Charles News

Fugitive Wanted for Rape and Sexual Offense of a Child Located and Arrested

Fugitive Wanted for Rape and Sexual Offense of a Child Located and Arrested

Members of the Judicial Services Section have located and arrested Franklin Argueta-Marquez, age 28, of no fixed address, who was wanted in connection with two counts of rape and sexual offense of a 13-year-old girl whom he initially met online when she was 12 years old. Argueta-Marquez first reached out to the victim by...
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Charles County Commissioners Adopt Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, With 6% Increase From 2024

Charles County Commissioners Adopt Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, With 6% Increase From 2024

On Tuesday, May 20, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a balanced General Fund budget of $595,081,500, an increase of 6.0 percent over last year. The approved budget does not increase the current property or income tax rate and aligns with the Commissioners’ strategic priorities. “Despite facing one of the most challenging fiscal years in...
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Public Safety Issues Animal Safety Alert Due to Forecasted Weather, Heat

Public Safety Issues Animal Safety Alert Due to Forecasted Weather, Heat

Due to forecasted high temperatures for Wednesday, June 18, through Thursday, June 19, the Department of Public Safety has issued an animal safety alert. During this period, animal owners or custodians are required to provide appropriate protection from the weather, including adequate shelter, water, space and access to shade. Pay special attention to animals...
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La Plata Man Faces Multiple Felony Drug and Firearms Charges After Police Raid

La Plata Man Faces Multiple Felony Drug and Firearms Charges After Police Raid

Bruce Robinson, 57, of La Plata, has been charged with 14 criminal offenses, including multiple drug trafficking and firearms violations, following a police raid at his home on May 30, 2025. According to court documents filed in the District Court for Charles County, the charges stem from the execution of a search warrant carried...
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No Injuries Reported After Early Morning RV Fire in Charlotte Hall Damages Residence

No Injuries Reported After Early Morning RV Fire in Charlotte Hall Damages Residence

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at approximately 3:57 a.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 14000 block of Scalloway Place in Charlotte Hall, for the reported structure on fire. 911 callers reported a large RV was on fire and threatening the residence, with subjects attempting to put the fire out with a...
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Indian Head Woman Released By Judge Within 48 Hours After Intentionally Striking Victims With Vehicle at Baby Shower

Indian Head Woman Released By Judge Within 48 Hours After Intentionally Striking Victims With Vehicle at Baby Shower

On Sunday, June 1st, 2025, at 5:06 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 1300 block of Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf for the report of pedestrians struck. A preliminary investigation revealed the suspect, Robin Lessette Alexander, age 53, of Indian Head, was attending a baby shower at the location when she became...
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CSM Strengthens Support for Military Families with National Recognition and Community Resource Event

CSM Strengthens Support for Military Families with National Recognition and Community Resource Event

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) continues to expand its commitment to veterans and military-connected families, earning national recognition and hosting dedicated events designed to support their educational and career success. CSM was recently named a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School, earning Silver in the small community college category and being recognized as a Military...
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Attorney General Brown Preliminarily Agrees to Purdue/Sackler Settlement  AG Brown Joins 54 Attorneys General in Settlement Agreement

Attorney General Brown Preliminarily Agrees to Purdue/Sackler Settlement  AG Brown Joins 54 Attorneys General in Settlement Agreement

(June 16, 2025) – Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that all 55 attorneys general, representing all eligible states and U.S. territories, have preliminarily agreed to sign on to a settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. The Sackler family has informed the attorneys general of its plan to proceed with the...
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Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Justice Department Highlights Enforcement Efforts Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Fraud Schemes in Recognition of 2025 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that the Justice Department is reinvigorating efforts to protect older Americans from transnational schemes that cost billions of dollars, often stealing their life savings. In the past few weeks alone, investigators and prosecutors have arrested and filed cases against foreign fraudsters...
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Two WMATA Train Operators Arrested in Health Care Fraud Scheme

Two WMATA Train Operators Arrested in Health Care Fraud Scheme

Michelle Shropshire, 54, of Waldorf, Maryland, and Harlisha Jones, 49, of Clinton, Maryland, and Washington, DC, were arrested this weekend on health care fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy charges filed in U.S. District Court. The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Assistant Director in Charge Steven...
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Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department Credits Sprinkler System for Minimizing Station Fire

Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department Credits Sprinkler System for Minimizing Station Fire

  The Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad released the following statement following a fire that fortunately left no injuries, and limited damage to their fire station. Potomac Heights, MD — June 16, 2025 — On the evening of Sunday, June 15, members of the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue...
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Maryland Natural Resources Police Annual Awards Ceremony Honors Officers for Exceptional Service

Maryland Natural Resources Police Annual Awards Ceremony Honors Officers for Exceptional Service

The Maryland Natural Resources Police held its annual award ceremony June 13th, 2025, to recognize the achievements made by conservation law enforcement officers and professional staff in 2024. The officers were presented honors by Maryland Department of Natural Resources Sec. Josh Kurtz and Natural Resources Police Col. Orlando Lilly at Annapolis High School in...
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Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rolling out New Licensing System, MD Outdoors

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rolling out New Licensing System, MD Outdoors

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will introduce its new online licensing system, MD Outdoors, on June 24, 2025. This centralized system replaces the current system, COMPASS. MD Outdoors will continue to offer products for all outdoor activities, including all Maryland hunting and fishing licenses and associated stamps and permits, boat and off-road vehicle...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Being Struck by Vehicle in Marbury

Man Flown to Trauma Center After Being Struck by Vehicle in Marbury

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Chicamuxen Road and Sweetmans Road in Marbury, for the reported pedestrian struck by a vehicle. 911 callers reported a 53-year-old male on a scooter was struck by a pick-truck, and was suffering from a...
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Maryland Attorney General Joins 21 Other States Opposing Trump’s Military Deployment in State of California

Maryland Attorney General Joins 21 Other States Opposing Trump’s Military Deployment in State of California

On June 12th, 2025, US District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Donald Trump unlawfully federalized thousands of members of California’s National Guard and ordered the president to return control of the troops to the state and Governor Gavin Newsom. The Federal Judge stated “His actions were illegal – both exceeding the scope of...
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CSM Reflects on Rural Innovation at Opening of Spark! Exhibition at the Velocity Center

CSM Reflects on Rural Innovation at Opening of Spark! Exhibition at the Velocity Center

“What is a place of innovation?” Now through June 29, Visitors to the Smithsonian’s Spark! Places of Innovation exhibition are invited to consider this question as they explore interactive displays highlighting how rural communities across the United States have used their social, artistic, technological, and cultural strengths to spark meaningful change. The College of...
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Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Fashion for a Cause Raises More Than $305K

Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Fashion for a Cause Raises More Than $305K

Style met substance on June 5, as Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Fashion for a Cause returned to the U.S. Naval Academy’s Fluegel Alumni Center. The high-energy fashion show smashed last year’s totals, raising more than $305,000 to support the nonprofit’s community health programs, including pediatric hospice care, children’s grief counseling, and family support services....
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Maryland Comptroller Releases Additional Guidance Regarding 2025 Tax Code Changes

Maryland Comptroller Releases Additional Guidance Regarding 2025 Tax Code Changes

The Maryland Comptroller’s Office today issued a Technical Bulletin to prepare businesses that are impacted by new changes in Maryland tax law passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session. Under the law, the first phase of tax changes, which includes a new 3% general sales tax on certain digital and IT services,...
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From La Plata to the Deep: FTSN Martin’s Journey Aboard USS Springfield

From La Plata to the Deep: FTSN Martin’s Journey Aboard USS Springfield

From Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 Public Affairs – NAVAL BASE GUAM – Before the ocean swallows the light and the hatch seals shut, every submariner carries one thing below the surface — their story. For Seaman Daniel Martin, a native of La Plata, Maryland, serving as a fire controlman, that story began in the...
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Waldorf Woman Faces Multiple Felony Drug Charges Following Search Warrant Execution

Waldorf Woman Faces Multiple Felony Drug Charges Following Search Warrant Execution

Heather Ann D’Angelo, 41, of Waldorf, was arrested on May 30, 2025, and now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to drug possession and distribution, following the execution of a search and seizure warrant at her residence on Greystone Circle. According to court records, D’Angelo has been formally charged with nine offenses, including:...
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Caprice Brown Named Executive Director of UM Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation

Caprice Brown Named Executive Director of UM Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation

University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, announces the appointment of J. Caprice Brown as executive director of the Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation. Brown has extensive leadership experience in nonprofit management, including working in homeless response in Atlanta; youth and adult workforce development...
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Charles County Public Schools to Offer Mobile Meals This Summer at 3 Designated Sites

Charles County Public Schools to Offer Mobile Meals This Summer at 3 Designated Sites

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will once again offer its Meals on the Move program this summer. The program will run June 24 through Aug. 7 at three designated sites in Charles County. The meal truck will be operated by CCPS food and nutrition services (FNS) staff. At the sites, children ages 2 to...
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One Transported to Trauma Center After Rollover Collision in Port Tobacco

One Transported to Trauma Center After Rollover Collision in Port Tobacco

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at approximately 2:55 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Chapel Point Road and Locust Grove Drive in Port Tobacco, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Shortly after dispatch, the incident was upgraded to a serious rollover collision with one trapped. Crews...
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National Fitness Partners Acquires 21 Planet Fitness Clubs Across Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois

National Fitness Partners Acquires 21 Planet Fitness Clubs Across Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois

National Fitness Partners (“NFP” or the “Company”), a leading Planet Fitness franchisee, today announced the acquisition of 21 Planet Fitness locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois. This strategic expansion brings NFP’s total club count to 198 locations across 14 states, and the Company now serves more than 1.5 million members across its portfolio. The...
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Waldorf Resident Wins Two $50,000 Prizes from Bonus Match 5 Drawing

Waldorf Resident Wins Two $50,000 Prizes from Bonus Match 5 Drawing

A Lottery player from Waldorf matched all five Bonus Match 5 winning numbers from the May 30 drawing on not just one, but two, tickets. The lucky winner took home two $50,000 prizes, for a total of $100,000. The longtime player, who chose to remain anonymous, recently visited Maryland Lottery headquarters to celebrate and...
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