St. Mary’s News

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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Bubby’s Christmas Farewell Brings in Over $320,000, Knott Family Donates All to Our Schools, Organizations and Volunteer Fire Departments

Bubby’s Christmas Farewell Brings in Over $320,000, Knott Family Donates All to Our Schools, Organizations and Volunteer Fire Departments

On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Knott family hosted a check presentation for our local nonprofits, organizations and three of our communities completely volunteer Fire/EMS departments. “Thanks to your generosity and the Knott Family’s incredible donation, we’re proud to announce the distribution of funds to these amazing local nonprofits! Each organization plays a vital...
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A Wonderful Addition to Leonardtown Square: Meow Dyer Cat Cafe!

A Wonderful Addition to Leonardtown Square: Meow Dyer Cat Cafe!

Join them for their grand opening celebration from January 10th to 12th, with doors open daily from 12 PM to 7 PM. Owner Shannon Myles Obedoza has partnered with Feral Cat Rescue to create a cozy, welcoming space where rescue cats can thrive while waiting for their forever homes. The cafe offers a calm...
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UPDATE: 19-Year-Old Shot in Hollywood: Ten Weeks Later, No Arrests and No Answers from Police

UPDATE: 19-Year-Old Shot in Hollywood: Ten Weeks Later, No Arrests and No Answers from Police

UPDATE: More than Ten weeks have passed since a 19-year-old man was shot in Hollywood, leading to a high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies, yet no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Although police have identified the shooter in court documents, no charges have been filed, and authorities have not...
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Second Round of Snow Storms Set to Hit Southern Maryland, Here’s The Latest Forecast

Second Round of Snow Storms Set to Hit Southern Maryland, Here’s The Latest Forecast

Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles County from 10:00 p.m, Friday night into 7am Saturday morning. * WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches can be expected for St. Mary’s County with 1 to 2 inches for Charles and Calvert Counties. * WHEN…From 10 PM...
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Kohl’s Announces 27 Store Closures, None in Maryland Set to Close

Kohl’s Announces 27 Store Closures, None in Maryland Set to Close

1/09/2025: Kohl’s announced real estate changes for 2025, including the closure of its San Bernardino E-commerce Fulfillment Center (EFC) in May when the lease on that facility expires, and the closure of 27 underperforming stores, by April 2025. The San Bernardino, Calif. facility has been in operation for Kohl’s since 2010. It is one...
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Calvert County Man Claims Top Price in Bonus Match 5 Drawing

Calvert County Man Claims Top Price in Bonus Match 5 Drawing

A Southern Maryland resident who plays Lottery games every Friday for fun arrived at Lottery headquarters last week only days away from losing a $50,400 prize. The loyal player said he routinely allocates a small amount each week toward his favorite games and saves any winning tickets. That has been his routine for so...
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Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office Accepting Applications for Grants to Reduce Injuries and Fatalities on Maryland Highways

Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office Accepting Applications for Grants to Reduce Injuries and Fatalities on Maryland Highways

GLEN BURNIE, MD (January 10, 2025) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office is accepting applications from organizations seeking grant funding for traffic safety programs and projects that help reduce crashes, deaths and injuries on Maryland roadways. The grants will support initiatives addressing actions, decisions, and habits of drivers,...
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UPDATE: Occupants and Pets Safe After House Fire in Port Republic, Cause Under Investigation

UPDATE: Occupants and Pets Safe After House Fire in Port Republic, Cause Under Investigation

UPDATE 1/10/2025: January 9th, 2025, at 12:22 p.m., firefighters responded to 4099 Cortona Drive in Port Republic, Calvert County, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on scene to find a Two-story, single family residence engulfed in flames. Investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is still ongoing. Smoke alarms were present,...
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Sports Wagering Contributes $6.5 Million to the State During December

Sports Wagering Contributes $6.5 Million to the State During December

Maryland’s sports wagering market completed the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 by generating $6,510,765 in contributions to the state during December 2024. Through the first six months of FY2025 (July 2024 through December 2024), sports wagering has contributed $46,576,505 to the state compared to $24,593,908 for the same period in FY2024. Contributions to...
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St. Mary’s Ryken High School Sophomore Skyler Graham Selected for Prestigious HOBY Leadership Seminar

St. Mary’s Ryken High School Sophomore Skyler Graham Selected for Prestigious HOBY Leadership Seminar

St. Mary’s Ryken High School (SMR) is proud to announce that sophomore Skyler Graham has been selected as this year’s representative for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar. Skyler expressed gratitude to the SMR School Counseling Team for the nomination, saying, “I am thrilled about this opportunity to obtain more leadership skills and...
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Lexington Park Man Charged with Assault and Property Damage in Domestic Incident

Lexington Park Man Charged with Assault and Property Damage in Domestic Incident

Ricardo James O’Brien, 26, of Lexington Park, is facing charges of second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property following a domestic dispute at a residence on Maverick Court in Hollywood, Maryland, on January 4, 2025. According to court documents, police were called to the scene after a report of an assault. Upon arrival, officers...
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Homeless Man Charged in Walmart Theft Attempt in St. Mary’s County

Homeless Man Charged in Walmart Theft Attempt in St. Mary’s County

John Patrick Furey, 43, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with attempted theft after an incident at the Walmart located on Miramar Way in California, Maryland. According to court documents, the incident occurred on December 9, 2024, when Furey allegedly attempted to leave the store with a cart and backpack filled with...
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Lexington Park Man Arrested After Knife Assault Outside Weis Market on Great Mills Road

Lexington Park Man Arrested After Knife Assault Outside Weis Market on Great Mills Road

Daniel A. Humpleby, 30, of Lexington Park, has been charged with first-degree and second-degree assault following an altercation involving a knife outside the Weis Market located on Great Mills Road, on January 8, 2025. According to court documents and statements provided by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of...
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