Tag Archives: robbery

ABERDEEN MAN SENTENCED AFTER CONVICTION IN 2024 ARMED CARJACKING

Date: July 16, 2025
RE: State v. Michael Moore

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Michael Moore, 33, of Aberdeen, Maryland, was sentenced following a three-day jury trial in March 2025. The trial resulted in a swift verdict: the jury found Moore guilty of Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, and multiple related offenses after only 40 minutes of deliberation.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on February 16, 2024, the Aberdeen Police Department responded to a report of an armed carjacking and robbery in the 700 block of West Bel Air Avenue. The two victims were approached by two armed suspects. During the encounter, one of the victims sustained injuries to their face. A subsequent investigation led to the identification of Michael Moore as one of the suspects. The second suspect remains unknown. Continued investigation also recovered the 9mm ghost handgun used in this incident.

On July 16, 2025, Moore appeared before the Honorable Judge Kevin J. Mahoney for sentencing. Judge Mahoney imposed a sentence of 30 years to serve for Armed Carjacking, 20 years to serve consecutively for Armed Robbery, 20 years to serve concurrently for Armed Robbery, and 20 years, suspending all but five years to serve consecutively for Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence.

In total, Michael Moore was sentenced to 70 years, all suspended but 55 years to serve. Since the crimes are classified as crimes of violence, Moore must serve at least 27 and a half years before he is eligible for his first parole review.

“This case is a strong reminder that violent crime has serious and lasting consequences,” said State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey following sentencing. “Our office remains steadfast in our mission to protect the citizens of Harford County. I want to extend my gratitude to Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Muneses, Detective Helf, and Detective Soto of the Aberdeen Police Department for their exemplary work and commitment to justice in this case.”

HAVRE DE GRACE MAN CONVICTED OF ROBBERY

Date: June 16, 2025
Re: State of Maryland v. Andre James McFarland

On June 9, 2025, Andre James McFarland, 55, of Havre de Grace, was convicted of Robbery, Assault in the 2nd Degree, Theft Less Than $100, Fleeing and Eluding by Vehicle, Fleeing and Eluding by Foot, and Obstructing and Hindering, following a two-day jury trial before the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Evidence presented at trial proved that on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Havre de Grace Officers were dispatched to the Royal Farms located at 803 Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace, Maryland for the report of a fight. As Officers arrived on scene, witnesses pointed to a vehicle that was leaving resulting in officers giving pursuit. The driver of the vehicle was identified as the Defendant, Andre McFarland. McFarland failed to stop and eventually exited his vehicle and fled from the Officers on foot. Further investigation revealed that the entire incident was captured on surveillance videos from inside and outside the Royal Farms. The videos showed McFarland entering the store, walking behind the counter and trying to push past the store clerk. The clerk put her hands up to hold McFarland back, when he grabbed the clerk by the neck and shirt and violently threw her to the ground. At that time, a customer in the store saw the commotion and tried to assist the store clerk and stop McFarland. The Defendant was not deterred and grabbed two packs of Newport 100 cigarettes before exiting the store. The store clerk and the customer followed McFarland outside and pointed Officers to his vehicle. A warrant was obtained, and Officers reported to McFarland’s last known location on December 26, 2024, where he was observed, and attempts were made to take him into custody. McFarland once again fled, requiring pepper spray and taser deployments before ultimately placing him under arrest.

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, McFarland was sentenced to twenty-one (21) years, suspending all but eight (8) years to serve, despite the State’s recommendation for a twenty-five (25) year sentence of active incarceration.

Following the conviction, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey stated: “Once again, our office continues to prove that we will take these cases to trial and hold violent offenders accountable. We will settle for nothing less than Harford County citizens feeling safe in our communities. We will not tolerate offenders placing our citizens in danger or committing violent acts upon them in their place of employment and routine locations like convenience stores. We will continue to request significant sentences to remove these offenders from our streets.”

State’s Attorney Healey commends Assistant State’s Attorney Vincenzo Culotta for his efforts and advocacy in this jury trial. She also expresses her sincere gratitude to the Havre de Grace Police Department and Officer Persuhn for their efforts in the investigation and apprehension of this repeat violent offender.

ABINGDON MAN CONVICTED IN 2024 BEL AIR MURDER

Date: March 21, 2025
Re: State v Angelo Terrell Spencer

On Friday, March 21, 2025, Angelo Terrell Spencer, 25, of Abingdon, pled guilty to First Degree Murder before the Honorable Paul Ishak in the Circuit Court for Harford County. Following the plea, Spencer was sentenced to Life, suspend all but seventy-five (75) years to serve in the Division of Corrections.

Facts presented in support of the plea showed that on February 22, 2024, the Bel Air Police Department was dispatched to a residence for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, Officers located a 73-year-old female victim in the foyer of the residence suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, the victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased while en route to the hospital.

The victim’s granddaughter was on scene and advised her ex-boyfriend, Angelo Terrell Spencer, entered their home and stabbed her grandmother. Members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate Spencer at his home, and he was taken into custody. After being read his Miranda rights, Spencer agreed to speak with Detectives and advised that on the night in question he was texting with the victim’s granddaughter and wanted to see her. He further advised that he went to her home and attempted to get her attention by “crunching branches” near the rear basement door of the residence. When that was unsuccessful, he got back in his vehicle and drove to the Bel Air Home Depot. Upon arrival, he observed a marked police car in the front of the store and waited for it to leave before entering and purchasing a glass cutter, pocketknife, and a pair of gloves. He stated that he then returned to the victim’s residence where he used the pocketknife to cut through a piece of the laminate material that was covering one of the windows of the rear basement door in an effort to gain entry to the residence by sticking his hand through the hole. He discovered, however, that the door was secured by a key lock deadbolt and was unable to unlock the door. Spencer then went around to the front of the residence and knocked on the front door. The victim answered the door and Spencer indicated to her that he was “looking for John.” The victim told him that she did not know anyone by that name, and at that point, Spencer forced himself into the home. Spencer further advised he then stabbed the victim in the shoulder, panicked, and continued to stab her multiple times. The autopsy of the victim revealed twenty-five stab wounds to her neck and upper back area.

Following the incident, Spencer told Detectives that he fled the scene, traveled to Bel Air Middle School to pick up his current girlfriend from work, traveled to H&R Block to get his taxes, and stopped at the Bel Air Safeway to wash his hands, before ultimately collecting his juvenile daughter from daycare and returning home.

Investigators were able to speak with Spencer’s girlfriend who corroborated his version of events following the incident. She further advised that she did not notice anything strange or off about Spencer, except that she found it odd that he called his juvenile son and stated he loved him and cried.

Following the plea, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey issued the following statement: “Angelo Spencer deserves every day of this sentence for the violent, unjustified, and brutal murder of this seventy-three-year-old grandmother. The premeditated steps he took to take her life are incomprehensible. I hope that her family can now have some peace knowing her killer has been held accountable.”

State’s Attorney Healey thanks Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy Brooks for his efforts as her Second Chair in this case. She further expresses gratitude to Detective Corporal Sam Vivino of the Bel Air Police Department for his thorough investigation, as well as the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the apprehension of this Defendant.

EDGEWOOD MAN CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE RAPE, ARMED ROBBERY, AND RELATED CHARGES SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS FIFTY YEARS TO SERVE

UPDATE: On Friday, May 12, 2023, Devon Allen Odell Scott, 40, of Edgewood, Maryland was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Harford County following his February 13, 2023 convictions.

The Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin sentenced Scott to a total sentence of Life plus 50 years to serve. The breakdown of sentencing is reflected as follows:
Count 1: First Degree Rape – Life
Count 3: Armed Robbery – 25 years without parole, consecutive to Count 1;
Count 7: Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence – 20 years, consecutive to Counts
1 and 3, with the 1st 5 years without parole;
Count 8: Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm – 15 years SAB 5 years without parole, consecutive
to Counts 1, 3, and 7;
Count 11: Indecent Exposure – 3 years suspended, consecutive to Counts 1, 3, 7, and 8;
The remaining convictions merged into these convictions and sentences.

Upon release, if that were to occur, Scott will be placed on 5 years of supervised probation with standard conditions, as well as the requirement that he abstain from drugs and alcohol, submit to evaluation, testing and treatment as directed, register as a Tier III sex offender requiring lifetime registration, be supervised by a sexual offender management team, be monitored through global positioning satellite tracking or equivalent technology, participate in a sexual offender treatment program, submit to regular polygraph examinations, and have no contact with the victim in the case.

State’s Attorney Alison Healey requested at the sentencing hearing that the Court impose the maximum penalty allowed by law of Life plus 63 years. After sentencing, State’s Attorney Alison Healey stated, “We argued in sentencing that our community would be in great danger if this violent offender was ever released from commitment again. We are grateful that Judge Adkins-Tobin’s sentence demonstrates her agreement, and this sentence ensures that the citizens of our community will never have to be at risk from this Defendant ever again.”

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February 13, 2023, Devon Allen Odell Scott, 40, of Edgewood, Maryland, was convicted of First Degree Rape, Armed Robbery, First Degree Assault, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Wearing, Carrying or Transporting a Handgun in a Vehicle, False Imprisonment, Indecent Exposure, and Theft: $100 to $1500 following a jury trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office investigated and charged Scott with sexually assaulting the 28-year-old victim after she provided him with a ride from Baltimore to the Edgewood area on August 5, 2019.

The victim testified before the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin that Scott flagged her down for ride in Baltimore, as she stated that she sometimes works as an unlicensed taxi service in her personal vehicle to earn extra money. Throughout the duration of the trip, Scott refused to commit to a specific house number or road, but asked to be taken to the Edgewood area. Upon arrival to Edgewood, Scott instructed the victim to pull over to a secluded road and displayed a gray semi¬automatic handgun telling the victim that he was not going to kill her, but that she was going to perform oral sex on him. He took money from her, as well as her driver’s license, cell phone, and keys. Scott then forced her to perform oral sex on him, placing the gun next to the passenger side door within his reach. Scott also told the victim to “do it right” and hit her in the head and face with his hands. Scott forced the victim to view pornographic videos on the victim’s cell phone during the incident to show her how he wanted the act to be completed and forced her head down. After sexually assaulting the victim, Scott permitted the victim to spit out his pre-ejaculate fluids, which was later collected for DNA evidence. Scott told the victim to wait ten minutes before leaving, and he would throw her belongings at a nearby stop sign. Following a thorough investigation by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Scott was identified by the victim in a photo lineup, as well as by a positive latent fingerprint match from inside of the victim’s vehicle, and DNA evidence recovered from outside of the victim’s vehicle. Scott is further prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior disqualifying convictions in Baltimore City for Armed Robbery and Robbery.

Judge Adkins-Tobin ordered that Scott be continued to be held without bail and will continue to be housed at the Division of Corrections in Jessup following his convictions. Scott faces up to life in prison for First Degree Rape, 25 years for Armed Robbery due to the filing of enhanced penalties, 25 years for First Degree Assault, 20 years for Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence with the first five years being mandatory without the possibility of parole, 5 years for Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm by a Prohibited Person, 3 years for Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun in a Vehicle, and 3 years for Indecent Exposure. The remaining counts will merge into the other counts for purposes of sentencing. Sentencing in this matter will be scheduled for a later date.

Following the verdict, State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey stated, “My office is repeatedly proving to our citizens that we will fulfill our promise to hold violent offenders accountable. We will continue to work vigorously to incarcerate violent predators for as long as possible and remove them from our community. There are not adequate words to express the bravery the victim in this case demonstrated by reporting this horrific crime and testifying at trial in this case.”

Ms. Healey thanks Assistant State’s Attorney Angela Diehl for her hard work and advocacy in the prosecution of this case to obtain justice for the victim. The State’s Attorney’s Office would also like to thank Detective Moro, Detective Wilsynski, Sergeant Dietz, and Deputy First Class Jackson of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation resulting in this sexually violent offender being brought to justice.

South Carolina Man Sentenced to 30 Years For First Degree Assault and Robbery

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: May 16, 2022
RE: Sentencing of Brian Summerson

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the sentencing of Brian Summerson, from Dillon, South Carolina for assault in the first degree and robbery.

On January 8, 2021, Harford County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to Mercy Hospital for the report of an assault that had occurred earlier in Belcamp. Detectives interviewed the victim who indicated that she met a man online and agreed to meet him in Harford County. During the course of their interaction, the suspect strangled the victim and forced her to send him money through Cash App. The victim later provided phone numbers to Detectives and positively identified Brian Summerson through a photo array as her attacker. Detectives further discovered that Mr. Summerson was arrested in Florida after this incident for a similar crime and a Federal warrant had been issued for an alleged kidnapping in Tennessee.

On May 13, 2022, Judge Mahoney sentenced Mr. Summerson to an aggregate 30 years of incarceration to be served at the Department of Corrections. Upon completion of those sentences, the defendant was additionally placed on five years of supervised probation.

“I am very pleased with this outcome,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. “This violent individual deserved nothing less than the significant jail sentence he received for this horrible crime.” Mr. Peisinger further stated: “I certainly hope that the victim can find closure. As this prosecution and sentence shows, we will not waver in our commitment to eradicating brutal and senseless instances of violence such as this to ensure the safety of our communities.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their response and investigation and Assistant State’s Attorneys Cyndi Adkins and Toi Mason for their advocacy that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Summerson.

South Carolina Man Convicted of First Degree assault and Robbery in Harford County

South Carolina Man Convicted of First Degree Assault and Robbery in Harford County

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: March 15, 2022
RE: Conviction of Brian Summerson

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Brian Summerson, from Dillon, South Carolina for assault in the first degree and robbery.

On January 8, 2021, Harford County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to Mercy Hospital for the report of anassault that had occurred earlier in Belcamp. Detectives interviewed the victim who indicated that she met a man online and agreed to meet him in Harford County. During the course of their interaction, the suspect strangled the victim and forced her to send him money through Cash App. The victim later provided phone numbers to Detectives and positively identified Brian Summerson through a photo array as her attacker. Detectives further discovered that Mr. Summerson was arrested in Florida after this incident for a similar crime and a Federal warrant had been issued for an alleged kidnapping in Tennessee.

Mr. Summerson was extradited to Harford County where he stood trial. Following a four-day bench trial in front of the Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney, Mr. Summerson was convicted of assault in the first degree and robbery. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 13, 2022 where he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years incarceration.

“This was a horrible crime that has forever changed the victim’s life and I hope this conviction provides some closure for her,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger, Jr. “As this case confirms, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of justice in Harford County, no matter where the perpetrators are from or where they may go. There is no place other than prison for people who come into our community and commit violent crime.”

Aberdeen Man Convicted of Robbery

DATE: May 28, 2021
RE: Conviction of Wardell Walton

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Wardell Walton, 34, Aberdeen, Maryland, for robbery.

Walton was convicted on April 26, 2021 by way of a guilty plea. The case began when on October 2, 2020, Aberdeen Police Officers responded to a group home and met with the victim who reported that he opened his door to walk to the communal bathroom where he was confronted by Wardell Walton. Walton then forced the victim back into his apartment, punching and striking him repeatedly in the face. Walton attempted to grab the victim’s wallet from his pants, knocking him to the bed, biting his hand, and ripping his pocket. Walton fled with the victim’s wallet, containing $4,700 in cash.

The Honorable Yolanda L. Curtin imposed a total sentence of 15 years suspend all but 8 years incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections. The Defendant will be on three (3) years of supervised probation when he is released.

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Allen who prosecuted this matter and commended the Aberdeen Police Department for their hard work and dedication in conducting the investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Walton.