Southern Maryland News Net

Avenue Man Arrested After Assault and Disruptions at Local Churches, Pouring Whiskey Into Holy Water

Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office have arrested and charged Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, 56, of Avenue, after incidents at two local churches disrupted religious services and endangered citizens. On December 24, 2024, shortly after 5 p.m., Von Goetz entered Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue during a Mass. He approached the altar and dropped an onion in the aisle, disturbing the peace of those attending. A citizen followed Von Goetz as he exited the church...
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UPDATE: Suspect and Officers Identified in Fatal Officer Involved Shooting in Charles County

UPDATE 12/26/2024: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Friday, December 20, 2024, in White Plains, Charles County, Maryland. The decedent has been identified as 30-year-old Jordan Proctor of White Plains, Maryland. The involved Charles County deputies have been identified as Sergeant Charles McCue, a 28-year veteran of the department; Corporal Brian Rash,...
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La Plata Police Ensure a Merry Christmas by Catching the Grinch

Officers reported that they took a mischievous man into custody who calls himself the Grinch. This Whoville troublemaker was up to no good, but don’t worry—he won’t be causing any more trouble this holiday season. With the Grinch behind bars, Santa Claus can deliver presents to all the boys and girls without any interruptions. What a merry Christmas Eve it’s going to be! The La Plata Police Department shared the exciting news with everyone, bringing smiles and laughter to...
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House Fire in Mechanicsville Under Investigation, Teen Flown to Children’s Center

On Monday, December 23, 2024, at approximately 8:07 p.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Hollywood, Leonardtown, Hughesville, Bay District and Seventh District responded to the 26800 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported structure fire with injuries. The 911 caller reported a candle had caught the house on fire, advised one female patient had burn injuries and that the fire was “big” Over 50 firefighters responded with first arriving crews finding smoke showing from the single story residence....
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UPDATE: Three Saint Inigoes Brothers Charged with Firearm Violations After High-Speed Chase and Crash

UPDATE 12/23/2024: Tireke Allen Straughn, 21, and Tywon Deontae Straughn, 23, both of Saint Inigoes, and Howard Anthony Straughn Jr., 25, of Easton, were arrested on December 23, 2024, following an investigation by the Natural Resources Police Southern Region. All three face multiple charges stemming from an incident on November 28, 2024, involving firearms violations and illegal activity on state lands. Tywon Straughn was cited by the Department of Natural Resources Police for negligent driving, reckless driving and attempt...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 104 Years in Prison for Arson Resulting in Death of Woman and Her 18-Month-Old Daughter

UPDATE 12/24/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, December 19, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Vincent Anthony Fisher, II, 49, to 104 years in prison for two counts of First-Degree Arson and the Second-Degree Murders of Rashawn Cline and Dashawn Cline. Fisher was found guilty of the aforementioned charges by a Charles County jury on September 27, 2024. On March 31, 2022, officers and fire department personnel responded to...
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State Police Arrest Driver for DUI, Three Others Face Drug and Weapon Charges in Lexington Park

On December 22, 2024, a routine welfare check at a gas station in Lexington Park led to the arrests of four individuals on charges ranging from drug possession to providing false information to law enforcement. Senior Trooper Oyler and Trooper Abdel Wahab of the Maryland State Police, Leonardtown Barrack, were dispatched to the Shell gas station at Maryland Route 235 and Pegg Road around 11:24 a.m. Upon arrival, they observed a blue Chevrolet Equinox idling near the air pump...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Death Following Unreported Vehicle Crash in Bushwood

Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO) are investigating a death preliminarily linked to an unreported traffic collision. On Sunday, December 22, 2024, at approximately 2:15 a.m., deputies and Emergency Medical Services responded to a residence in the 21000 block of Montfort Road in Bushwood for a report of an unresponsive individual. Upon arrival, deputies located Trueman Cross Montfort, 64, and immediately rendered life-saving efforts. Montfort was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation revealed that Montfort...
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VIDEO: A Legacy of Light: Helping the Family Match Funds for Our Community

For decades, the late Joseph “Bubby” Knott brought Christmas magic to St. Mary’s County. Through his remarkable displays at Flat Iron Farm, he transformed a quiet corner of Southern Maryland into a holiday wonderland. Families from near and far came to share in the warmth, wonder, and good will that Bubby poured into each twinkling bulb and handmade decoration. Now, we have a unique opportunity to continue his generous spirit and honor his memory by supporting four of his...
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Nanjemoy Man Indicted for False Bomb Threat at St. Mary’s County Walmart

Demetrius Demell Carroll, 30, of Nanjemoy, has been indicted by a St. Mary’s County Grand Jury on charges stemming from a false bomb threat made at the Walmart located on Miramar Way in California, Maryland. The indictment, issued on December 16, 2024, accuses Carroll of transmitting false information concerning the detonation of a destructive device. The incident occurred on May 3, 2024, at approximately 2:25 p.m., when law enforcement responded to a report of a bomb threat at the...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Commended as Record-Setting Drug Case Advances to Circuit Court

UPDATE 12/19/2024: The case involving Antwian Marquis Johnson, 38, of Prince Frederick, and Shannon Marie Johnson, 37, of Great Mills, has officially moved forward in the legal system, now advancing to the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This development follows their arrests on December 5, 2024, and the subsequent indictment on numerous felony charges tied to large-scale drug trafficking and firearm offenses. Court documents detail that both suspects face a variety of charges stemming from an extensive...
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Jury Finds Brandywine Man Guilty of Stalking, Threatening, and Shooting at Ex-Girlfriends

UPDATE 12/19/2024: Nahvarj Mills, 31, of Brandywine, Maryland, was found guilty today of 24 counts related to cyberstalking, disseminating sexually explicit photos, and multiple shootings involving two victims. The jury verdict, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to court documents...
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Police Investigating Murder of Hughesville Man Found in Charles County Field

On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 10:40 a.m., officers responded to the 6800 block of Swann Gate Place in Hughesville for the report of a body in a field. When officers arrived, they found a male who was deceased. The male was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore where an autopsy was conducted. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. The victim was identified as Paul Sherwood Swann, age 60, who lived in...
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No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Strikes Bus in Chaptico

On Thursday, December 19, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Hurry Road and Lacey Family Way in Chaptico, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a school bus. 911 callers reported the bus had 15 to 20 children on board with no injuries being reported, the operator of the vehicle was evaluated and signed care refusal forms on the scene. No injuries and no patients transported. The St. Mary’s County...
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Stephanie Roper’s Murderer Requests Release; Prosecutors Object

Prosecutors were back in court last week in response to a request filed by one of the men who kidnapped, raped, and murdered Stephanie Roper in 1982. Jerry Lee Beatty, 59, petitioned the Court for release pursuant to the Juvenile Restoration Act, citing he was only 17 years old at the time of the offense, among other reasons. Arguments from the defense and the State were presented in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court over a two-day period. Also present...
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Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes Four New Deputies

On December 20, 2024, Sheriff Ricky Cox and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office welcomed four new deputies following the final inspection and graduation exercises from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA) Police Entrance Level Training Program Session 54 at Chopticon High School in Morganza, MD. The deputies were among a total of 17...
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Lusby Man Sentenced to 15-Years for Possession of Child Pornography

On December 20, 2024, Henry Joseph Rupinski, 53, of Lusby, was sentenced in Calvert County Circuit Court to 15 years, with 18 months of active time, for possession of child pornography. Upon release Rupinski will be on 5 years supervised probation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, forfeit...
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Former Finance Manager of Historic Sotterley Charged with Embezzlement of $15,000

Angela Marie Hanson, 52, of California, Maryland, has been indicted on charges of embezzlement and theft following allegations of financial misconduct during her tenure as Finance Manager for Historic Sotterley, Inc. According to court documents, Hanson is accused of stealing nearly $15,000 over a five-month period from October 31, 2023, to April 15, 2024....
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Newburg Man Charged with Assault, Reckless Endangerment in School Bus Incident

Richard William Ellis, 47, of Newburg, is facing 51 criminal charges, including 16 counts of first-degree assault, after allegedly pointing a firearm at a school bus in an incident on September 20, 2024. The Charles Circuit Court issued an arrest warrant for Ellis on December 20, 2024, and he is currently being held without...
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VIDEO: Spreading Holiday Cheer: A Grateful Message from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office

This holiday season, the Southern Maryland News Net would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible community of St. Mary’s County and the dedicated men and women of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. They put together a video featuring a few of the many voices of community leaders, businesses, and residents...
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As Jackpot Surpasses $1 Billion, Maryland Players Win Mega Millions Prizes

With the Mega Millions jackpot going over one billion dollars this week, player attention is focused on the multi-state jackpot games, resulting in five Mega Millions wins of $10,000 or more across Maryland in the past week, and two big Powerball wins, one for $150,000 in Dunkirk and one for $50,000 in Perry Hall....
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UPDATE: DETAILS RELEASED After Bryans Road Woman Arrested for Abduction of 8-Year-Old Boy

On December 19, 2024, Krystal Ninette Clay, age 64, of Indian Head, Maryland, was arrested in Charles County on charges of abducting a child under the age of 12. According to court documents, officers responded at approximately 8:59 a.m. to a welfare check in Bryans Road. A witness reported seeing a white Chevrolet Malibu...
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Prince Frederick Man Charged with Assault After Spitting in Officer’s Eye and Face at Detention Center

Alan Douglas Oberlander, 49, of Prince Frederick, faces a charge of second-degree assault following an incident at the Calvert County Detention Center on December 14, 2024. According to court documents, at approximately 12:56 a.m. at the detention center on Stafford Road, Calvert County Correctional DFC Kelly responded to the report of a disorderly inmate,...
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Prince Frederick Man Arrested for Identity Fraud to Avoid Child Support Warrants in Calvert County

A routine traffic stop on December 9, 2024, in Calvert County led to the arrest of Dontray Joseph Creek, 30, of Prince Frederick, after authorities discovered he had used another person’s identity to avoid identification and outstanding child support warrants. According to court documents, Deputy Deinert of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office stopped a...
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January 2025 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

Kick off the New Year with an exciting lineup of events at the Calvert Marine Museum! Get your tickets for the first Maritime Performance Series concert of the season, and don’t miss a special day of celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The museum is also thrilled to announce the 2025 themes for...
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Creative Grief Support Programs for Children, Teens, and Their Families

Chesapeake Life Center has more than 30 years of experience using fun and friendship to help grieving children find a path to healing. Here is what is planned for children and teens this winter: Stepping Stones Grief Support Group for ages 6 to 18 – This group is for children and teens who have...
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Maryland Hunters Harvest 30,833 Deer during Two-Week Firearms Season

Maryland hunters reported harvesting 30,833 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14. The firearms season harvest was almost 9% higher than last year’s official count of 28,312 deer. “The two week firearm season continues to be our most popular deer season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “We’d like to thank...
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Traffic Stop in Lexington Park Leads to Drug Arrests and Felony Charges

On December 19, 2024, a traffic stop in Lexington Park resulted in the arrests of two individuals, Zuri Kali Harrison, 22, of Great Mills, and Cindi Lynn Sweeney, 45, of Lexington Park. Both were arrested after a search of the vehicle revealed multiple controlled dangerous substances (CDS) and related paraphernalia. According to the St....
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Sports Wagering Contributes $11.8 Million to the State During November 2024

Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $11,798,035 in contributions to the state during November 2024, the largest single-month total the program has produced since its launch in December 2021. Sports wagering contributions to the state are directed to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs. The largest previous single-month contribution was...
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$50,000 Powerball Win Changes Waldorf Woman’s Dinner Plans

A Charles County woman told Lottery officials a story that began with her sitting down at a restaurant to order dinner from a waiter and ended with her eating the food hours later at home. What interrupted her meal? Why, it was Powerball! It seems that discovering that one has won $50,000 can just...
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Happy Charles County Mom Gets Early Christmas with $50,000 Scratch-Off Win

Southern Maryland player plans to use scratch-off prize to pay bills, enjoy the holidays A Southern Maryland woman sprang into action after discovering she was the first $50,000 top-prize winner on the new Cash to Go scratch-off. The loyal player said she was “moonwalking” with excitement after she discovered her big win. “I couldn’t...
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St. Mary’s County Felon Indicted on Illegal Firearms and Ammunition Possession Charges in Dameron

Bruce Bernard Franks, Jr., 32, of Dameron, is facing legal trouble after being indicted on multiple charges related to illegal firearms and ammunition possession. The indictment stems from an extensive investigation conducted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)....
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