Tag Archives: DUI

911 DISPATCHER SENTENCED IN DUI

Date: April 16, 2026
Re: State v. Nadene Smith

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Nadene Letonya Smith, 42, of Reisterstown, entered into a plea agreement and was found guilty of Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol and Fleeing and Eluding by Failing to Stop before the Honorable Judge Donald Walter in the District Court for Harford County. At that time, sentencing was postponed at the request of the Defense and was scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The facts presented in support of the plea proved that on November 16, 2025, deputies of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office observed a dark colored SUV traveling east on Philadelphia Road, driving over the double solid yellow lines and ultimately reversing in the middle of a roundabout after traveling in the wrong direction. Deputy Kanner positioned himself behind the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. However, the vehicle continued to drive through the center of the roundabout. A pursuit was initiated as the vehicle continued down Philadelphia Road, into another roundabout, lost control, traveled off the roadway, and came to rest in a grassy area, disabling the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as the Defendant, Nadene Smith. Smith was ordered to exit the vehicle, and Deputies observed her stumbling and falling upon her exit prior to being detained. Deputies further observed the Defendant’s eyes red and glassy and her speech slurred. When asked where she was coming from, the Defendant originally declined to answer but eventually did state that she was a 911 dispatcher coming from a co-worker’s bonfire where she consumed two drinks that were 16% Alcohol by Volume. Smith consented to standardized field sobriety testing, where multiple observations indicated impairment. Following these tests, Smith refused to submit to a breath test to measure her blood alcohol levels. As a result of her standardized field sobriety testing and the observations of Deputies, she was placed under arrest. Following her arrest, Smith became belligerent with the Deputies, all of which was captured on the in-car camera footage during the arrest.

Due to the egregious nature of the Defendant’s conduct, including but not limited to her driving, failure to stop, impairment by alcohol, and her behavior during and after arrest, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney highlighted these as aggravating factors and advocated for incarceration despite the Defendant’s lack of record and this being her first offense. The Honorable Judge Donald Walter agreed and imposed a sentence of two (2) years, all suspended but forty-five (45) days to serve.

State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement at the conclusion of the hearing: “Driving Under the Influence is a criminal offense that puts innocent victims at risk and one that my office always takes seriously. Some, but not all, first-time offenses result in probationary findings with conditions for treatment. However, when you couple that dangerous behavior with fleeing and eluding and mistreatment and threats directed toward our county’s law enforcement, incarceration becomes the only acceptable consequence, despite the Defendant’s lack of record. The Defendant’s behavior in this case was egregious, and we are grateful that Judge Walter agreed with us in imposing his sentence. I also thank Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Moloney for her pursuit of justice and advocacy in this case and extend my sincere gratitude to our incredible law enforcement who put their lives on the line each day to protect the citizens of this county and show enormous levels of professionalism when dealing with the challenges of criminal behavior on our streets.”

MAXIMUM SENTENCE IN NEGLIGENT MANSLAUGHTER CASE

Date: May 30, 2025
Re: State v. Jared Anzelc and Shanna Anzelc

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Jared and Shanna Anzelc were sentenced in the Circuit Court for Harford County before the Honorable Judge Alex Allman following their prior guilty pleas in relation to a 2023 Driving Under the Influence incident resulting in the death of eighty-year-old Monkton woman.

Evidence presented in support of those guilty pleas proved that on May 7, 2023, after playing a round of golf at the Mountain Branch Golf Club, Jared Anzelc consumed alcohol at the bar despite being on probation for a 2022 conviction for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and being ordered to abstain from the consumption of any alcohol. After several hours of drinking, Jared called his wife, Shanna, and asked her to come to the golf club. When she arrived, Shanna blew into the interlock system installed on Jared’s vehicle, and he drove off while Shanna followed behind. Approximately 16.9 miles from the golf club, while traveling north on Norrisville Road near the intersection of White Hall Road, Jared crossed over the double yellow line, into the southbound lane. The victim was traveling in the southbound lane, and when she saw Jared’s vehicle heading towards her, she swerved into the northbound lane. Jared swerved in the same direction, causing a head on collision. The victim was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, having sustained life-threatening injuries. She later succumbed to those injuries on May 10, 2023.

The victim’s family and friends were present in court for the sentencing hearings and gave emotional and moving victim impact statements both expressing to the court the impact of this tragedy, but also beautifully honoring her life. Ultimately, Judge Allman sentenced Jared Anzelc to the maximum sentence allowable by law for the Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle charge, fifteen years to serve, as well as an additional two years suspended for the DUI Per Se. Following his release, he will be subject to a five-year period of supervised probation. Additionally, Shanna Anzelc was sentenced to ten years, suspending all but three years to serve for Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, acting as an Accessory Before the Fact. She will also be subject to a period of three years of supervised probation upon release.

Following the sentencing State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey, commented: “This loss of life was a completely preventable and a senseless tragedy. Jared and Shanna Anzelc’s blatant disregard for the law and the lives of others on the road were deserving of these serious consequences. It is my hope that the finality of this sentencing can give this victim’s family a sense of closure after a long and tragic chapter of their lives.”

State’s Attorney Healey would like to express her sincere appreciation for Assistant State’s Attorney Megan Lintott for her unwavering commitment to justice in this case. Her fortitude throughout every step of this case ensured that this maximum sentence was achieved and Harford County citizens are safer with these Defendants off our roads. Ms. Healey also commends the Victim Witness Unit of the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, who worked closely with this family throughout the court process and is invaluable in supporting victims in these life altering events. Finally, she thanks Trooper Allen of the Maryland State Police for his investigation and Sgt. Rumaker for his efforts in accident reconstruction that was a vital piece of evidence in the prosecution of these cases.