Southern Maryland News Net

New Maryland Laws Taking Effect on January 1, 2026

A package of new state laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, bringing changes to tax-sale rules, rideshare driver reporting, and a wide slate of health insurance requirements — including new protections tied to pediatric care, anesthesia coverage, cancer screenings for firefighters, and limits on “fail-first” medication rules. Below are some of the most notable changes, based on the Maryland General Assembly Department of Legislative Services “Effective Dates” list. Housing and property tax New protections in the tax-sale...
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Senate Passes Honor Act, Recognizing Fire Fighter Cancer As Line-of-Duty Death

In a historic development, the U.S. Senate has passed the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), advancing a long-fought effort by the IAFF to secure federal recognition of occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death. The bill, which has strong bipartisan support in both chambers, now goes to President Donald Trump, who will sign it into law tomorrow. “We know the devastation occupational cancer has brought to our profession. When a fire fighter dies from job-related cancer, that is a line-of-duty death – and...
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UPDATE: Lusby Man Held Without Bond on Firearm Charges in St. Mary’s County

Devin Nichles Gear, 20, of Lusby, has been charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses in St. Mary’s County in connection with the alleged illegal transportation and sale of firearms, according to court documents. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 20, 2025. Gear is accused of transporting a firearm without a serial number, unlawfully selling or transferring a regulated firearm, and illegally selling or transferring a regulated firearm. All three charges are classified as misdemeanors under Maryland...
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Police Investigating Another Shooting on Gallery Place in Waldorf, Victim Flown to Trauma Center

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 3000 block of Gallery Place in Waldorf, for the reported subject shot. 911 Dispatchers advised the 911 callers were uncooperative, stated someone had been shot but provided no further information. Police arrived on the scene to find an adult male laying in front of the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services advised the victim suffered at least two gunshot...
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UPDATE: 26-Year-Old Drayden Man Succumbs to Injuries After Mechanicsville Collision

UPDATE 12/17/2025: The family has sadly announced the passing of Darius Jackson-Jordan, age 26 of Drayden. Funeral arrangements and additional information will be provided in the coming days. The motor vehicle collision remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or events leading up to it and has not already provided a statement is asked to contact Corporal Rachael Owens at 301-475-4200, ext. 8108, or at [email protected]. UPDATE 12/16/2025: On Saturday, December 13, 2025, at around 4:48 p.m., patrol...
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UPDATE: High-Speed Chase in Calvert County Ends in Crash That Kills 58-Year-Old Woman

UPDATE 12/16/2025: Savon Quincy Samuel, 32, of Pikesville, has been charged with felony negligent manslaughter by vehicle following a fatal multi-vehicle crash that occurred during an attempted traffic stop by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office on December 12, 2025. According to court documents, the incident began when a deputy attempted to stop a gray Nissan Maxima for an inoperative brake light on northbound Prince Frederick Boulevard. The vehicle, driven by Samuel, failed to stop and fled at speeds reaching...
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UPDATE: Mechanicsville Man Convicted for Attempted Kidnapping, Assault and Armed Robbery After Attacking Woman with Knife

UPDATE 12/15/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that William Francis Dixon, 52, of Mechanicsville, Maryland was convicted of attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, and other charges stemming from a March 2025 incident where he attacked a female victim with a knife in Mechanicsville, Maryland. After a five-day trial, a St. Mary’s County jury found Dixon guilty of the following offenses: Attempted kidnapping (maximum penalty of 30 years in prison); Armed robbery (maximum penalty of 20 years in prison); First-degree assault...
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UPDATE: Capitol Heights Man Sentenced to Life After Shooting Hollywood Teen in the Head and Placing Body Into Trash Can

UPDATE 12/16/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Lee L. Richardson, 24, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was sentenced to LIFE in prison for the first-degree murder of a 19-year-old victim. In January 2025, the victim’s family reported their loved one missing. The family communicated daily with the young man until January 21, 2025, when all communications suddenly ceased. Following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, investigators from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office determined that Lee Richardson, a person known...
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Pedestrian Flown Out After Being Struck by Vehicle; Police Investigating Firefighter Struck While on Scene

On Friday, December 12, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Great Mills Road and Suburban Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Chevrolet HHR struck a 36-year-old male who was laying in the roadway with injuries. The striking vehicle remained on the scene with the occupants reporting no injuries. The 36-year-old pedestrian was flown to...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 55 Years for Murder, Armed Robbery, Carjacking, After Violent Crime Spree Across Maryland and Virginia

UPDATE 12/12/2025: Today, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Thaddeus Lamont Wills, 52, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 55 years in federal prison for his role in a string of commercial armed robberies. The robberies occurred in 2020 and 2021, in Prince William County, Virginia, and in Prince George’s and Charles County, Maryland. During one of the robberies, Wills shot and killed a business owner. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with...
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UPDATE – Court Documents Added: Fire Marshals Make Quick Arrest After String of Arsons in Mechanicsville

UPDATE 12/12/2025: Court documents added; Jeffrey Wathen, 41, of Mechanicsville, has been charged with Arson First Degree, two counts of Arson Second Degree, and two counts of Malicious Burning First Degree, after determining that multiple fires along Three Notch Road were intentionally set Monday night. At approximately 9:05 p.m., the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 26489 Three Notch Road. Firefighters arriving at the scene found flames in a flower bed near the front...
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UPDATE: Lexington Park Woman Shot by Police After Stealing Handgun, Firing at Deputy

UPDATE 12/12/2025: Court documents added; On October 23, 2025, police responded to the 46000 block of Anita Court in Lexington Park, for the reported check the welfare. The 911 caller reported that his roommate Paige Hartness, had stolen his .45 ACP 1911 handgun from his room and left the residence after a verbal argument in her vehicle. The caller further gave details into why he believed her welfare needed to be checked and provided her vehicle details/information. Two St. Mary’s...
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UPDATE: No Injuries Reported, Police Investigating Crash Involving NAS Patuxent River Truck 13

UPDATE 12/10/2025: Witnesses reported the red sedan had previously entered into the left hand turn lane prior to the intersection of Hollywood Road and Three Notch Road, before re-entering the Southbound lanes of Three Notch Road. The vehicle then continued to travel South on Three Notch Road until entering the left-hand turn lane to travel onto Mervell Dean Road, at the same time, Truck 13, who was travelling routine with no lights, no sirens, returning to quarters from a...
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UPDATE: Driver’s Failure to Yield Sends One to Trauma Center with Life-Threatening Injuries After Early Morning Crash in Charlotte Hall

UPDATE 12/10/2025: On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at around 6:42 a.m., patrol units from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision in the area of Three Notch Road and Charlotte Hall School Road in Charlotte Hall. Deputies arrived at the site to find one person trapped. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 gray Hyundai Tucson was traveling northbound on Three Notch Road and attempted to turn left onto Charlotte Hall School...
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65-Year-Old Transported After Accidental Self-Inflicted Shooting in Valley Lee

On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:20 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 45000 block of Joeys Way in Valley Lee, for the reported shooting. 911 callers reported a 65-year-old male student had accidentally shot himself in the foot. EMS arrived on the scene to find a tourniquet had been placed on the victim and requested a helicopter to land nearby. Flight medics were advised the patient had a self-inflicted gunshot wound which grazed the...
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Lexington Park Woman Arrested After Assault in Courthouse Bathroom, Released on Bond Despite Lengthy Criminal History

Trinik Shatega King, 31, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault after an altercation inside the St. Mary’s County District Court building in Leonardtown, on December 16, 2025. According to charging documents, the incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. in the female restroom of the courthouse. An adult female victim reported being...
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Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Mourns the loss of Past President Mary C. “Peggy” Lee

Mary Ellen Caywood “Peggy” Lee, 91 of Mechanicsville, MD died December 6, 2025, in Lexington Park, MD with her loved ones by her side. Born November 6, 1934 in Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington DC, she was the daughter of the late Grace Raley Caywood and Alexander Caywood. She was preceded in death...
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Marylanders Asked to Stay Alert For Cold-Stunned Aquatic Wildlife

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks those visiting the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic coast to be vigilant of sea turtles who exhibit signs of cold-stunning, a condition that causes animals to become debilitated and experience hypothermia-like symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Cold-stunning typically occurs in late autumn and early winter...
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NAVAIR P-8A Poseidon Upgrade Hits Cloud-Connectivity Milestone With Minotaur “Labyrinth” Hub

The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office (PMA-290) achieved an airborne connectivity landmark when the P-8A Poseidon Increment 3 Block 2 (I3B2) aircraft successfully connected to the Minotaur Family of Systems (MFoS) Labyrinth hub. This pivotal connection occurred during a combined development test / operational test event this December at Naval Air Systems...
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Two NAVAIR Employees Recognized at 70th Annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Ceremony

Anthony Blankenship, deputy director, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and Gregory Imhof, director of test technologies, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, were recognized at the 70th annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards ceremony at the Pentagon December 3. This is the Department of War’s (DoW) highest award given to...
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Prince Frederick Man Arrested After Loaded Handgun Stolen From St. Mary’s County Found in Toilet Tank in Calvert County

Clifton Jermaine Cole, 20, of Prince Frederick, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a minor following the execution of a search warrant at his residence earlier this month, according to court documents filed in the District Court for Calvert County. The charge stems from a joint investigation involving the Calvert County...
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Welcome Man Charged After Possessing Two Handguns While Under the Influence of Alcohol

Olen David Clybourn II, 44, of Welcome, is facing two misdemeanor charges for possessing firearms while under the influence of alcohol. According to court documents filed in the District Court for Charles County, the charges stem from an incident on November 26, 2025, when Clybourn was found unresponsive behind the wheel of a vehicle...
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Hughesville Man Accused in Beauty Store Break-In and Tractor Supply Theft

Michael Hemi Fischer, 28, of Hughesville, is facing multiple charges after being linked to two separate theft-related incidents in Southern Maryland, according to court documents filed in Charles and St. Mary’s counties. In the most recent case, Fischer has been charged with second-degree burglary and theft in connection with a break-in at a beauty...
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Four Charles County Senior Students To Represent CCPS in 2026 Maryland Student Page Program

Four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) seniors are representing the school system this year in the Maryland General Assembly’s Student Page Program. Students in the program, including the alternate, participate in the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session. The following students were selected to participate in this year’s program. Paola Cercos Teverino, senior, North Point...
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Leonardtown Man Arrested on Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop

Ryan Michael Page, 40, of Leonardtown, was arrested on December 12, 2025, and charged with two drug-related misdemeanors following a traffic stop conducted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, Deputy Devin Absher observed a silver 2003 Chevrolet Silverado fail to stop completely at the intersection of Old Great Mills...
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Lexington Park Woman Charged Again After Violent Encounter with Deputies, Weeks After Prior Assault Allegations

Jasmen Eliana Reyes, 19, of Lexington Park, has been charged in a new case involving multiple misdemeanors after a confrontation with law enforcement on December 10, 2025, at her residence on Chapman Drive. The charges follow an earlier incident from April 2025 in which Reyes was also charged with second-degree assault in a separate...
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Calvert Library Prince Frederick Presents “Art in the Stacks” Featuring Artist Sarita Pandey

Calvert Library Prince Frederick is pleased to announce the newest exhibition in its Art in the Stacks program, featuring the bold, rich paintings of North Beach–based artist Sarita Pandey. About two dozen works of Pandey’s are on view at the library from October 2025 through January 2026. Art in the Stacks transforms each Calvert...
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NAVAIR Releases V-22 Comprehensive Review Findings

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PAXUTENT RIVER, MD.: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released the findings of a comprehensive review Dec. 12, 2025, on the V-22 Osprey aircraft flown by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The review reaffirmed the airworthiness of the V-22 platform under established controls allowing the continued safe operations of...
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Local Youth Baseball Leaders Represent Southern Maryland at Prestigious Ripken Futures Games

For three Southern Maryland baseball leaders, a recent trip to the Ripken Futures Games in Florida offered a unique opportunity to serve the sport from a different perspective. James Jones (President, St. Mary’s Little League), Mikey Farrell (President, Chesapeake Ghost), and RJ Bean (President, Southern Maryland Bob Richardson League) traveled to Panama City Beach...
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D.C. Man Arrested on Multiple Charges Following Theft at Dunkirk CVS and Drugs Found at Jail

Curtis Sequan Cannon, 33, of Washington, D.C., has been charged with four misdemeanors following an arrest on December 6, 2025, in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident and subsequent drug-related offenses, according to court records filed in the District Court for Calvert County. Cannon is facing the following charges: Theft: $100 to under $1,500...
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33 Students in Class 167 Graduate from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) graduated its Class 167 during a ceremony near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on December 12th, 2025. “As graduates of USNTPS, you are now part of an elite group of professionals who play a vital role in...
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Maryland Transportation Authority Board to Vote on Recommended Preferred Alternative for Future Chesapeake Bay Crossing

The Maryland Transportation Authority Board will vote on Thursday, December 18, at 9 a.m. on a recommended preferred alternative for the Chesapeake Bay Crossing Study: Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act. Noted as “Alternative C,” the staff recommendation includes the construction of two new, four-lane bridge spans; and removal of the existing Bay Bridge...
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