Charles News

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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Charles County Public Schools 2023-24 Winter Break Operating Schedule

Charles County Public Schools 2023-24 Winter Break Operating Schedule

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) administrative offices are closed for winter break, Monday, Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. Schools are closed Monday, Dec. 25, through Monday, Jan. 1, for winter break. Schools, offices and buildings reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, as noted in the Parent Handbook/Calendar. During winter break, some CCPS high...
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Sports Wagering Contributes $3.2 Million to the State During November 2023

Sports Wagering Contributes $3.2 Million to the State During November 2023

Maryland’s 13 retail and 12 mobile sportsbooks that operated during November 2023 combined to generate $3,199,529 in contributions to the state. Each sportsbook contributes 15% of its taxable win to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs. November’s statewide handle of $550,716,329 was Maryland’s largest single-month total, surpassing the $497,121,656...
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House Fire in Lusby Under Investigation, Neighbors and Firefighters Save Three Dogs, One Dog Perished in Blaze

House Fire in Lusby Under Investigation, Neighbors and Firefighters Save Three Dogs, One Dog Perished in Blaze

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, at approximately 4:35 p.m., firefighters from Calvert and St. Mary’s County responded to 1395 Gregg Drive in Lusby, for the reported house on fire with animals trapped. The owner/occupant is identified as Emad Dides, with the estimated loss of structure and contents valued at $250,000.00 Smoke alarms were present...
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Charles County Department of Health Advises of Coyote Found with Rabies in Waldorf Area

Charles County Department of Health Advises of Coyote Found with Rabies in Waldorf Area

The Charles County Department of Health has been notified that a coyote collected on 12/2/23 in the Charter Oak/Scarlett Oak in the Waldorf vicinity has tested positive for rabies. There was another sighting of a coyote with a similar description around the 13000 block of Ballantrae Lane in Waldorf, MD. We urge everyone to...
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School Resource Officer Assaulted at Thomas Stone High School

School Resource Officer Assaulted at Thomas Stone High School

On Friday, December 8, 2023, at 12:08 p.m., a school resource officer at Thomas Stone High School was assisting a school administrator with a student who was in the administrator’s office and acting disorderly relating to an argument they were having with another student. The SRO was in the doorway of the office when...
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Attorney General Anthony Brown Files Petition for Rehearing in Handgun Licensing Case Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore

Attorney General Anthony Brown Files Petition for Rehearing in Handgun Licensing Case Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore

The Office of the Attorney General filed petition for a rehearing en banc in the case of Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore, in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled unconstitutional Maryland’s law requiring most citizens to obtain a license before acquiring a handgun. On November 21, 2023,...
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UPDATE: Virginia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of His Mother in Charles County

UPDATE: Virginia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of His Mother in Charles County

UPDATE 12/8/2023: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, December 7, 2023, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Brandon Kiah Slade, 29, to Life in prison for the First-Degree Murder of Lenora Coates-Slade and the Wear and Carry of a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Injure. Slade...
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Waldorf Man Arrested After Burglary to Vacant Apartment; Police Seeking Second Suspect

Waldorf Man Arrested After Burglary to Vacant Apartment; Police Seeking Second Suspect

On December 4, 2023, at 11:09 a.m., officers responded to an apartment in the 2100 block of Crain Highway for the report of a burglary. Upon investigation, officers observed the front door was damaged and learned that two males had broken into a vacant apartment. The suspects fled prior to the officers’ arrival. Officers...
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Leadership Maryland Class of 2023 Graduates

Leadership Maryland Class of 2023 Graduates

Leadership Maryland announced that 48 members of the Class of 2023 have completed the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Leadership Maryland honored the Class of 2023 at its 30th graduation ceremony held on December 5 at the Hilton Baltimore...
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CSM Sets Early College Program Information Nights for Parents, Families

CSM Sets Early College Program Information Nights for Parents, Families

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is holding Early College Information Nights for parents at 6 p.m. this month and in January. While some meetings are held at particular schools, all meetings are open to CCPS juniors and seniors and their families regardless of the high school they attend. The Early College Program is...
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