Tonya Evette Berry, 47, of Upper Marlboro
Tonya Evette Berry, 47, of Upper Marlboro, has been charged with theft of $100 to under $1,500 and obstructing and hindering after authorities said a wallet was taken from Abner’s Crabhouse Restaurant & Bar in Chesapeake Beach on July 5, 2026.
According to allegations filed in District Court for Calvert County, a deputy with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Abner’s Crabhouse Restaurant & Bar on Harbor Road in Chesapeake Beach at about 3:50 p.m. for a reported theft. A male victim told deputies that his wallet was stolen after it fell out of his pocket while he was inside the restaurant. He said he noticed it was missing after coming out of the bathroom and checking the stall, and believed it may have been taken near his bar stool.
Deputies said surveillance video showed the wallet fall when the male victim stood up to use the restroom. The footage then allegedly showed Berry and a man later identified as Kenneth Buckner walk toward the area where the victim had been sitting. Authorities said Buckner appeared to notice the wallet first, spoke to Berry, and Berry then looked down, bent over, stood back up and quickly placed the wallet into her purse.
Investigators said Berry and Buckner had just arrived at Abner’s before walking to the bar. After the wallet was placed in Berry’s purse, the two allegedly left the restaurant, got into a vehicle and drove out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Deputies wrote that the pair was inside Abner’s for less than 10 minutes and did not conduct any business there other than allegedly picking up the wallet and leaving.
The deputy obtained still images from the surveillance footage and sent them to officers coming on shift, including those who work part-time at Abner’s, in an attempt to identify the suspects. Deputies then searched the area and located Berry and Buckner inside Rod N Reel on Mears Avenue in Chesapeake Beach.
When the investigating deputy arrived, he made contact with Berry and asked her to walk outside. Berry was arrested for theft and was read her Miranda rights at about 6:36 p.m. According to the filing, Berry agreed to answer questions and said she “did not steal any wallet” despite being told the incident was on video. When asked what happened at Abner’s, Berry said they left “because there were no seats.” The deputy noted that the upstairs bar had available seats and machines.
Deputies searched Berry’s purse, where they said the video showed her putting the wallet, but the search did not locate the wallet. Authorities said Berry’s purse was submitted for safekeeping, and $166 in cash was seized because it was believed to be stolen. Berry was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center without further incident.
At an initial appearance on July 5, 2026, Berry was released on personal recognizance. As conditions of release, she was ordered not to engage in criminal conduct, to appear in court when notified and not to enter or be near Abner’s Crabhouse.
