What Were They Thinking ????

MIAMI (Reuters) – Burglars snorted the cremated remains of a man and two dogs in the mistaken belief that they had stolen illegal drugs, Florida sheriff's deputies said on Wednesday.

The ashes were taken from a woman's home in the central Florida town of Silver Springs Shores on December 15. The thieves took an urn containing the ashes of her father and another container with the ashes of her two Great Danes, along with electronic equipment and jewelry, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators learned what happened to the ashes after they arrested five teens in connection with another burglary attempt at a nearby home last week.

"The suspects mistook the ashes for either cocaine or heroin. It was soon discovered that the suspects snorted some of the ashes believing they were snorting cocaine," the sheriff's report said.

Once they realized their error, the suspects discussed returning the remaining ashes but threw them in a lake instead because they thought their fingerprints were on the containers, sheriff's spokesman Judge Cochran said.

Police divers were trying to recover the ashes. The suspects were jailed on numerous burglary and other charges.

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Police Followed Footprints In the Snow To Make Arrests

PRESTON, Md.- Authorities in Caroline County say two people in Preston heard a knock on their door in the middle of the night. It was just the beginning of real-life nightmare.

The Caroline County Sheriff's Office says a man says a man knocked on the door of the home on Newton Road early Wednesday morning, claiming he needed to use the phone because his car broke down.

Police say when the people inside did not answer, the man kicked in the door and held a gun to one of the victim's head.

Investigators say the man demanded money and prescription drugs, and then ran away with some prescription medications he stole.

Police say they actually tracked footprints in the snow to a nearby house and a further investigation led them to make three arrests in the case-- Timothy and Robert Spence; and Jennifer Orr, all of Caroline County. All three are charged with armed robbery and related offenses.
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Suspect Identified On Surveillance Camera

BISHOPVILLE -- An Ocean Pines man faces criminal charges after he allegedly broke into a Bishopville business in order to buy drugs.

Police charged Shane William Lewis, 26, with theft over $1,000, malicious destruction of property and three counts of second-degree burglary after he allegedly broke into Northern Waterproofing and Restoration on Industrial Park Drive in Bishopville.

At about 9 p.m. on Jan. 6, an officer from the Worcester County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to Industrial Park Drive in response to a complaint of a disorderly individual, who was determined to be Lewis. Police charged him with trespassing, making a false statement to an officer and failing to obey a lawful order.

The following morning, police returned to the business park to investigate broken windows at United Technologies and Atlantic Moving Systems, according to charging documents. At Northern Waterproofing and Restoration, the front door and a secondary door had been forced open and a flat-screen television was removed from the office wall.

According to court documents, police found the TV outside, along with a flashlight that was still turned on. Upon reviewing the business's surveillance video, police saw an above-average height white male gain entry into and begin looking around inside Northern Waterproofing at 8:17 p.m.

About two minutes later, the individual noticed the surveillance camera and knocked it off the wall.

Police showed the video to the person who had reported Lewis the night before, and the man positively identified him. When he was arrested later that day, Lewis "admitted to breaking into the three businesses and stealing the flat screen in order to obtain crack cocaine," according to charging documents.

The television was valued at $60, while the surveillance camera was valued at $300. The damage to the doors at Northern Waterproofing is estimated at $1,000.

Lewis has a preliminary hearing in Worcester County District Court scheduled for Feb. 4.

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Car Theft Lands Teen One Year In Jail

SNOW HILL -- An 18-year-old charged with stealing cars and joyriding down to Georgia with two other people will spend a year in jail.

Dennis John Cross Jr. of Greenbackville was sentenced to four years in jail with all but three suspended. He also will be on three years of supervised probation. He agreed to plead guilty to unauthorized removal of property -- that is, someone else's car -- in exchange for prosecutors dropping other charges of theft and burglary.

He also will have to pay restitution to his theft victims, a figure which has yet to be determined, prosecutors said. Pending drug charges of marijuana possession and possession with intent to distribute were dropped in the plea agreement in Worcester County Circuit Court on Thursday.

Cross and two other teen boys stood accused of motor vehicle theft and burglary in a case police said involved several missing vehicles and an attempted escape to Atlanta. Police said the three stole cars in May and June in and around Whiton and Public Landing, rural areas in central Worcester County.

One man, Jacob Tyler Derr, 19, of Snow Hill entered into a plea agreement in October on burglary charges in which additional charges of burglary and theft were dropped. He also was sentenced to three years in the Worcester County Jail with all but one suspended.

A third accomplice was a juvenile at the time, and police have not released his name or his disposition, though detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation traveled to Atlanta to detain him. Police said they found the juvenile in possession of the stolen cars.

Authorities searched for Cross for a month last summer after he evaded police when found in a stolen car in Georgia during a traffic stop. In late July, he was arrested as he allegedly tried to escape another traffic stop in Berlin; police had stopped the SUV he was in for a broken headlight.

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DNA Links Suspect To Burglary

BERLIN, Md.- Police in Worcester County said Tuesday that they used DNA evidence to connect a suspect to the burglary of a Berlin business.

Martino Galeaz, 39, of Ocean City, is charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree burglary and theft over $1,000.

Detectives with the Worcester County said Galeaz's arrest stemmed from a burglary that occurred earlier this year at Atlantic Aquatech on 10902 Ocean Gateway.

Authorities said an investigation revealed the suspect entered the business and stole a number of items, including power tools. Through DNA analysis from evidence collected at the crime scene, investigators identified Galeaz as the suspect.

After his arrest on the aforementioned charges, Galeaz was locked up in the Worcester County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the WCBI at (410) 352-3476, or Maryland State Police at (410) 641-3101.
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Court Cases

Court cases heard in Accomack County.

Salvador Hernandez, 26, of Parksley, was found guilty of possession of cocaine. A presentence report has been ordered.

John Waldner, 28, of Chincoteague, was found guilty of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. He was given a 12-month suspended sentence, a $100 fine and given community service.

Jernell Pettit, 19, of Nelsonia, was found guilty of robbery and the use of a firearm in commission of a robbery. A presentence report has been ordered.

Randall Moricle, 18, of Assawoman, was found guilty of grand larceny. A presentence report has been ordered.

Cassandra Jones, 38, of Pocomoke City, Md., was sentenced to three years with all time suspended, ordered to pay restitution and given probation for welfare fraud.

John Tucker, 28, of Onancock, was sentenced to five years each for burglary and grand larceny with all but three years suspended, to run concurrently.

Harvion Simpkins, 23, of Onancock, was sentenced to five years for carnal knowledge. He also was convicted of misdemeanor sexual abuse and given 12 months; to run concurrently, with all but nine months suspended.

Heath Edwards, 42, of Temple, Pa., was found guilty of malicious maiming. A presentence report has been ordered.

Charles Tyler Jr., 34, of Onancock, was sentenced to 20 years with 15 years suspended for embezzlement.

Milton Faison, 28, of Nassawadox, was sentenced to 20 years, with all but five years suspended, to run concurrently with a 55-year sentence in Northampton Circuit Court. His Accomack convictions include armed burglary, attempted robbery, and use of a sawed-off shotgun.

Herbert Lane, 20, of Exmore, was sentenced to 20 years with all but four years suspended for armed burglary, robbery and use of a sawed-off shotgun.

Sarah Clay, 54, of Oak Hall, was sentenced to 12 months with all suspended for welfare fraud.

Keshawn Savage, 21, of New Church, was found guilty of personal-injury hit-and-run. Sentencing guidelines were ordered.

Spencer Sample, 54, of Painter, was found guilty of burglary and grand larceny. A presentence report has been ordered.

Steve Kilgore, 25, of Exmore, was sentenced to five years each for burglary, attempted robbery, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, for a total active sentence of 20 years.

Lisa Hanscom, 48, of Melfa, was found guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to five years with all but 10 days suspended.

Gloria Bailey, 45, of Pungoteague, was sentenced to five years with all but three months suspended for welfare fraud.

William Custis, 26, of Accomac, was sentenced to 10 years for shooting at an occupied dwelling and five years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, to run consecutively, combined with a reinstituted sentence from a probation revocation, for a total active sentence of 14 years, six months.

John Reid, 37, of Painter, had his probation revoked and a three-year sentence reimposed.

James Johnson, 37, of Painter, was found guilty of breaking and entering and grand larceny. A presentence report was ordered.

Jonathan Stevens, 27, of Quinby, was found guilty of burglary. Sentencing guidelines were ordered.

Derrick Crockett, 35, of Bloxom, was found guilty of burglary and grand larceny. A presentence report has been ordered.

Laquita Ward, 29, of Atlantic, was found guilty of receiving stolen property. A presentence report has been ordered.

Shawn Scarborough, 39, of Melfa, was found guilty of possession of cocaine and marijuana over one-half ounce but less than five pounds. A presentence report has been ordered.

Tyron Grant, 22, of Belle Haven, was sentenced to three years each for breaking and entering and grand larceny with all but time served suspended. Restitution was ordered and an Assign-A-Highway service given.

Craig Barnes, 31, of Saxis, had his probation revoked and will serve one year, six months.

William Marcel Custis, 26, of Onancock, had his probation revoked and will serve an additional 18 months.

Christopher J. Barcroft, 21 of Nassawadox, had his probation revoked and will serve the remainder of a five years sentence with all but one year suspended.

Joann Ball, 57, of Melfa, was found guilty of possession of cocaine. Sentencing guidelines were ordered.

Randy Hill Jr., 24, of Exmore, was found guilty of possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Sentencing guidelines were ordered.

Troy Rew, 37, of Salisbury, Md., was found guilty of malicious maiming. A presentence report has been ordered.

Samuel Pettit Jr., 38, of Mappsville, was found guilty of obtaining money under false pretenses. A presentence report has been ordered.

Jesse Mariner, 28, of Keller, was found guilty of burglary and grand larceny. Sentencing guidelines were ordered.

Maurice Bivens, 27, of Temperanceville, was found guilty of burglary and three counts of forgery. Sentencing guidelines and an evaluation were ordered.

John Stanley III, 43, of Parksley, was sentenced to first-offender status for a charge of possession of cocaine that will be dismissed after completion of the first-offender program.

Brian Lee Brown, 31, of Horntown, was sentenced to 12 months and fined $100 for possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

O.J. Matthews, 28, of Bloxom, was sentenced to three years with all but time served suspended for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and five misdemeanors.

Fairdale Johnson, 34, of Mappsville, was sentenced to 20 years with all but five years suspended for distribution of cocaine.

Richard Copes, 31, of Withams, was sentenced to 20 years on each of three counts of grand larceny, robbery and abduction, to run consecutively, with all but four years suspended, for a total active sentence of 12 years.

Gary Tyler, 41, of Onancock, was sentenced to five years for assault and battery of a police officer.

William Laird, 29, of Tangier Island, was sentenced to five years with all but 2.5 months suspended for possession of oxycodone with the intent to distribute.

Christopher Bornaschella, 37, of Chincoteague, who had been found guilty of breaking and entering, grand larceny, attempted breaking and entering and petty larceny. He was sentenced to 20 years each on the felonies and 12 months each on the misdemeanors, with all but time served suspended upon completion of a detention and diversion center program.

Kevin Nock, 47, of Onley, was sentenced to five years with all but two years, two months suspended for third-offense shoplifting.

William Watson, 47, of Onley, was sentenced to five years with all but two years, two months suspended for third-offense shoplifting.

Michael Sample Jr., 25, of Painter, was found guilty of burglary and grand larceny. A presentence report has been ordered.

Gregory Crockett, 46, of Chincoteague, was found guilty of possession of cocaine. He was sentenced to 12 months with all but 30 days suspended and given 100 hours of community service.

Carroll Holland Jr., 42, of Parksley, was found guilty of writing bad checks and was sentence to 12 months with all time suspended.

Corey Bailey, 19, of Eastville, was found guilty of threatening to burn a building and was sentenced to 12 months with all but eight months suspended.

Jessica Boggs, 27, of Nelsonia, was found guilty of welfare fraud. A presentence report has been ordered.

Joshualynn Boggs, 25, of Onancock, was found guilty of assault and battery of a police officer and sentenced to six months.

Prentiss Ayres, 40, of Onley, was sentenced to five years with all but six months suspended for embezzlement.

Dustin Godwin, 23, of Wattsville, had his probation revoked and will serve one year.

Bruce Meilhammer, 18, of Chincoteague, was found guilty of three counts of grand larceny and sentenced to 90 days with all but time served suspended, to run concurrently, and ordered to pay restitution.

Kerwin Mears, 26, of Accomac, was sentenced to 10 years with seven years suspended and ordered to pay a $500 fine for second offense possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and second-offense possession of marijuana.

Kenneth Simpkins Jr., 26, of Greenbush, was sentenced to 10 years with eight years, seven months suspended for distribution of cocaine.

Bruce Johnson, 52, of Mappsville, was sentenced to 10 years with seven years suspended for possession of cocaine. He also had probation revoked and one year added to his sentence.

Louis Sample Jr., 49, of Accomac, had probation revoked and a three-year sentence reimposed.

Keith Parker, 42, of Onley, was found guilty of petty larceny and was sentenced to 12 months with all but 30 days suspended.

Yolanda O. Bundick, 35, of Painter, was found guilty of two counts of uttering and was sentenced to 10 years on each, with all suspended except for 3 years, 4 months.

Cathy Jones, 45, of Onancock, was found guilty of welfare fraud and bad checks. A presentence report has been ordered.

Rory Tomlin, 19, of Melfa, was sentenced to four years and given youthful offender status for attempted robbery, maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Davon Davis, 21, of Painter, was sentenced to four years and given youthful offender status for attempted burglary, attempted robbery and use of a sawed-off shotgun.

Anthony Turner, 33, of Painter, was sentenced to 10 years with all but 1 year, 8 months suspended for distribution of cocaine.

Jason Rienerth, 20 of Onancock, had his probation revoked.

Man Arrested For Multiple Thefts And Burglaries In Pocomoke

POCOMOKE CITY — Police said a man arrested Nov. 12 after a foot chase has been charged with thefts and burglaries from four places and may be charged with additional crimes.

Wilbert Harmon, 49, of Berlin is accused of burglarizing a property at 200 Walnut St. on Oct. 27; theft from a Rite Aid store on Nov. 9; burglarizing an unoccupied home at 417 Walnut St. on Nov. 12; and a theft from the Walmart in Pocomoke.

Harmon is being held at the Worcester County Jail on $20,000 bond, police chief J.D. Ervin said in a statement. In the statement, Ervin said Harmon is a “person of interest in other criminal activities and thefts from motor vehicles” and said police are investigating further.

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Thomas J. Leggs, Jr. Convicted of Burglary In Ocean City

SNOW HILL -- A Worcester County judge sentenced Thomas J. Leggs Jr. to three years in prison on fourth-degree burglary charges, ending a court case that began months before authorities arrested him in connection with the murder of an 11-year-old Salisbury girl.

Leggs stood accused of breaking into the apartment of a woman who turned him down for an overnight stay after a boozy cab ride home.

Pamela Sima, 24, testified in Circuit Court that Sept. 11, 2009, she awoke at about 4 a.m. to find Leggs standing over her bed -- shirtless, undoing his belt and taking his pants down to his knees.

"After it happened, it really affected my life," she told Judge Thomas C. Groton III prior to Leggs' sentencing. "For the rest of my time there, I slept with a knife by my side and a phone in my hand."

Sima also testified she had rejected his romantic advances on a date one week earlier.

A Worcester County Circuit Court jury deliberated for 20 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict Thursday. The jury found Leggs not guilty on a related charge of property destruction.

Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd sought the maximum sentence of three years incarceration on the burglary charge, citing Leggs' criminal record and his being on the Maryland and Delaware sex offender registries.

Sima said she was unaware of any of his criminal history while they were dating. Leggs was not accused of committing any sex offenses against her.

They first met in late August 2009, Sima said, and had gone on at least one dinner date before meeting for drinks Sept. 2 at Pickles Pub. That night, Leggs walked her home.

She later told police the two kissed, but he had come on too strong and was trying to take her clothes off "with me saying no plenty of times."

According to Sima's testimony, a week later they ran into each other at the Cork Bar. Leggs apologized for his behavior. When she flagged a taxi home, Leggs joined her in the car, uninvited.

Once at her house, he asked to stay over, repeatedly telling her that his roommates weren't letting him stay at his place, she testified. She said no, went inside and locked the door behind her.

Hours later, when she found him at her beside, she yelled at him to get out. She heard the front door open and close. But when she got out of bed to make sure he was gone, she found him standing in her living room.

"The fact that he would try to trick her into thinking he had left shows just how criminal his intentions were," Todd said. "The defendant is a dangerous individual. The best the criminal justice system can do is warehouse (him) for as long as we can for the good of the citizens of the state of Maryland."

When Leggs did leave, Sima called 911. Responding police officers found two window screens removed outside the first-floor apartment, one of which was bent out of shape.

A wooden window frame was damaged, police said, as if someone had pried away the screen. They also found scuff marks on the exterior beneath one of the windows. This evidence was the basis for a charge of malicious destruction of property, police said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest Sept. 29. He was arrested Oct. 29, and posted $10,000 bond the same day.

In the courtroom, Leggs wore a lime-green polo shirt, blue pants and black sneakers. He sported a bushy goatee and short-cropped hair. He often turned to comment into the ear of his attorney.

Leggs wore no handcuffs or leg braces of any kind because Todd wanted the jury to decide the case on the facts presented, not on the biases that shackles inevitably bring, he said.

Wicomico County sheriff's deputies escorted Leggs to the Snow Hill courtroom from Salisbury, where he is being held on charges of kidnapping, abusing and killing sixth-grader Sarah Haley Foxwell.

Her family reported her missing Dec. 22. Leggs was arrested Dec. 23. After a search that involved thousands of volunteers, her burned remains were found Dec. 25 in a wooded area by a team of investigators.

Leggs was indicted on murder and sex offense charges in February in Wicomico County, where the killing took place. In May, court officials announced his death penalty trial on those charges will be moved to Cecil County.

Leggs did not testify during Thursday's trial. At sentencing, he declined to make any comments to the judge following the vigorous advice of his attorney, Arch McFadden.

McFadden, in his closing statement, said prosecutors lacked evidence to show that anyone else had been in the house that night.

"Where's the corroborating evidence?" he said. "I submit to you: zero. Were there fingerprints taken? Was there eyewitnesses?"

McFadden -- who declined reporters' requests for comment -- was also critical of a lack of photographic evidence from the scene. He said he would file an immediate appeal.

Ocean City Police Officer Nicole Thornes, who responded to Sima's 911 call, testified that photographs taken at the scene were submitted to the department's forensics unit. However, when prosecutors went to retrieve the photos to be used as evidence, "they were misplaced somehow," according to Todd.

Ocean City Police spokesman Mike Levy said "there could be any number of reasons for that," and any cause would not be clear unless an internal investigation was conducted.

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License Plate Falls Off Car At Crime Scene

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A burglary suspect in northern Florida was charged after authorities say they found the license plate from his car at the crime scene. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reports that 49-year-old Gary Browder was already in jail Wednesday for two unrelated counts when he was charged with the burglary.

Police say security camera video from a March gas station break-in shows a sedan pulling up to the store and a man smashing the window and stealing cigarettes. Before the car drives away, the video shows the car's license plate falling off.

Police retrieved the plate and traced it to a vehicle registered to Browder.

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