Kayla Jean Gilliam, 30, of California
Kayla Jean Gilliam, 30, of California, is facing three counts of violating a protective order in St. Mary’s County District Court after court documents say she contacted an adult male victim despite an active court order barring further contact.
According to the statement of charges filed by Deputy Jacob Mills of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the allegations stem from an April 15, 2026, protective order that was set to remain in effect until April 15, 2027. The document says the order listed the adult male victim as the petitioner and Gilliam as the respondent, and that it required Gilliam to refrain from further contact with him.
Deputy Mills wrote that on May 29, 2026, at approximately 2:39 p.m., he responded to a reported order violation on Old Hermanville Road in Lexington Park. The deputy reported that the adult male victim said Gilliam had violated the active protective order. The statement of charges also lists the alleged offense date as April 30, 2026, and lists a location on HG Truman Road in Lusby for the three charged counts.
Court documents say Mills observed three separate messages on the adult male victim’s cellphone that were allegedly sent by Gilliam.
The protective order condition cited in the charging documents stated: “Respondent shall not contact, attempt to contact, or harass {in person, by telephone, in writing, or by any other means} petitioner.” Court documents say Gilliam was arrested and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
The new case followed a separate April 30, 2026, arrest involving the same protective order. In that earlier case, Gilliam was charged with one misdemeanor count of violating a protective order after an allegation that she contacted the same adult male victim by phone and text on April 30, 2026.
In the prior arrest paperwork, Deputy Keaton Nolan of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office wrote that sheriff’s office records confirmed a final protective order was in place, that it had been served on Gilliam on April 15, 2026, and that it remained valid through April 15, 2027. The order quoted in that filing stated, “Respondent shall not contact, attempt to contact, or harass (in person, by telephone, in writing, or by any other means) petitioner.” Court documents say Gilliam was later arrested on Camp Merryelande Road after deputies confirmed her identity through a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration photograph.
Initial appearance records from the April 30, 2026, case show Gilliam was initially ordered held without bond after a commissioner found a reasonable likelihood that she posed a danger to the safety of the alleged victim, another person, or the community. A bail review was scheduled for May 1, 2026, and a trial date was listed for June 2, 2026. According to the court case information provided, Gilliam later pleaded guilty on June 2, 2026, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with all but 60 days suspended, followed by one year of supervised probation.
Each of the three charges in the current case is listed as violating a protective order under Maryland Family Law Section 4-509. The charge summary lists each count as carrying a possible penalty of 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine.
At Gilliam’s initial appearance in the current case on May 30, 2026, a District Court commissioner found that release on personal recognizance would not reasonably ensure her appearance because of the nature and circumstances of the charged offense. Gilliam was released on a $1,000 unsecured personal bond, with conditions that she not engage in criminal conduct and appear in court when notified.
The initial appearance paperwork states that Gilliam waived an attorney for that hearing only and was advised that she had the right to counsel in future proceedings. Court records show the Public Defender’s Office entered an appearance on June 1, 2026.
