Tag Archives: child abuse

EDGEWOOD MAN CONVICTED OF SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR

Date: June 5, 2025
Re: State of Maryland v. Harold Ferguson

On June 5, 2025, Harold Ferguson,49, of Edgewood, was convicted of three counts of Sex Abuse of a Minor following a four-day criminal jury trial before the Honorable Alex M. Allman in the Circuit Court for Harford County. This comes after two previous mistrials resulting in hung juries. This conviction also follows a contentious motions hearing between the parties on a Motion for Other Sexually Assaultive Behavior Evidence.

Evidence presented at trial proved that between August 2004 and August 2008, Ferguson sexually abused his then minor stepdaughter almost every day in the family home in Edgewood, Maryland. The abuse began when the minor victim was just six years old when the family lived in Baltimore City and continued until she was a senior in high school. When the family moved to Harford County, the minor child would be home alone with the Defendant, and he would sexually abuse her in the basement while none of the other family members were home. Evidence was further presented proving that the Defendant would punish the victim when she refused his advances by taking away her possessions and the door to her bedroom.

Detective Horner, of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, testified about the investigation and the individuals he interviewed. He advised the jury that he interviewed the victim’s boyfriend in 2021 who told him that he had had a threesome with the Defendant and the victim when they were around the age of sixteen. Detective Horner’s interview of the boyfriend’s statement was played for the members of the jury when he told the Detective he had observed the victim performing oral sex on the Defendant in the basement of the family’s home. Detective Horner testified that he also interviewed the victim’s mother, who was cold and distant. She failed to return for a follow-up interview with him concerning the abuse of her own child.

The victim also testified, stating that everything came to a head one day when she refused the Defendant’s advances, and a physical fight occurred between them involving mace. The victim further advised that the family then headed to a friend’s home in Baltimore City for the minor victim to confide in her mother as to what had been occurring. Testimony was taken from an individual who was present in the home when the victim disclosed the abuse to her mother and testified that the victim’s mother did not call 911, did not take the child to the hospital, and did not console the child. Testimony also revealed that after the family fight, the victim’s mother had her confront the Defendant and he told the mother, “She came on to me.”
The victim’s mother testified on behalf of the Defense, testifying that she did not recall a fight occurring at the family home. On rebuttal, the State played the interview of the Defendant where he told Detective Horner there was a physical altercation between himself, the victim, and her mother.

Following the conviction, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey stated: “Delayed report cases are some of the toughest cases we try. I commend Assistant State’s Attorney Becky Malkowski for her perseverance and determination in this case. She never gave up, and she truly is a champion for child sexual abuse victims. Her determination, along with the work of all the dedicated staff of the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, ensured that justice was served today and that a predator will no longer be in a position to victimize another child.”

State’s Attorney Healey also thanks Detective Robert Horner, Forensic Interviewer Alethea Miller, and victim advocates Brenda Leard and Chris Taylor from the Harford County Child Advocacy Center for their hard work and dedication to this case.

CHILD ABUSE CONVICTION FOLLOWING THREE-DAY JURY TRIAL

Date: March 3, 2025
Re: State v. Douglas Grazuties

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Douglas Grazuties, 36, of Middle River, was found guilty of Second Degree Child Abuse, two counts of Second Degree Assault, and two counts of Reckless Endangerment following a three-day jury trial before the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Evidence presented in trial proved that on January 10, 2024, Child Protective Services was dispatched to a residence in Abingdon, Maryland regarding a safety concern pertaining to two minor children. Upon arrival, both children disclosed to Child Protective Services that Douglas Grazuties, their stepfather, physically harmed them almost every day. One of the child victims disclosed that Grazuties slapped them on the side of their heads, punched them in their faces and chests, and tripped them if they ran from him. They also indicated that in the past Grazuties struck them in the face, causing their noses to bleed, including an incident on one of the victim’s 7th birthday. The victim went on to advise that on January 9, 2024, the victim was playing with their sister in their bedroom when she put a toy in her mouth. Grazuties saw this and put a toy in one of the victim’s mouths, pushing the toy in with his fingers while saying “how does it feel to choke on something?” The defendant did this because he was angry that the victim was not watching his little sister when she began to chew on the toy.

The victim also reported to Child Protective Services that he was bleeding out of his ear during the interview. He further advised that on January 8, 2024, Grazuties asked him about his day and proceeded to hit him in his ear when he did not answer. The victim was later taken to Express Care, followed by the Upper Chesapeake Emergency Room by Child Protective Services on January 10, 2024, and was diagnosed with perforation of the tympanic membrane of his right ear. Doctors advised that there was a high risk of hearing loss associated with the injury without treatment. The other child victim was also seen at Express Care on January 10, 2024. He was also diagnosed with marginal perforations of tympanic membrane consistent with the abuse they reported. Child Protective Services also noticed bruising and redness on both victim’s faces and chests during their interviews. Following the conviction, the Defendant was taken to the Harford County Detention Center where he will remain pending sentencing which is currently scheduled for May 22, 2025.

After the verdict, State’s Attorney Healey issued the following statement: “Working with victims of child abuse is an incredibly challenging and sensitive area of the law. We are lucky to have one of the best Child Advocacy Centers in the State of Maryland, filled with professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping children. I commend these children for their bravery and honesty in coming forward and reliving their traumas, which ultimately led to the conviction in this case. I hope this verdict will result in a more peaceful future for both victims.”

State’s Attorney Healey also expresses her gratitude to Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Earlbeck, as well as the detectives, support staff, advocates, and social workers of the Harford County Child Advocacy Center that work tirelessly everyday to ensure the safety of Harford County’s most vulnerable victims.

TWO SENTENCED IN FELONY CHILD ABUSE CASE

DATE: December 16, 2024
RE: State v. Seth Slaseman and Jane Harrison

On Monday, June 17, 2024, Seth Slaseman and Jane Harrison pled guilty to First Degree Child Abuse before the Honorable Judge Mickey Norman in the Circuit Court for Harford County. Harrison was sentenced that day to twenty years suspending all but fifteen years to serve. On Monday, December 16, 2024, Slaseman was sentenced, also receiving twenty years suspending all but fifteen years to serve.

Facts presented in support of the plea showed that on January 2, 2020, a seven-month-old child was taken to Johns Hopkins in cardiac arrest. The child was suffering from severe malnutrition, weighing less than eight pounds. Authorities immediately began an investigation focusing on the birth parents, Seth Slaseman and Jane Harrison. Doctors kept the child at the hospital and determined that the child was not given adequate access to food. In less than four weeks, the child gained three pounds with regular and appropriate nutrition. After a series of delays in the case, several attributable to COVID and at least one due to each defendant’s failure to appear, both defendants entered guilty pleas to First Degree Child Abuse. The victim’s adoptive mother was present at both sentencing hearings and provided a statement to the Court, noting that the child who has now been entrusted to her care is thriving and is a light in her family’s life.

Following the sentencing, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following comment: “I’m thankful today that this story has a happy ending, an ending where this innocent child is thriving, loved, and no longer suffering at the hands of her abusers. All the work we do is important, but in cases such as this, it is truly life changing. I’m so grateful for the incredible team of medical personnel, law enforcement, advocates, and prosecutors who stepped in to fight for this child and to ensure her safety, health, and growth moving forward.”

State’s Attorney Healey further expressed her gratitude to Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Allen and Becky Malkowski for their tireless efforts in seeking justice for this child. She also thanks Harford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Dix, Department of Social Services Worker Kansler, and all of the dedicated staff of the Harford County Child Advocacy Center for the incredible work they do each day to protect our county’s most vulnerable victims, our children.