St. Mary’s News

UPDATE: Police Arrest Third Suspect in Lexington Park Shooting

UPDATE: Police Arrest Third Suspect in Lexington Park Shooting

UPDATE: Charles Henry Thompson, 30, of Lexington Park, was arrested and is currently being held at the the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown. Thompson faces the following charges, according to court documents: Attempted First-Degree Murder (Felony) Attempted Second-Degree Murder (Felony) First-Degree Assault (Two Counts – Felony) Second-Degree Assault (Two Counts...
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Horrific Conditions Lead Over 150 Animal Cruelty Charges for Charlotte Hall Father and Daughter

Kelvin Shepherd, 51, and Dominique Parrish, 35, both of Charlotte Hall

Kelvin Shepherd, 51, and Dominique Parrish, 35, both of Charlotte Hall, were arrested following a joint investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control. The investigation uncovered what authorities describe as “horrific” conditions for over 17 dogs housed on their property at 30205 Gershwin Road. The arrests came after months of...
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22-Year-Old Port Republic Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase from Calvert to St. Mary’s County

22-Year-Old Port Republic Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase from Calvert to St. Mary’s County

Dylan Michael Barbieri, 22, of Port Republic, was arrested on January 14, 2025, following a high-speed pursuit that spanned parts of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. According to court documents, the incident began when officers in Calvert County observed Barbieri’s vehicle traveling at an estimated 85 mph in a 55 mph zone along Maryland...
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Repeat Offender Faces Multiple Charges, Including Escape, in St. Mary’s County After Failing to Report to Jail

Repeat Offender Faces Multiple Charges, Including Escape, in St. Mary’s County After Failing to Report to Jail

Justin Michael Gibson, 33, of Lexington Park, is facing a series of charges in St. Mary’s County following multiple alleged incidents, including thefts and an escape from custody. Court records detail a sequence of events that culminated in the issuance of an arrest warrant for the defendant. According to court documents, Gibson has been...
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VIDEO: Hollywood Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving, Cocaine Possession in Lexington Park

VIDEO: Hollywood Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving, Cocaine Possession in Lexington Park

Serinity Faith Byrd, 32, of Hollywood, was arrested on January 10, 2025, following a welfare check that revealed impaired driving and the discovery of suspected cocaine in her possession. According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the Pegg Road Food Mart, located at 22141 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park,...
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Police in St. Mary’s County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 28-Year-Old Mechanicsville Woman

Police in St. Mary’s County Investigating Motor Vehicle Crash That Killed 28-Year-Old Mechanicsville Woman

UPDATE: On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at approximately 6:33 p.m., patrol units from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision near Three Notch Road and Old Village Road, Mechanicsville, with one ejected. The preliminary investigation revealed a 2000 Infinity G20 operated by Melissa Marie Stallings, 28, of...
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Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Releases Statement Following Governor Moore’s $3 Billion Deficit Announcement, Tax Increases, and Budget Cuts

Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Releases Statement Following Governor Moore’s $3 Billion Deficit Announcement, Tax Increases, and Budget Cuts

In December 2024 the Department of Legislative Services reported a historic $2.95 billion General Fund projected shortfall for the State’s Fiscal Year 2026 (beginning July 1, 2025)—greater than any shortfall in at least 20 years including during the Great Recession. The $2.95 billion projected shortfall (before any budget actions) represents a projected 11 percent...
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February 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

February 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

Celebrate February at the Calvert Marine Museum with exciting programs and events for all ages! From meeting Poppie the opossum to exploring local history and participating in citizen science, there’s something for everyone this month. Don’t miss the Maritime Performance Series with ASH & ERIC L’ESPERANCE on the 21st. For more information about museum...
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UPDATE: FDA to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red #3 in Food and Ingested Drugs

UPDATE: FDA to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red #3 in Food and Ingested Drugs

UPDATE 1/15/2025: The FDA is revoking the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 as a matter of law, based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow for the use of FD&C Red...
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Multiple Chickens Perish in Leonardtown Chicken Coop Fire

Multiple Chickens Perish in Leonardtown Chicken Coop Fire

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:13 p.m., firefighters from Second District, Leonardtown, Bay District, Hollywood, and Seventh District responded to the 20000 block of Chingville Road in Leonardtown, for the reported chicken coop on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find an approximate 7 x 10 chicken coop with smoke and fire...
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Marylander Hunters and Birders Should Be Vigilant Against Avian Influenza

Marylander Hunters and Birders Should Be Vigilant Against Avian Influenza

In early January, laboratory testing provided preliminary confirmation of Highly Pathogenic H5 Avian Influenza (HPAI) in seven dead snow geese found in Worcester and Dorchester counties, and subsequently in a Caroline County poultry facility. Avian influenza, often called “bird flu,” is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds, and its presence should be considered...
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VIDEO: Tip From Confidential Informant Uncovers Major Drug Operation in St. Mary’s County

VIDEO: Tip From Confidential Informant Uncovers Major Drug Operation in St. Mary’s County

On January 14, 2025, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Thomas A. Goldring, 44, of Great Mills, and Toney L. Daye, 58, of Lexington Park, who now face multiple drug-related charges. The arrests occurred following an investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Unit, which had received information linking Goldring, known as “Junk,” to narcotics...
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Attorney General Brown’s Statement on Supreme Court of the United States’ Decision Today to Decline Challenge in Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore

Attorney General Brown’s Statement on Supreme Court of the United States’ Decision Today to Decline Challenge in Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore

(January 13, 2025) – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear a challenge of Maryland’s law requiring most residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun. In Maryland, most applicants for handgun qualification licenses are required to submit fingerprints, undergo...
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Mechanicsville Man Faces Fourth DUI After Stealing Lottery Money from Korner Karry Out

Mechanicsville Man Faces Fourth DUI After Stealing Lottery Money from Korner Karry Out

Vance Harrison Deniston, 67, of Mechanicsville, was arrested on January 10, 2025, following an incident involving the theft of cash from a local business and a subsequent investigation that led to multiple driving under the influence (DUI) charges. The arrest, detailed in court documents and statements from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, also...
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Lothian Man Sentenced for Shoplifting Ribeye Steaks from Weis Grocery Store in Lexington Park

Lothian Man Sentenced for Shoplifting Ribeye Steaks from Weis Grocery Store in Lexington Park

On January 13, 2025, Brandon Lee Holdaway, 29, of Lothian, was sentenced in St. Mary’s County District Court after pleading guilty to theft of items valued under $100. The charge stemmed from an incident on October 9, 2024, at a Weis grocery store located at 21600 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. According to...
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St. Mary’s County – Free Workshop for Caregivers Announced; First Meeting on January 27, 2025

St. Mary’s County – Free Workshop for Caregivers Announced; First Meeting on January 27, 2025

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Aging & Human Services (DAHS) is pleased to announce the Building Better Caregivers workshop, an evidence-based program to equip caregivers with tools and knowledge to enhance their caregiving journey. Through the Building Better Caregivers program, participants will have the opportunity to: Discover practical strategies for self-care and stress...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Accidentally Shooting Himself With Shotgun in Leonardtown

Man Flown to Trauma Center After Accidentally Shooting Himself With Shotgun in Leonardtown

On Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:05 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 42000 block of Fairgrounds Road in Leonardtown, for the reported gunshot victim. Police arrived on the scene to find the adult male patient was conscious alert and breathing. Fire and medical services proceeded into the scene to...
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St. Mary’s County EMS Chief Who Admitted to Stealing Fentanyl and Other Drugs Makes Plea Deal

St. Mary’s County EMS Chief Who Admitted to Stealing Fentanyl and Other Drugs Makes Plea Deal

UPDATE 1/9/2024: Thomas Patrick Raley has accepted a plea deal in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court after facing multiple charges. He entered an Alford plea to second-degree burglary, meaning he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. Raley also pled guilty to two counts of rogue and...
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Hollywood Woman Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges After Dog is Euthanized Due to Severe Injuries

Hollywood Woman Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges After Dog is Euthanized Due to Severe Injuries

UPDATE 1/12/2025: Kenjewel McCullough, 45, of Hollywood, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2025, to six counts of animal cruelty in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. McCullough was charged with the misdemeanor offenses, stemming from incidents that occurred on June 16, 2024. At a sentencing hearing presided over by Judge Amy Lorenzini, McCullough entered guilty...
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Large House in Chesapeake Beach Destroyed After Early Morning Fire, Cause Under Investigation

Large House in Chesapeake Beach Destroyed After Early Morning Fire, Cause Under Investigation

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, at approximately 3:44 a.m., police responded to 4515 Camp Roosevelt Drive in Chesapeake Beach, for multiple alarms going off. Around 3:54 a.m., officers began travelling down the driveway and at the same time, one of the home owners called stating the house was on fire. Under a minute later,...
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Maryland State Fire Marshal Investigating La Plata House Fire That Displaces Five

Maryland State Fire Marshal Investigating La Plata House Fire That Displaces Five

On Saturday, January 11, 2025, at approximately 5:30 p.m., firefighters from La Plata Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments responded to 503 Scarlet Oak Road in La Plata, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a two-story split foyer residence with fire showing. A working fire dispatch was...
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One Flown to Trauma Center, Mother and Two Children Transported to Hospital After Motor Vehicle Collision in Leonardtown

One Flown to Trauma Center, Mother and Two Children Transported to Hospital After Motor Vehicle Collision in Leonardtown

On Saturday, January 11, 2025, at approximately 5:45 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and Winters Lane in Leonardtown, for a serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment. Firefighters from Bay District, Leonardtown, and Second District responded with first arriving units finding a two vehicle rear-end...
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Woman Charged with Fraud and Drug Possession Following Traffic Stop in St. Mary’s County

Woman Charged with Fraud and Drug Possession Following Traffic Stop in St. Mary’s County

Chaude Amore Chase, 32, of Mechanicsville, is facing multiple charges following a January 4, 2025, traffic stop and subsequent investigation. Chase was charged with identity fraud, possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. The incident occurred at approximately 6:03 a.m. when Deputy Bradley Kirscht of the...
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Lexington Park Man Charged with Theft and Escape in St. Mary’s County

Lexington Park Man Charged with Theft and Escape in St. Mary’s County

Two separate criminal cases have been filed against Justin Michael Gibson, 34, of Lexington Park, stemming from incidents involving theft and escape. Gibson is currently facing charges for theft under $100 and second-degree escape, according to court documents filed in St. Mary’s County. On December 16, 2024, law enforcement responded to a 7-Eleven located...
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Hughesville Woman Charged After Bringing Drugs Into the St. Mary’s County Detention Center

Hughesville Woman Charged After Bringing Drugs Into the St. Mary’s County Detention Center

On January 2, 2025, Haley Dantonio, 33, of Hughesville, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses following an incident at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown. According to court documents, Dantonio was being transported to the detention center after being sentenced to a period of incarceration in a separate case...
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