Two involve sexual offenses against minors.
Frederick, Md (KM) Two cases involving sexual offenses against minors came before the Frederick County Grand Jury on Friday. Paul Bradshaw Harrington, 24, of Center Valley, Pa. is charged with three counts of sexual solicitation of a minor. “This was an undercover operation. The defendant traveled down from Allentown, Pa. to have sex with who he thought was a 13-year-old,”: says State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. “Of course, that’s not the case, and the police picked him up.” Harrington was arrested on August 12th, 2019.
In another case, William Geraldo Chancon-Dimas, 28, of Frederick, was charged by Grand Jurors with two counts of 2nd-degree rape, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. Smith says it was for several incidents which occurred between May 1st and July 27th of this year. “Unfortunately, this was a 12-year-old girl; occurred over a course of months. Obviously, a really disturbing case. We hate to see that kind of stuff at all,” he says.
In a related case, Luis Emilio Ruiz, 21, of Woodsboro was indicated for nine counts each of promotion and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography for incidents which occurred between December 6th, 2018 and August 8th, 2019. “This was the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office’s Cyber Crimes Task Force case,” says Smith. “So he was distributing via cellphone via Tumbl app.”
The Grand Jury also returns indictments on drug cases. On Friday, the panel indicted Shelby Leigh O’Donnell, 18, of RIdgely, Maryland, and Andrew Tyler Lewis, 20, of Goldsboro,Maryland. Both are co-defendants charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute THC; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute THC and possession of THC. “This was marijuana, but they found 5,000 THC cartridges with a street value of about $300,000. So obviously not stuff they would use for personal consumption,” says Smith. “These cartridges are used a lot to vape.”
Smith says police also found six pounds of marijuana with a street value of $6,000 when O’Donnell and Lewis were arrested on July 17th.
Another drug case involved Franklin William Randolph, 50, of Frederick, whose charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of paraphernalia. “This is a felony cocaine case occurring over on Maple Street in Frederick,” says Smith. “130 grams of cocaine were seized, along with a bunch of scales and currency, and paraphernalia.” Randolph was arrested on July 30th, 2019.
Grand Jurors also indicted Wilbur Herrera- Hernandez, 32, of Frederick for 1st-degree assault and 2nd-degree assault. “The defendant strangled his girlfriend up against a wall in front of their children,” says Smith. “No less then the point she lost consciousness. Sad to be a domestic violence; super sad when you do it front of small children.” The incident occurred on July 6th, 2-19.
Other indictments returned by the Grand Jury on Friday:
*Timajae Terrelle Thomas, 18, of Frederick, whose charged with 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault, concealing a dangerous weapon, resisting and interfering with an arrest, and attempting to elude police by fleeing on foot, for an offense which occurred on July 28th, 2019.
* Dominic Spencer, 43, of Baltimore, Md., whose charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute more than 10 grams of marijuana,for an offense which occurred on July 29th, 2019.
* Hunter R. Russell, 21, of Shanks, WV, whose charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, possession of drug administrative equipment (hypodermic needle) possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of fentanyl and possession of buprenorphine hydrochloride, for an offense which occurred on July 2nd, 2019.
* Matthew Steven Bishop, 34, of Poolesville, Md., whose charged with possession for methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine for an offense which occurred on August 1st, 2019.
Smith says these indictments move these cases to the Circuit Court where a trial date will be scheduled. He notes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
He also says this was final day of the February Grand Jury. Smith thanked the members of this Grand Jury for their work over the past six months. . He says citizens will be chosen for the September Grand Jury which, like the February Grand Jurors, will meet every other Friday to review cases, and make their determinations on whether or not to indict a defendant.
By Kevin McManus