how impressive finishing in the top three spots amongst a class of almost a dozen highly qualified cadets was.

The commissioners, who got a chance to meet the deputies briefly Tuesday, were equally impressed.

“We couldn’t be prouder of you,” said Commission President Bud Church.

After graduation, the deputies went through a 60-day supervision period. However, as of Tuesday, the three will be running solo shifts as full-members of the sheriff’s office.

“Today, they’ll be on their own,” said Mason.

Following the success of the trio, Mason plans on utilizing the academy to train more deputies. While a standard practice among law enforcement agencies is to shuffle trained officers back and forth, Mason noted the importance of expanding the field of officers by graduating cadets from academies like the one offered at Wor-Wic.

“For many years, we’ve been involved in later transfers,” said Mason, referring to the practice of a veteran officer leaving one department for another.

Mason admitted that it saves money, since the officers are already trained. However, he revealed that it “hurts smaller departments” that might not be able to afford to entice new officers to join, or current officers to remain. On top of that, Mason explained that he wants to give young adults interested in law enforcement an opening to prove themselves.

“I want to give these kids a chance in the county,” he remarked. “I will give them that opportunity.”

Mason made sure to credit John Moses, associate director of the ESCJA, and the rest of the staff at the academy.

“Wor-Wic has been outstanding,” said Mason. “It’s a great working relationship.”

He pointed out that ESCJA is the only such academy on the Eastern Shore and without it cadets would need to be sent well out of the county to receive instruction, an inconvenient and expensive alternative.

The sheriff’s office has already enrolled another cadet into the program, said Mason. That deputy should graduate in December.
Source;  http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2011/09/09/Top-Stories/County-Gets-Three-New-Deputies#.Tmn6x5zNjvQ.email

Warrant Issued For Courtroom No-Show

SNOW HILL — A man arrested in a Pocomoke City drug sting has a $250,000 warrant out for his arrest because he failed to appear for court Wednesday.

Minaster Fate Nixon Wright, 55, of Pocomoke, was among more than 40 people caught into a joint drug raid in July conducted by county law enforcement agencies. Wright was charged in that sting with marijuana possession and distribution, and with selling it within 1,000 feet of a school. He was detained July 26, and posted $75,000 bond Aug. 2.

When he did not show for his Sept. 7 arraignment in Worcester County Circuit Court, Judge Thomas Groton ordered a bench warrant for his arrest.

 Wright was the only no-show as four other men facing drug charges from the same sting did appear in court.

Source;   http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110907/NEWS01/110907023/WORCESTER-250K-warrant-issued-for-courtroom-no-show?odyssey=mod

newswell
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Worcester County Times
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Exception Under Consideration in Worcester County

WBOC

NEWARK, Md. - Worcester County government is considering a special exception that would allow a local defense contractor to test products at the county firing range.

Bud Church, president of the Worcester County Commissioners, said allowing Pocomoke-based Hardwire LLC to occasionally test on the Newark range might keep jobs in the area.

"We can probably maintain a company that's continuing to grow in the county. It's someone we want to keep in the county, and the purpose is to help our military," Church said. "It would probably add additional jobs, so that's a plus-plus-plus for us."

Michael Cullen, who lives next to the firing range, says he is concerned about the testing affecting his property value or impacting wildlife.

"The shooting of small caliber pistols, that's not a big deal," Cullen said. "Very rarely does the government do some testing on cars. What effects will this have on property value?"

Church said environmental agencies have already approved testing at the county firing range.

A  public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals for Worcester County regarding the special exception is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Source;  http://www.wboc.com/story/15393792/military-testing?Call=Email&Format=HTML

Emergency Alert Signals To Sound On Saturday

Saturday, September 3, 2011 

Worcester County emergency alert signals will sound from area fire sirens.

A steady alert tone will sound at 10:00 a.m. for approximately one minute.

The signals are tested the first Saturday of each month.

 In the event of an actual emergency, the sirens would be used as additional means to warn the surrounding communities of imminent danger and the need to tune to either radio, television or the internet for information.
　

Worcester County Sheriff's Office Seeking Sex Offender

SNOW HILL — Worcester County Sheriff's are looking for a registered sex offender who failed to re-register after moving.

Deputies are searching for Joshua Aaron Baker, 32, whose last known address was on Swordfish Drive in West Ocean City. He is a Tier 3 sex offender, the sheriff's office said, the most serious of three available sex offender categories, and must register as such for life.

Baker also has two other warrants for his arrest on unrelated criminal and traffic matters in the Worcester County Circuit Court, the sheriff's office said.

To offer information regarding this investigation, contact the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at (410) 632-1111.

 Tipsters may also call to provide information through lines maintained by Maryland Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110901/NEWS01/110901009/WORCESTER-Sheriff-s-office-seeking-sex-offender?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|frontpage

Help Harvest Berlin Branch Library Garden to Feed the Hungry

Worcester County Staff and Master Gardeners

 invite you to help harvest produce, plant seeds for fall crops and learn about sustainable gardening at the

Berlin Branch Library Garden on

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 from 4:30 to  5:30  p,m.  

“The objective of this project is to demonstrate sustainable gardening techniques to the
public and to provide fresh, healthy, locally grown food for Diakonia, an area homeless shelter,
and other organizations providing food assistance in the community,” said Katherine Munson, the Natural Resources Planner for Worcester County who spearheads the garden project.

All ages are welcome and no experience is necessary and those with garden gloves are asked to bring them. The food harvested will include raspberries, squash, peppers, tomatoes, greens, herbs and cucumbers and will be donated to the Stevenson United Methodist Church’s (SUMC) food assistance program. For more information about the food assistance program, contact SUMC at (410) 641-1137 or http://sumchome.org/.

“Hosting the garden is a natural extension of the library's broader mission to inform and educate, not just with books and words but also with actual, tangible projects, such as the community garden,” Worcester County Library Director Mark Thomas said. “Our hope continues to be that the visibility and success of the Berlin Library community garden would inspire similar efforts throughout the community and county.”

A grant from Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, matched by in-kind donations from the community, has supported the project by providing funding for basic materials. 

In the event of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled. For more information about the library garden, visit Berlin Branch Library Garden on Facebook.

Any groups interested in starting up community gardens are invited to contact Ms. Munson at (410) 632-1200, ext. 1302 for information on how to get started.

Crime Watch Meetings For Girdletree and Stockton Communities

Wo. Co. Sheriff's Office - Crime Watch Meetings

The Worcester County Sheriff’s office is hoping to establish a crime watch in Girdletree and has scheduled a crime watch meeting on

August 22nd at the Girdletree Firehouse

Beginning at 7 p.m., Deputy First Class Dale Trotter will give a brief overview of crime watch, citizen concerns, necessary precautions and future meeting times.

Call 410-632-1112.

ALSO

Friday, August 26th Stockton Community

 Crime Watch Meeting,
 Stockton Firehouse
at 6 p.m.

Ten Years In Jail For Berlin Businessman

Written by

News Editor Shawn J. Soper

SNOW HILL -- Berlin businessman Bill Scott was found guilty this week on three counts of theft scheme after bilking several resort area condo associations out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and was sentenced to a combined 55 years in jail, all but 10 of which were then suspended.

In April, a Worcester County grand jury indicted Scott, president of Scott and Associates, an accounting and property management firm, on six counts of theft and theft scheme for clearing out the accounts of a handful of condominium associations over a two-year period that ended with his confession earlier this year. His victims included, among others, Sunset Village, Assateague House and San Remo condo associations, from which Scott absconded with over $800,000 from various operating and reserve accounts.

The trial began last Wednesday with victim testimony building the case against Scott. Also last Wednesday, a videotaped confession was shown in court, taken last February by Maryland State Police when Scott’s theft scheme began to unravel. On Tuesday, after closing statements by both sides in the case, Judge Richard Bloxom found Scott guilty of two counts of theft scheme over $100,000 and one count of theft scheme from $10,000 to $100,000.

For each of the first two counts, Bloxom sentenced Scott to 20 years with all but 10 years suspended. For the lesser conviction, Bloxom sentenced Scott to 15 years with all but 10 years suspended. The sentences are to be served concurrently, netting Scott a total of 10 years. He was also placed on probation for five years upon release and ordered to pay restitution to the victims, although the details of the latter will be worked out at a later date.

Before finding Scott guilty and ultimately meting out the sentences, Bloxom heard closing statements from prosecutor Steve Rakow and public defender Chastity Simpson. He also heard emotional testimony from Scott and his wife, Elizabeth, who made an impassioned appeal for leniency on her husband’s behalf.

Bloxom related a story from his service as a public defender early in his career about a client he defended who was convicted of theft and received a significant sentence. According to the judge’s story, the convicted man remarked on the disparity of sentences for low-level theft convictions and convictions for so-called “white collar” theft schemes. Bloxom said he was not going to let that recollection be his guide before dropping the hammer on Scott.

“I don’t know what to make of you,” he said. “You speak well and I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of your remorse, but the amount of theft here is staggering and the extent of the deviousness and deceit is staggering.”

Bloxom said the extent of the theft scheme and the amount of money stolen deserved a hefty sentence.

“These schemes are staggering to me,” he said. “It seems to me the sentence the court imposes has to reflect society’s absolute repugnance for the criminal behavior you engaged in.”

In his closing statement, Rakow pointed out Scott’s theft scheme was carried out against victims who had placed their trust in him to handle their money.

“It was easy for Mr. Scott to steal, to make checks out to himself, because he had unfettered access to those accounts,” he said. “We don’t know why he took the money and we don’t know where the money is, we only know he stole over $800,000. Just because one has unfettered access to accounts doesn’t give one the right to steal money from those accounts.”

Last December and early this year, Scott’s vast embezzlement and theft scheme began to come to light after irregularities were detected in his various clients’ books. When the extent of the thefts started to become revealed, Scott went to the Maryland State Police barrack in Berlin and confessed the crimes, setting off the investigation that led to his indictment.

The defense on Tuesday attempted to paint Scott’s confession in a positive light.

“He walked in there apologetic, seeking to make things right,” said Simpson. “He’s still remorseful. He shamed himself and he shamed his entire family, but he chose to walk in and confess and he was not obligated to do that.”

However, Rakow pointed out Scott’s confession came only after the writing was on the wall.

“Only after he was caught did he go to the Maryland State Police to clear his soul,” he said. “Who knows how long it would have going on if he didn’t get caught? He was obviously taking money from one condo association to pay another so the theft would not be uncovered. Only after he was caught was the existence, mechanism and extent of his theft revealed.”

Simpson also attempted to point out not all of the roughly $800,000 was permanently stolen and that Scott had moved funds from one association’s accounts to another in some cases to offset the deficits.

“This is a case of temporary deprivation versus permanent deprivation,” she said. “Much of the money taken was later returned.”

However, Rakow discounted the defense’s effort to somehow minimize the extent of the theft scheme.

“Theft is theft,” he said. “If you steal from me and you put it back, it’s still theft. The evidence shows a pattern of deceit, manipulation, lies and theft. He admitted to stealing the money from the condo associations.”

Simpson also appealed to the judge to consider allowing Scott to take a reported employment position in Baltimore that would allow him to begin paying back the victims rather than sitting in jail.

“With a felony conviction, it will likely be impossible for him to ever get a job in his field, or even McDonalds,” she said. “He has an opportunity for a job in Baltimore where he can live relatively free while he starts to make restitution.”

For her part, Scott’s wife, Elizabeth, said he was a good husband and father and urged the judge to consider leniency in the case.

“He’s a good man that made bad choices,” she said. “I give him credit for trying to make things right. His conscience led him to the State Police to try to make things right. He’s a good person who can benefit society, my family and our child more by being allowed to work and begin to repay this. Over the course of his lifetime, he has done far more good than the wrongs he had done recently.”

Scott was given the opportunity to speak on his behalf and delivered an emotional statement to the judge.

“I stand here humble, ashamed and embarrassed,” he said. “My actions have tormented me over the last few years, and when someone asked me how I thought it would play out, I honestly thought of taking my own life.”

A tearful Scott implored the judge to allow him to pursue the employment opportunity in Baltimore to begin to repay his victims.

“I exercised tremendously poor judgment and made horrible decisions,” he said. “I want to make them whole again. My name is mud now, but I have an opportunity in Baltimore and I feel like it might be my best opportunity to have a job and make restitution.”

In the end, Bloxom was not persuaded and handed down the stringent sentences in the case.

“Punishment is to deter people from engaging in future criminal activity,” he said. “Some people need more deterrence than others.”

Source;  http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2011/08/19/Top-Stories/Decade-In-Jail-Ordered-For-Condo-Theft

Worcester County Burn Ban Has Been Lifted

Worcester Co. Burn Ban Status

AS OF 8/19/11 - The Countywide Burn Ban is LIFTED!

Residents are urged to burn responsibly and take the necessary precautions when doing so.

Man Shot During Burglary Gets Eight Years Behind Bars

SNOW HILL -- Cpl. Katie Edgar pulled into the gravel driveway of Venable's Electric HVAC Inc., responding to call of a burglary in process at the warehouse. She stepped out of her Worcester County Sheriff's patrol car to see a pickup truck headed toward her, backlit by the warehouse lights, its headlights turned off.

With her gun in her right hand and her police dog, Jonka, leashed in her left, she yelled at the driver to turn off the car and get out. Instead, the driver turned on the headlights; he gunned the engine.

What happened next set in motion the events that would lead to the police pursuit and arrest of the truck driver, Matthew Noah Collins, and his eventual trial on charges of assault, burglary and theft.

Circuit Court Judge Dale Cathell sentenced Collins, 28, of Salisbury to eight years in jail, finding him guilty of second-degree assault and fourth-degree burglary. Prosecutors dropped a charge of first-degree assault.

Collins admitted in court on Aug. 18 that he'd gone to the Bishopville warehouse to steal metal that he would later sell for scrap. He was leaving the property with several large air conditioning units packed into his pickup bed when he was caught red-handed.

The junked air conditioning units kept behind that warehouse held valuable copper, aluminum and steel parts. With market prices at the time about $3 a pound, the scrap metal would have been worth between $600-$900, testified company owner Dale Venable.

Edgar stood about six feet from the bumper of Collins' 1983 Ford pickup, yelling for him to get out, when the engine went from idle to racing.

Edgar used her gun in self-defense, firing six times toward the oncoming truck.

"I fired as long as he was a threat to me," she said.

Collins pulled the truck hard to the right and drove off. He had been shot three times: in the upper back, shoulder blades and clean through his left elbow.

Worcester County deputies soon caught up with him, and he pulled over on Route 113 north of Carey Road, where he was arrested.

Judge Cathell said Matthew Collins' criminal history of assault, burglary and shoplifting charges in Maryland and Delaware informed his decision to hand down the maximum allowable prison sentence on the burglary and assault charges.

"It seems like nothing teaches you a lesson. Maybe this will," the judge said.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110819/NEWS01/108190308/Man-shot-during-burglary-gets-8-years

Accountant Took Money To Repay Another Debt

CHRISTINE CULLEN ¦ Staff Writer

(Aug. 12, 2011) A Berlin accountant who turned himself in to police for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from resort area condominium associations claimed that the thefts started when a local businessman he also stole from began extorting him for monthly buyoff payments.

William Wilson Scott, 37, of Bishopville, went to the Maryland State Police barrack in Berlin on Feb. 9 “to clean my conscience,” according a recording of his confession that was played during his trial Wednesday in Circuit Court. Scott told detectives that he had been stealing money from three associations he managed for the past few years and he wanted to turn himself in.


“There’s money that has been used by me that wasn’t mine,” he told the detectives.

In court, Scott pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In the recorded interview with police, Scott said everything started in 2007, when he took on Atlantic Physical Therapy and owner Robert Hammond as a client. Hammond gave Scott money that year and the next year to pay the company’s taxes, but Scott told the detectives that he used the money, around $170,000, to pay his own personal bills instead.

In December 2009, when Hammond learned that his taxes were never paid, he demanded the immediate repayment of all the money. Scott told the detectives that he was afraid for his safety when Hammond arrived at his office with two large men and told him, “I brought guys with me that know how to hurt,” according to the recording.

Hammond disputes what Scott told the detectives. He said Thursday that the two men were friends visiting him from Italy and he denies saying they were guys who knew how to hurt.

“In no way, shape or form did I threaten him,” Hammond said.


In order to repay the money, Scott said he took it from three condo association accounts he managed: the Assateague House, San Remo and Sunset Village associations.


“The only place I knew to get the money from was these condo associations,” he said.

Scott told the detectives that Hammond was not satisfied and demanded monthly payments of $3,000 or he would go to the police.


Hammond denies that he demanded the payments. Scott, he said, came up with that amount.


“He agreed to pay $3,000 a month,” Hammond said. “He came to my house and that’s what he came up with. He said he would pay the penalties and interest.”

Scott paid the money until February of this year, when he went to the police station and confessed his crimes.

“Can you make good on this?” Sgt. Scott Brent of the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation asked.

“I want to. That’s why I’m here,” Scott replied.

Tfc. Kyle Trotter of WCBI said the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry into possible ties between Hammond and organized crime, but nothing was found.

The investigation led to Scott being charged with six counts of theft and theft scheme. Police alleged that he embezzled more than $820,000 from the three condominium associations. The Assateague House won a lawsuit against Scott in June.

The embezzlement began to come to light in late 2010, when Reese Cropper, owner of IMG Insurance in Ocean City, learned that Scott had not paid the insurance premiums for the Assateague House and Sunset Village associations. His concerns regarding the handling of the associations’ finances led him to contact all three association presidents and suggest they look at their books.”

“I had reason to believe they needed to look into their funds,” Cropper testified in court.


At around the same time, Joe Pino, a contractor who had done substantial work on the Sunset Village townhouses, grew concerned when months went by and he did not receive the final $20,000 payment from Scott for his work. He contacted his friend Larry Perkins, who is the treasurer of the Assateague House, since Scott managed both associations’ money.


Perkins checked the account balances of the association’s three bank accounts that Scott had access to and learned there was only around $1,800 among the three.


“I expected to see hundreds of thousands of dollars in those accounts,” he said.

When the books of the three associations were reviewed, it was discovered that Scott had allegedly written dozens of checks to his company out of their accounts, without the permission or knowledge of the boards of directors. The total pilfered was allegedly $826,273.

Scott’s public defender Chasity Simpson called no witnesses and offered no defense. The closing arguments and judge’s decision was postponed until Aug. 16, because Judge Richard Bloxom said he needed time to go through the stacks of financial records offered as evidence.

Source;  http://www.oceancitytoday.net/news/2011-08-12/Front_Page/SCOTT_TOOK_MONEY_TO_REPAY_ANOTHER_THEFT.html

Seven More Arrested For Drug Trafficking In Pocomoke City and Crisfield

GREAT JOB!!  Keep going.  I'm sure there are plenty more of these scumbags out there.

CRISFIELD -- Seven people were arrested and three more are sought on warrants in connection with drug trafficking in Crisfield and Pocomoke City.

Police in both municipalities worked together on a three-month undercover investigation in which officers gained information on drug operations, said Crisfield Police Chief Mike Tabor.

A Crisfield officer worked in Pocomoke City, while one from Pocomoke City worked in Crisfield, he said.

More evidence is expected to be turned over to a Somerset County grand jury next week.

"This is going to be an ongoing thing," Tabor said.

Six of the suspects have been charged in connection with drug dealing in Crisfield and four in Pocomoke City.

All have been charged with distribution of drugs and related charges and were held on bonds ranging from $75,000-$100,000 each, Tabor said.

Arrested in Crisfield were Chance Ames, 19, of Crisfield, who is incarcerated at the Department of Corrections in Jessup; Andre Tyrone Fisher, 26, of Crisfield; Freddie Scott Laird, 35, of Tangier; and Janet Nicole Webster, 28, of Princess Anne.

Arrested in Pocomoke City were 20-year-old Breon Odale Ames, 47-year-old Vera Denise Byrd and Chris Lee Pittman, all of Pocomoke City.

Crisfield police have indictments for two more people, and Pocomoke City police are still seeking one more suspect on an arrest warrant.

The cooperation between departments has been extended to checkpoints and other initiatives, Tabor said.

On Friday night, the department was assisted by the Princess Anne and Pocomoke City police departments and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office to provide increased patrols in certain hot spot areas of Crisfield.

Six arrests were made on various charges.

"It makes a big difference," Tabor said of the patrols. "The weekend was crime-free."

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201108090432/NEWS01/108090311

Sheriff Reggie T. Mason - Letter To The Editor

I am proud of all the law enforcement officers who recently assisted the Worcester County Sheriff's Office in making major drug arrests in Snow Hill and Pocomoke City. Their professionalism was outstanding and their departments can be proud. We will continue to pursue drug dealers, and we will return -- again and again.

This is not just a one-time sweep. All of Worcester County will be done.

On Thursday, Sheriff Mike Lewis of Wicomico County, Sheriff Todd Godwin of Accomack County, Sheriff David Doughty Jr. of Northampton and I met with Virginia State Police, DEA and other agencies in Northampton County to discuss working together to track down these drug dealers crossing state and county lines.

Helping each other and sharing our resources, we will find them.

Our job as sheriffs is to protect our counties' residents. Together, we will give 110 percent.

However, we do need residents' involvement by making a call when they see drug activity on our streets.

The Worcester County Sheriff's Office Criminal Enforcement Team consists of members of the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police, Ocean City Police Department and Worcester County State's Attorney's Office. This team put many hours into this investigation and operating plan, and is to be commended for a job well done.

Special thanks to our Worcester County Commissioners, the Snow Hill Town Council and Mayor Bruce Morrison of Pocomoke City for being there with us to see what law enforcement encounters on these operations, and to the Accomack County Virginia Sheriff's Office for its participation.

Reggie T. Mason
Snow Hill

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110807/OPINION03/108070333/Sheriff-applauds-those-who-made-drug-raids-LETTERS-EDITOR

Worcester County Sheriff's STAR Team

On Saturday of last week I posted that I had received calls from various people in Pocomoke that had witnessed alot of police activity in the Linden/Fourth/Oxford Street areas of town.  At least two officers were standing in the street holding assault rifles and one witness saw an arrest being made.

Because drugs and drug crimes are so present in almost every city and town arcross America it is always easy to jump to the conclusion that this was a drug bust.

As it turns out it quite possibly wasn't a drug bust at all. 

It has been brought to my attention that what some witnessed was the STAR team. (Sheriff  Tactical Armed Response) team serving warrants.  The STAR team is used for many reasons.

Please read:

The Sheriff's Tactical Armed Response Team (STAR) is a 12 man unit that is responsible for handling hostage situations, barricaded gunmen, high risk warrant services and other crisis situations that require the use of the team's special training and skills.

The Worcester County Sheriff's STAR Team was formed in 1991, in response to a growing number of potentially violent incidents that our deputies were called upon to handle. Of primary concern was the number of search warrants generated by the Narcotics Task Force and the growing number of loaded firearms that were being recovered as those warrants were served. Irrespective of the problems associated with narcotics search warrants, it was also recognized that patrol deputies had to deal with armed and barricaded suspects without having the capability of calling upon a specialized unit with the agency. Although at the time the office was capable of calling for specialized assistance from other agencies, such assistance can bring with it certain problems that could be mitigated by having the same capability with our own agency. It was known that any tactical team acts only within the limits of its training and the dictates of existing political dogma that surrounds its agency and team orientation. These problems were eliminated by forming, training, and maintaining our own tactical team. Our Office responsibility and county liability were the key issues.

There have been occasions since the STAR Team was formed when they were called upon to take over tactical situations that were deemed to be overly hazardous for patrol deputies. Knowing the abilities of and having confidence in a team is essential during these situations. We have found that our Team has the ability to take control of a situation and bring it to a conclusion in the most effective means available.

We have also learned since the formation of the team that its constant training in tactics, specialized weaponry, team movement, and organizational unity, have brought with it a built in measure of safety that cannot compare with any other unit with the agency. Because safety is the primary objective of any tactical unit, it is a large part of anything that our team does whether in training or during an actual operation.

With respect to the high risk entries associated with narcotics search warrants, it is obvious that on most occasions the greatest danger is dealing with the unknown. There are several things that we do know about people who deal in illicit drugs. They are often drug user themselves and they are desperate with respect to earning enough money to support their own narcotics habits. They are often paranoid, as a result of their narcotics usage, and they are rarely willing to go to jail. Recognizing these issues the team takes the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves to quickly and effectively subdue narcotics dealers and their associates.

The issue of changing demographics is one we cannot control, however, we must continue to monitor and make adjustments for them. As change continues and safety issues remain, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office finds it necessary to maintain a resource, upon which we can draw during those times when the normal approach is inadequate. The STAR Team has proved itself to be a valuable means by which to bring dangerous situations to a prompt and safe conclusion. Without the availability of this asset, it is believed that our deputies may needlessly be faced with having to place themselves in jeopardy when they might not have to otherwise.

It is hoped that the STAR Team will continue to serve the office in the efforts to provide a safe environment for the citizens of Worcester County. It has done so time and time again since its inception and is dedicated to doing so in the future.

The members of the team are assigned to different divisions of the Worcester County Sheriff's Office as their primary duty assignment. The STAR Team is a secondary assignment for which the members volunteer and are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Deputies that apply to the team for a position must pass a physical fitness test, have a minimum average firearms score of 90 percent, and attend an interview with the current team members. The applicants are then selected by the team members based on their performance in the application process. Deputies interested in serving on the STAR Team must have a minimum of two years experience with the Office and be in excellent physical condition. He or she must pass the basis SWAT training course. He or she must have a good departmental performance record.

Copied from:  http://co.worcester.md.us/wsco/starteam.aspx

Under The Influence and On The Road -- AGAIN

BISHOPVILLE — A 45-year-old Bishopville woman has been charged with several traffic violations for the second month in a row after sideswiping an oncoming car Sunday morning.

Kim Hinkley, of Back-Creek Road in Bishopville, was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, negligent driving, unsafe lane change, driving on a revoked license and failure to obey designated lane directions.

Sunday morning around 10 a.m., Maryland State Police say Hinkley was driving east on Rt. 367 when she allegedly crossed the center line and sideswiped another vehicle, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.

Hinkley was charged on June 21 with similar charges including driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a suspended license and failure to display license to a police officer. Hinkley was previously found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol in June of 2009.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110725/NEWS01/110725010/WORCESTER-CRIME-Woman-faces-DUI-charges-after-crash?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Worcester County Times|s

Outdoor Burning Bans In Somerset and Worcester Counties

Md.- Both Somerset and Worcester counties issued outdoor burning bans on Monday. Both bans are effective immediately.

Somerset County's ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources, including campfires, bonfires, fireworks, leaf, brush, grass and trash burning and other similar methods of open incineration. Cooking with contained barbecue grills and charcoal grills are still permissible. All existing outdoor burn permits have been rescinded.

The ban is in effect until further notice.

Worcester County's burn ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources with the following exceptions:

• Proper use of gas and charcoal grills;
• Campfires at the county's commercial, state and federal campgrounds;
• Permitted official Ocean City bonfires;
• Private property recreational campfires which are limited to a fire area of 2 feet with a height of 3 feet;
• Public fireworks displays;
• Volunteer fire company training exercises

Worcester County's burn ban will remain in effect until the dry conditions dissipate. In addition, all existing outdoor burn permits have been rescinded. 

Source;  WBOC

Mistrial In Pocomoke Murder Trial

Written by

Jennifer Shutt

SNOW HILL -- The trial of a 19-year-old on charges he committed murder with an assault rifle ended in a mistrial, with jurors unable to agree on a verdict.

Prosecutors said they planned to refile felony charges against Skylor Dupree Harmon, 19, of Pocomoke City after the jurors in his trial told a judge they could not deliver a unanimous verdict.

Harmon had been charged with first- and second-degree murder in the death of Reginald Handy Jr. After hearing from the jury, which had been discussing the evidence for four hours, Circuit Court Judge Thomas C. Groton III declared a mistrial.

Harmon will continue to be detained at the Somerset County Detention Center until another trial date can be set, according to Deputy State's Attorney Paul Haskell.

The jurors had heard hours of testimony and a lengthy closing statement from the defense on Thursday before beginning to deliberate on a verdict.

Jurors were tasked with weighing the testimony of Rasheema Schoolfield, who testified she saw Harmon within yards of where the presumed murder weapon was found, and a few feet away from where a casing from the .223-caliber Bushmaster assault rifle was later discovered. She never told police, or testified, she saw Harmon touching any gun. The Bushmaster is on the Maryland State Police list of 45 assault weapon, and is a regulated firearm, which means anyone seeking to buy one legally in the state has to apply to the state police for permission.

Police officers testified they reviewed text messages sent to Torrance Davis, Handy's cousin, in which Schoolfield admitted to seeing Harmon with a gun. That was something Schoolfield adamantly denied on the stand during the trial.

Jurors also had to decide whether the military-style weapon found approximately 65 yards away from where Handy was shot in the back was, in fact, the gun that killed him.

A ballistics expert, Jaimie Smith, told jurors during he could not conclusively say the bullet that killed Handy had been fired from the weapon found by police. Smith is the expert who told police casings from a .380-caliber or a .45-caliber handgun were not linked to the fatal shot.

Harmon's uncle, Alexander Crippen, was originally charged with the May 2010 murder, but his charges in the Handy case were dropped before Crippen's trial. When Crippen was originally charged within weeks of the murder, police and witness testimony placed him within feet of Handy, shooting a handgun.

Police had originally believed shell casings from a .380- or a .45-caliber weapon caused Handy's death. Then Smith told authorities his analysis of the crime scene suggested those weapons were ruled out.

After the mistrial was declared, Harmon's lawyer, Sandra Fried, requested Harmon be moved from the Somerset County detention facility, where he has been housed since being arrested to the Worcester County Jail. Groton denied her motion, saying those types of decisions are left up to the warden.

Garry Mumford, warden of the Worcester County Jail, said it is "more feasible for us to house him in Somerset County." Mumford said he could not comment further because of security concerns.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110707/WCT01/107070301/Mistrial-declared-in-murder-trial?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Worcester County Times|p