Charles News

Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of Pharmacy Van in Waldorf

Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of Pharmacy Van in Waldorf

Juwuan Edward Francis Champion, 24, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in the felony armed robbery of a pharmaceutical van driver and a firearms charge, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division. Champion,...
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La Plata High School Student Facing Charges for Disorderly Conduct and Disruption of School Activities

La Plata High School Student Facing Charges for Disorderly Conduct and Disruption of School Activities

On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:20 a.m., a student at La Plata High School became disorderly and refused directions from school administrators and staff. Multiple attempts were made to de-escalate the situation, but the student refused to leave the classroom and continued to scream. The classroom was evacuated, and the school was placed...
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Maryland State Police Increasing Patrols Over Christmas Weekend

Maryland State Police Increasing Patrols Over Christmas Weekend

Maryland State Police beginning Friday are increasing patrols through Christmas weekend as millions of Marylanders are expected to hit the highways. State troopers from all 23 barracks will focus on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving while conducting saturation patrols on roads with high DUI incidents. Enforcement is bolstered by funds from the Maryland Department...
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Man with Concealed Carry Permit Who Shot Assault Suspect in Bryans Road Charged With Murder

Man with Concealed Carry Permit Who Shot Assault Suspect in Bryans Road Charged With Murder

  On Monday, May 8, 2023, detectives assigned to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division initiated an investigation into a shooting that occurred in the 2400 block of Sedgemore Place in Bryans Road. In that case, Carl Francis Braxton, age 30, of Bryans Road, was shot and killed. The case was reviewed...
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Fire Marshal Investigating Gazebo Fire in Waldorf

Fire Marshal Investigating Gazebo Fire in Waldorf

On December 17, 2023, at approximately 12:01 a.m., 6 firefighters from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department responded to 9752 Amberg Court in Waldorf, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Gazebo on fire to the rear of the residence with no extensions and no threat to the residences. The...
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Chesapeake Life Center Offering Creative Programs for Adult Grief Featuring Yoga and Nature

Chesapeake Life Center Offering Creative Programs for Adult Grief Featuring Yoga and Nature

From spending time with nature to learning mindful movement techniques, Chesapeake Life Center offers creative programs for adults to find a path to healing from grief. Grief and Movement — Movement has long been used to help those who are grieving cope with the impact of the loss. This workshop will use aspects of...
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Maryland Deer Hunters Conclude Successful Fall Firearm Season

Maryland Deer Hunters Conclude Successful Fall Firearm Season

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 28,236 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 25 through Dec. 9. The firearms season harvest was 3% lower than last year’s official count of 29,160 deer. “Firearm hunting for deer continues to be our most popular season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “The season enables...
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One Injured After Rollover Collision with Entrapment in Indian Head

One Injured After Rollover Collision with Entrapment in Indian Head

On Sunday, December 17, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Indian Head Highway and Mt. Aventine Road, for a motor vehicle collision with one overturned and one trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway and on its side...
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Waldorf Ford Mechanic Flown to Burn Center After Gasoline Fire

Waldorf Ford Mechanic Flown to Burn Center After Gasoline Fire

On Friday, December 15, 2023, at 10:04 a.m., fire and rescue personnel responded to the Waldorf Ford located at 2440 Crain Highway in Waldorf, for a burn victim. Crews arrived on the scene to find a mechanic was working on a vehicle when a gasoline fire occurred. Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 7 was...
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UPDATE: Southern Maryland Firefighters Respond to Virginia to Assist During Devastating Church Fire

UPDATE: Southern Maryland Firefighters Respond to Virginia to Assist During Devastating Church Fire

UPDATE: Additional photos added. 12/19/2023: On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at approximately 7:12 a.m., firefighters in multiple jurisdictions in Virginia responded to 2961 Kings Highway in Oak Grove, for the reported church on fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene within 3 minutes of dispatch to find fire showing from multiple sides of the structure....
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Student Found in Possession of Vape, Taser, and Pepper Spray at Thomas Stone High School

Student Found in Possession of Vape, Taser, and Pepper Spray at Thomas Stone High School

On December 18, 2023, at 9:50 a.m., students were observed vaping in a school bathroom at Thomas Stone High School. Administrators found a small group of students in possession of a vape. One of the students also had a Taser and pepper spray. The contraband was recovered by the school resource officer from the...
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Preseason Trout Stocking Begins Early in Maryland Waters

Preseason Trout Stocking Begins Early in Maryland Waters

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun “preseason” stocking with the first of about 290,000 trout in Maryland waters statewide. This stocking will help coldwater hatcheries reduce overcrowded fish densities caused by record drought conditions this year. The first preseason stockings will be allocated to impoundments, special management, and delayed harvest streams...
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Firefighters Respond to “Controlled Burn” That Spread to Vacant 2-Story Residence in La Plata

Firefighters Respond to “Controlled Burn” That Spread to Vacant 2-Story Residence in La Plata

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m., firefighters responded to the area of Old Franklin Road and Mason Springs Road in La Plata, for the reported structure on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to advise a vacant 2-story residence was fully engulfed in flames which started from a controlled burn which...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses

Waldorf Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “Meecho” and “El Meecho,” age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 53 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in relation to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment...
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Maryland Forest Service Awards 52 Fire Departments with Assistance Grants for 2023

Maryland Forest Service Awards 52 Fire Departments with Assistance Grants for 2023

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants to 52 volunteer fire departments across the state to enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities. For 2023, the Maryland Forest Service awarded grant funds totaling $149,325 in match funding for $390,502 in total project costs. Generally the grants cover 50...
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Police in Charles County Seeking Whereabouts of Suspect Wanted in Connection with Multiple Crimes

Police in Charles County Seeking Whereabouts of Suspect Wanted in Connection with Multiple Crimes

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force are requesting assistance with locating Brandon Gerald Jernigan, age 38, of Jackson, Mississippi, who has a warrant on file charging him with armed robbery, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony,...
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Police in Charles County Seeking Suspect in Connection With Violating Probation

Police in Charles County Seeking Suspect in Connection With Violating Probation

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force are requesting assistance with locating Robert Paxton Eakins, age 28. Eakins is wanted for violating his probation relating to an armed robbery. Eakins is 6’2”, 160 lbs., and has brown hair and brown eyes. He has...
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School Resource Officer Recovers Knife from Student After Altercation at Thomas Stone High School

School Resource Officer Recovers Knife from Student After Altercation at Thomas Stone High School

On Wednesday, December 12, 2023, at 12:17 p.m., two students at Thomas Stone High School were involved in a verbal altercation. The school resource officer and school staff were able to keep the students separated; however, one student pushed through and ran toward the other student. A third student got involved in the altercation...
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State Revitalization Program Awards To Bring $470,000 to Community Development Projects in Southern Maryland

State Revitalization Program Awards To Bring $470,000 to Community Development Projects in Southern Maryland

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced that Southern Maryland counties have received a combined $470,000 through the state’s seven State Revitalization Programs for five projects and activities that promote community development and economic growth. “To win the decade, we must be intentional about building sustainable, vibrant communities that lift...
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Teachers, Students, Parents, and Executives Discuss the State of Southern Maryland Education

Teachers, Students, Parents, and Executives Discuss the State of Southern Maryland Education

Southern Maryland teachers, students, and parents met this month with the Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program to discuss implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Act, legislation passed in 2021 to enhance Maryland’s public school system. The meeting was held at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Center for Health Sciences in Hughesville, Md....
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House Fire in Nanjemoy Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported

House Fire in Nanjemoy Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at approximately 11:05 p.m., firefighters responded to 3235 Naomi Place in Nanjemoy, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 1-story single family residence with fire showing. 40 firefighters responded and controlled the fire in under 30 minutes. Owner/occupant is identified as Amelious...
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Children and Teen Grief Program Returns to Maryland Therapeutic Riding

Children and Teen Grief Program Returns to Maryland Therapeutic Riding

When Chesapeake Life Center’s Phoenix Rising Group gathers this winter, they’ll be joined by equine friends, too. That’s because the group for grieving children and teens will spending a Saturday afternoon at Maryland Therapeutic Riding, 1141 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, Maryland. Horses are incredibly sensitive to human emotions and their emotional intelligence can be...
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Maryland Tax Preparer Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Preparing False Tax Returns

Maryland Tax Preparer Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Preparing False Tax Returns

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Ronald Eugene Watson, also known as Sabir Muhammad, age 59, of Brandywine, Maryland, today to 27 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Judge Chuang also ordered Watson to...
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No Injuries Reported After White Plains Residence is Destroyed During Early Morning Fire, Cause Remains Under Investigation

No Injuries Reported After White Plains Residence is Destroyed During Early Morning Fire, Cause Remains Under Investigation

On Friday, December 8, 2023, at approximately 4:21 a.m., over 40 firefighters from Charles County responded to 4210 JK Rowling Court in White Plains, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find fire showing from the 2 story residence Firefighters controlled the fire in approximately 30 minutes and operated...
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Maryland Department of Commerce Provide Assistance to 17-Nonprofit Organi

Maryland Department of Commerce Provide Assistance to 17-Nonprofit Organi

The Maryland Department of Commerce has provided a total of $410,000 for short-term operational support to 17 nonprofit organizations throughout the state. The support comes from the Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan Account, a program that provides funding up to $25,000 to qualifying nonprofits between the award date of a government grant or contract...
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