Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Update: Today's Gazette Article on Shepherd Trial
An updated version of the article that appeared online just after the trial ended last week.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Shepherd Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Not Murder
A Montgomery County jury has found Aaron Shepherd not guilty of murder and armed robbery in the killing of Lindsay Harvey. However, Shepherd was found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The Gazette has the story, as does the Oneonta Daily Star, Lindsay's hometown newspaper.
Shepherd will be sentenced in March. The trial of Shawn Henderson, the alleged gunman in Lindsay's murder, begins next month.
Shepherd will be sentenced in March. The trial of Shawn Henderson, the alleged gunman in Lindsay's murder, begins next month.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Major Crimes Increase in Montgomery County
From the Washington Post: major crime rose 7.7% in 2008 in Montgomery County. There was one more homicide in the county than there was in 2007.
From the Gazette: Shepherd Trial Begins
The trial of Aaron Shepherd, one of three suspects in Lindsay Harvey's murder, began on Monday. Shepherd is accused of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and murder. He is alleged to be one of the two accomplices who assisted Shawn Henderson in the April 13 robbery and murder. The Gazette has the story.
Henderson, the primary suspect, is alleged to have fired the bullet that killed Lindsay. His trial begins Feb. 9.
Henderson, the primary suspect, is alleged to have fired the bullet that killed Lindsay. His trial begins Feb. 9.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pa. Looking to Eliminate Parole for Violent Offenders
Some food for thought: The governor of one our neighboring states is looking to pass legislation there that would keep its violent criminals in prison longer. You can read the article here. It looks as though Pennsylvania is facing issues with its system similar to the ones Maryland has.
The legislative session in Maryland, by the way, begins later this month.
The legislative session in Maryland, by the way, begins later this month.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Reminder: Shepherd Trial Begins Monday
Just a reminder: Aaron Shepherd, one of the two accomplices being charged in Lindsay Harvey's murder along with Shawn Henderson, will be tried this Monday, Jan. 5. The trial will take place at 9:30 A.M. in Montgomery County Circuit Court , 50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md., 8th floor, Courtroom 9. Judge Michael D. Mason will be presiding.
For more information, you can look up this and the cases of the other two defendants on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search site.
For more information, you can look up this and the cases of the other two defendants on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search site.
From the Post: Recidivist Offender Strikes Within Minutes of Release
There is recidivist crime in Maryland, and then there is this: today the Washington Post reports on a Prince George's County teenager charged with assault and then released, only to allegedly carjack someone outside the county jail just minutes later.
On Dec. 14, … Temple Hills resident [Sean L. Hawkins Jr.] was charged with assault. Hawkins was taken to the jail in Upper Marlboro, where he appeared before a court commissioner and was released on personal recognizance.
Hawkins then walked out of the jail and, according to police, carjacked a Toyota 4Runner in the parking lot. Arrested in Suitland a short time later, Hawkins told police that he carjacked the vehicle "because he needed a ride home from jail," according to charging documents.
He has been ordered held without bond in the carjacking. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12.
"Never in the history of the Department of Corrections have we had anything of this nature occur," said Vicki D. Duncan, a department spokeswoman.
Even in a state whose reputation for "revolving door justice" has been resurfacing in the local media recently, one could argue that the Hawkins case is a bit exceptional. But in the lead of this story, the Post touched on the issue of recidivist crime in Maryland without following it up in the same piece, instead focusing on Hawkins.
Hundreds of the inmates in the Prince George's County jail are repeat offenders, recidivists who have done time and been released only to find themselves back in trouble with the law years, months, weeks or even days later.
This observation by the reporter begs a slew of questions. Hundreds of inmates? Back in trouble with the law years, months, weeks, or even days later? How many of them were originally incarcerated for violent offenses? What did they do after being released? And more to the point, how many of these offenders were released from prison with the help of sentence reconsiderations or diminution credits?
These are things we need to find out if we are to help revamp the criminal justice system in Maryland.
This is an observation that is just begging for followup research.
On Dec. 14, … Temple Hills resident [Sean L. Hawkins Jr.] was charged with assault. Hawkins was taken to the jail in Upper Marlboro, where he appeared before a court commissioner and was released on personal recognizance.
Hawkins then walked out of the jail and, according to police, carjacked a Toyota 4Runner in the parking lot. Arrested in Suitland a short time later, Hawkins told police that he carjacked the vehicle "because he needed a ride home from jail," according to charging documents.
He has been ordered held without bond in the carjacking. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12.
"Never in the history of the Department of Corrections have we had anything of this nature occur," said Vicki D. Duncan, a department spokeswoman.
Even in a state whose reputation for "revolving door justice" has been resurfacing in the local media recently, one could argue that the Hawkins case is a bit exceptional. But in the lead of this story, the Post touched on the issue of recidivist crime in Maryland without following it up in the same piece, instead focusing on Hawkins.
Hundreds of the inmates in the Prince George's County jail are repeat offenders, recidivists who have done time and been released only to find themselves back in trouble with the law years, months, weeks or even days later.
This observation by the reporter begs a slew of questions. Hundreds of inmates? Back in trouble with the law years, months, weeks, or even days later? How many of them were originally incarcerated for violent offenses? What did they do after being released? And more to the point, how many of these offenders were released from prison with the help of sentence reconsiderations or diminution credits?
These are things we need to find out if we are to help revamp the criminal justice system in Maryland.
This is an observation that is just begging for followup research.
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