Carlonte A. Knott, 34, of Lexington Park
Carlonte A. Knott, 34, of Lexington Park, is charged with second-degree assault on a Department of Corrections employee or inmate after authorities said he assaulted an adult male inmate during a basketball game at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown on May 4, 2026.
According to charging documents, Deputy Michael Walker of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 2:55 p.m. on May 4, 2026, to the detention center on Baldridge Street in Leonardtown for a report of an assault between two inmates.
Court documents state that Deputy Walker reviewed video footage provided by a detention center sergeant. The documents identify the adult male inmate as “the victim” and Knott as “the defendant.” According to the filing, the video showed both men in a recreation area playing basketball with other inmates before the alleged assault. In the minutes before the incident, the documents say the two men appeared to be speaking aggressively to each other.
The alleged incident occurred after the adult male inmate had possession of the basketball and began running down the court. According to court documents, Knott approached him and fouled him by wrapping his arm around him while attempting to get the ball. The filing states that after the foul, the two approached each other and Knott allegedly shoved the adult male inmate and punched him in the face with a closed fist.
Deputy Walker wrote that he was shown photos taken by correctional officers after the incident. The photos reportedly showed redness on the left side of the adult male inmate’s face where he had been struck. Knott was then booked and charged under Maryland Criminal Law Section 3-210 with second-degree assault on a Department of Corrections employee or inmate. The charge carries a listed maximum penalty of 10 years and/or a $2,500 fine, according to the charge summary.
Knott appeared for an initial appearance on May 4, 2026. Court records state that he waived an attorney for that initial appearance only, and a judicial officer found the waiver was made knowingly and voluntarily.
