2022: A Year in Review

Anne Colt Leitess

State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County

Photo: Rick Hutzell

Greetings

As 2022 has ended and we begin 2023, I would like to recognize the hardworking and dedicated employees of the Office of the State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County. Following the courts’ resumption of normal operations, the office jumped back into a full schedule with many jury trials and hearings to resolve cases that had been temporarily put on hold. I am so fortunate to head an office with dedicated staff who serve the residents of Anne Arundel County who are impacted by crime with professionalism and concern. Our team is committed to justice – for all.

In the courtroom, our prosecutors have handled many serious criminal and traffic cases. In December 2022 Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Steinhardt and Carolynn Grammas led the prosecution of Angelo Harrod who was found guilty of first degree murder in the death of Michelle Cummings. Cummings, who was in town celebrating the induction of her son, Trey, into the U.S. Naval Academy, was struck by a stray bullet while sitting on the patio of a local hotel with her husband and friends. The defendant was also found guilty of attempted first degree murder of two young people who were returning home from a date.

I am grateful that we were able to hold the defendant accountable for this devastating tragedy. It’s important that we don’t become desensitized to the loss of lives through gun violence and work toward reducing the use of guns to solve minor conflicts in our society.

Enclosed in this year’s review, you’ll read my statement regarding the guilty verdict in the Angelo Harrod case, learn more about some of our successful prosecutions, the Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project, view photos from National Night Out and other community outreach events.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Anne Arundel County as State’s Attorney, having been unopposed in the 2022 election, and starting my 30th year as a prosecutor in our county. I will always remain dedicated to fairness, ethics, and upholding the law while seeking justice on behalf of victims of crime and keeping our wonderful county a safer place to live and work.

I wish everyone a peaceful and prosperous 2023!

Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess Receives Anti-Defamation League’s 2022 SHIELD Award

State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess and the Office of the State’s Attorney were honored on June 22, 2022 at the National Press Club with the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) SHIELD Award for her successful prosecution of Joseph Leissler, the leader of the Aryan Brotherhood in Maryland. A jury found Leissler, who was incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, guilty of ordering the 2016 murder of inmate John O’Sullivan, an elder in a rival gang. In August 2021, Leissler was convicted on all counts including supervising a criminal gang, participation in a criminal gang resulting in death and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. He was sentenced to life without parole.

The lead investigator in the case, Sergeant Christopher Taylor (Maryland State Police) and former Anne Arundel County Assistant State’s Attorneys Samantha Mildenberg and Judge Theresa Morse were also recognized for their contributions which lead to a guilty plea for one co-defendant and the cooperation of another former gang member who testified at trial. In 2020, Ms. Leitess tried two of the three gang members who carried out Leissler’s orders to murder O’Sullivan. She then prosecuted Leissler the next year.

“I would like to thank the AntiDefamation League for this distinguished honor,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “As a prosecutor, I pursue justice without partiality or prejudice for all victims of crime. In this instance, Mr. O’Sullivan was a victim of retaliatory gang violence, despite his attempt to keep the peace in this case. This investigation and prosecution had a significant impact in dismantling the gang’s organization, whose foundation is built on bias and bigotry against other races. I am grateful for the work of Sgt. Taylor, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional ServicesIntelligence and Investigative Division, which investigates criminal activity within Maryland’s prisons. I also thank Ms. Mildenberg and Judge Morse for their work which contributed to the successful outcome of these cases.”

The ADL Washington, DC Regional Office (serving DC/VA/MD/NC) created the SHIELD Awards in 2010 to annually honor law enforcement professionals. The awards recognizes individuals, agencies, task forces and teams for successful investigations and prosecutions which have prevented and responded to hate crimes, domestic and international terrorism, genocide and war crimes.

About the Anti-Defamation League (ADL): ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.

State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess Announces Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project

Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess was pleased to announce the formation of the Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project. The project’s goal is to help at-risk youth enrolled in Anne Arundel County schools avoid involvement in the juvenile justice system. The innovative, smart prosecution program is funded by a grant awarded to the State’s Attorney’s Office by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Through early intervention, the State’s Attorney’s Office will work with Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to assist youth suspended from school reduce their risk of becoming involved in criminal activity. The DOJ grant provides funding for a licensed clinical social worker to assist youth that AACPS identified as being on extended suspension. The State’s Attorney’s Office will also provide an additional staff member to assist with the project. Those individuals will receive one-on-one assistance to enroll in counseling and treatment. Currently, counselors are not assigned to youth on extended suspension, leaving them and their families

largely on their own to get needed help and navigate their way back to school.

“Our hope is that the Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project will help young people at a crossroads or on the verge of crisis to avoid becoming a part of the juvenile justice system. This project will support them during a critical period in their lives before it is too late. We don’t want youth committing crime; we want them in school learning to live productive lives in our community,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “Studies have found that collaborative, holistic interventions such as this are the most effective means to reduce recidivism and prevent delinquency. We will use a licensed clinical social worker to connect families with the vital mental health, addiction, trauma and family counseling services they may need. We recognize that if things are going poorly in school and a child is being suspended, then that is a clear signal that intervention is needed now. Our goal is to assist young people before their behavior escalates further. The LCSW will help them access community resources and treatment options so that young people can return to school

and avoid becoming a part of the juvenile justice system. I am grateful that the AACPS is a partner in this endeavor.”

More specifically, this program will identify students in grades six through nine who may benefit from intervention services by providing counseling and mentorship, connecting them to holistic services such as the Anne Arundel County School’s behavioral support services, mental health or drug evaluations and treatment, and trauma informed therapy. The program will assist at least 20 students per month and will report its efforts and progress to the DOJ.

“It is my hope that this two-year project will redirect the trajectory of delinquency of as many young people as we can,” adds State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

“Collectively, and with the proper tools, we can identify at-risk youth and provide them with much needed counseling. By implementing early intervention tools, we will help them from being expelled from school or reoffending.”

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance funded this project under award number 15PBJA-21-GG-03881SMTP.

Statement from State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess on the Verdict in the State of Maryland v. Angelo Harrod

What happened to Michelle Cummings, an innocent victim, can happen to any one of us in today’s climate where guns are used to settle petty disputes and terrorize communities into silence with the no snitching culture.

Angelo Harrod was found guilty of two counts of Attempted 1st Degree murder for trying to kill two young people who were on their way home from a date—unleashing a hail of bullets into their car while they cowered inside of it. One of those bullets travelled past them and killed an innocent wife and mother who was in town to celebrate her son’s induction into the U.S. naval academy.

Harrod was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and Conspiracy in the killing of Michelle Cummings and will face up to life in prison without parole as well as up to four additional life sentences when he is sentenced in February.

Fortunately, and despite many uncooperative witnesses who think removing a killer from the street is a bad thing—the Annapolis Police Department and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office worked tirelessly to locate, investigate and prosecute the defendant.

I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Steinhardt and Carolynn Grammas who dedicated countless hours of trial preparation to successfully prosecute this case as well as the amazing police work by Annapolis Police Department, and lead Detective Aaron Stein. The State’s Attorney’s office is also fortunate to have John Foster, our Demonstrative Evidence Specialist who assisted police and prosecutors in assembling and presenting all of the video, audio and photographic evidence to the jury throughout the trial. In addition, I thank the FBI for their expert witness assistance as they provided us with ballistics and bullet trajectory analysis in this matter.

Today, justice has been served with this conviction and I hope that the Cummings family and the two surviving victims receive some peace of mind with today’s verdict.

Commitment to Justice

Convicted Felon Receives Life Plus 45 Years in Retrial in Murder of Former Federal Protective Services Officer

William McDonald, 41, of Glen Burnie was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 45 years for the first degree felony murder of Benjamin Curtis, a former federal protective services officer, two counts of armed robbery, use of a handgun in a crime of violence and possession of a regulated firearm after a conviction for a crime of violence. A jury found the defendant guilty of all the charges on October 28, 2021.

“Justice for the family and friends of Mr. Curtis was a long time coming. Initially, this was a cold case for many years and then once it was charged, had a number of challenges including a mistrial, and later being overturned on appeal due to a procedural error. The case was retried last year and a jury found the defendant guilty of all charges,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess,” This outcome reflects our dedication to getting justice for victims regardless of the passing of time and the difficulties that come with handling complicated cases.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Poma prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

MS-13 Gang Member Receives 30 Years for Second Degree Murder

Cristian Pleitez-Tejada, 23, of Edgewater was sentenced to 30 years of active incarceration for the second degree murder of Jose Salvador Mancia Aguilar.

The defendant entered a guilty plea on October 14, 2021.

“The defendant had an ongoing disagreement with the victim and sought him out at a local restaurant to attack him, unprovoked and without warning. He then fled the state so he wouldn’t be caught. I am grateful that the judge recognized the defendant’s dangerousness as a verified gang member, and sentenced him to the maximum sentence for this crime,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “It’s my hope that this outcome provides the victim’s family and friends some peace as they have suffered a terrible loss.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Glen Neubauer and Brian Pritchard prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Glen Burnie Man Receives Life Suspend All But 50 Years for Attempted First Degree Murder

Gerald Haigis, 47, of Glen Burnie was sentenced to life suspend all but 50 years of active incarceration for attempted first degree murder, armed carjacking, armed robbery and first degree assault.

A jury found the defendant guilty of the charges on October 7, 2021.

“Having to relive such a horrific incident is never an easy thing to do and it’s because of the victims’ strength that the defendant was held accountable and will spend decades in prison where he won’t be able to hurt anyone else. I hope this sentence provides him with a sense of solace as he continues to heal from such a vicious assault and robbery,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

Assistant State’s Attorney Carolynn Grammas prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Commitment to Justice

Convicted Felon Receives 45 Years for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Mark Thoms, 41, pled guilty and was sentenced to 45 years of active incarceration for one count of sex abuse of a minor and one count of sex abuse of a minor, a continuing course of conduct. This sentence will run concurrent with the former Mary Moss employees’ 30-year sentence from 2021 in which he pled guilty to sex abuse of a minor student. Another sentence of 10 years of active incarceration for two cases in 2020 for second degree assault, sex abuse of a minor and third degree sexual assault will also run concurrent.

“In every facet of his life, the defendant used his power and proximity to the minor victims to sexually abuse them and sadly, no spaces or places where minor victims were located was off limits to the defendant,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “As this case concludes and the victims continue to heal from this disturbing abuse, it’s my hope that this additional sentence - coupled with professional resources and support from family and friends –will provide them with some peace. The defendant is no longer a threat to the public safety and I believe he will never be released from prison now with this additional sentence.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Maria Stamidis prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Baltimore Man Receives Maximum Sentence for Felony

First Degree Assault

Dareius Washington, 33, of Baltimore was sentenced to 25 years of active incarceration for one count of felony first degree assault.

The defendant entered a guilty plea on November 3, 2021

“This was truly a vicious attack. The defendant brutally assaulted the victim and then robbed him,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “I hope that the victim is able to fully recover from these serious injuries and I am grateful that the defendant was held fully accountable and received the maximum sentence for his senseless crimes.”

Assistant State’s Attornney Jaymi Sterling prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Repeat Offender Receives 25 Years for Distribution of Fentanyl, Illegal Gun Possession

Purnell Summerville, 40, was sentenced to 25 years of active incarceration for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. This case is the defendant’s fourth felony drug conviction and third conviction for a case involving a firearm.

Summerville entered a guilty plea on April 15, 2022.

“The defendant is a convicted felon who repeatedly sold a deadly substance that ruined lives in our community. He didn’t care about the impact that this drug has on our residents. With this sentence, the defendant will be accountable for his continued endangerment of others,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “If you suffer from addiction, please know there is help available. Please visit the Anne Arundel County Health Department  website or call at 410-222-7256 for Safe Station locations and recovery resources.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Marot Williamson prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Commitment to Justice

Judge Sentences Defendant to Life Suspend All But 60 Years for First Degree Murder in Unprovoked Fatal Attack

Inari Molina, 27, was sentenced to life suspend all but 60 years for one count of first degree murder in the death of Brian Gifford.

The defendant entered a guilty plea on May 19, 2022.

“The victim, Mr. Gifford, was sitting in his truck when the defendant opened his truck door apparently to look for valuables inside. When she encountered Mr. Giffords, instead of abandoning her plan to commit a theft, she chose to viciously attack him and stabbed him 36 times. This was an unprovoked attack as the individuals were neither acquaintances or knew each other,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “Mr. Gifford’s life was senselessly taken from him leaving a huge hole in the lives of those who loved him dearly. We hope the sentence imposed today will provide some level of comfort to his family.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Glen Neubauer and Rashad Wright prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Family Acquaintance Sentenced to 36 Years for Sexually Abusing a Minor

Hector Rojo, 27, of Alexandria, Virginia was sentenced to 36 years of active incarceration for one count of sex abuse of a minor, two counts of second degree rape and other lesser charges.

A jury found the defendant guilty of the charges on June 17, 2022

“As adults, we have to be very cautious of individuals we bring into our homes and allow around children. We must also tell kids that they are in charge of their bodies so that they know when predatory adults are attempting to exploit them. Encouraging children to tell a trusted adult when something doesn’t seem right is the best way to protect our children from this kind of abuse,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “Reporting abuse is never easy and is even more confusing to a child when the perpetrator is someone they know. It’s because of the bravery of this child, first in telling her parents, and then later by testifying in court, that this defendant will be serving a lengthy prison sentence. If you know someone who is a victim of sexual abuse, please encourage them to tell someone or call the Sexual Assault Crisis Center and Hotline at 410-222-6800.”

Prosecutors Maria Stamidis and Anastassia Prigge prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Glen Burnie Man Sentence to 22 Years for Second Degree Murder

Israel Thompson,19, of Glen Burnie was sentenced to 22 years of active incarceration with the first five years to be served without parole and five years’ supervised probation upon his release in the shooting death of Marc Hill, 25.

The defendant pled guilty to second degree murder and use of a firearm in a crime of violence on April 28, 2022 and was sentenced on June 10, 2022.

“Following a brief physical altercation between them, the defendant decided to shoot the victim in retaliation and then stole a nearby vehicle in an effort to flee the scene,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “I’m relieved that the defendant is no longer on the streets and is being held accountable for his actions. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Mr Hill.”

Assistant State’s Attorney April Skrenczuk prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Commitment to Justice

Annapolis Man Receives 15 Years for Fleeing Scene of Accident and Assaulting Anne Arundel County Police Officers, Additional Charges

Brandon Hardy, 26, of Annapolis was sentenced to 15 years of active incarceration and is subject to an additional five years which were suspended for 13 charges including two counts of second degree assault against Anne Arundel County Police Officers Saifedlin Hussain and James Yee as well as a litany of felony drug charges for possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.

The defendant is subject to an additional five years of incarceration if he violates probation.

A jury found the defendant guilty of the charges on July 7, 2022.

“With this sentence, the defendant will be spending many years in prison and will no longer be a danger to law enforcement officers or our community,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “I would like to thank Officer Hussain and Yee for their dedication to keeping our streets safe and grateful that no one was severely injured during this incident.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Marot Williamson prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Intoxicated and Distracted Driver Receives 20 Years in Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Guarav “Sonny” Rawal, 38, owner of Champs Pizza in Glen Burnie was sentenced to 20 years of active incarceration for negligent manslaughter and failing to remain at the scene of a collision involving in the death of Anthony Jean-Louis, 37. Rawal was sentenced as a subsequent offender, having two prior driving while impaired cases in 2012 and 2018. The defendant was intoxicated at the time of the crash, was using the app Snapchat on his phone while driving at an excessive speed, 110 mph, when he slammed into the back of the victim’s car causing him to lose control, overturn and crash into a nearby guardrail.

The defendant entered a guilty plea on December 16, 2021.

“The defendant’s reckless disregard for others is evident by his actions throughout this crime from the level of intoxication, to the excessive speeding, to the use of his cell phone and then leaving the scene of a fatal crash. The most appropriate sentence for this defendant is his removal from our community to protect others,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “Mr. Jean-Louis was senselessly killed by an out of control driver and his family has suffered from this unimaginable event.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Carolynn Grammas prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Great Uncle Receives 18 Years for Sexual Abuse of Niece

Dennis Moreno,55, of Norwalk, Calif. entered an Alford plea to one count of sex abuse of a minor and was sentenced to 18 years of active incarceration on March 24, 2022.

“It’s beyond devastating that a child’s great uncle would not only abuse his own niece, but also that he was given this kind of access to her despite their extended family’s knowledge of his history of abusing another child in the family. Instead of reporting him perhaps preventing the abuse of this victim, the defendant’s family looked the other way,” said State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess. “The victim, now a teenager, lived with this pain for years as the defendant exploited and abused her as he had done to her older cousin. It is because of her remarkable strength in coming forward, that the defendant will finally be held accountable for his despicable actions. This victim, and her cousin, now 32 years old, both suffered from the inaction of people who stood silent and did nothing to protect them.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Maria Stamidis prosecuted this case on behalf of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

Community Engagement

Three Assistant State’s Attorneys from our office attended the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association's DUI Institute in College Park

Five

Deputy State’s Attorney Brian Marsh and State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess attended the Protecting Places Worship Forum coordinated by the U.S. Department of JusticeCommunity Relations Service and hosted by the Caucus of African Americans

Howard County Deputy State’s Attorney Josh Felsen (R) and Anne Arundel County Deputy State’s Attorney Brian Marsh led important trainings for all District Court Commissioners

National Crime Victims' Rights Week Awards Ceremony recognizing the selfless actions of the honorees and members of various law enforcement agencies who responded during the Capital Gazette shooting

Assistant State's Attorneys and the 94th recruit class at the Anne Arundel County Police Academy concluded the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Training

State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess spoke at Old Mill High School law panel.

Community Engagement: National Night Out 2022

The Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office participated in National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. Members of the SAO were located throughout the county in four locations: Crofton, Earleigh Heights, Shadyside and Brooklyn Park.

(L to R): Brian Marsh, Deputy State’s Attorney; Anne Colt Leitess, State’s Attorney; Jason Steinhardt, Assistant State’s Attorney

Casey Hall, Assistant Director of Victim/Witness Services

Sharon Jones and “Mayor of Shadyside” Mohan Grover

( L to R): Lakeisha Keyes, Victim/Witness Advocate; Ann Potthast, Assistant State’s Attorney; Bria Sykes, Body Worn Camera Unit

(L to R): Emily Morgan and Courtney Holmes

(L to R): Olivia Ayd, Summer Law Clerk; Chanese Doyle, Body Worn Camera Unit; Melanie McConnell, Body Worn Camera Unit; Niria Jean-Louis, Victim/Witness Advocate