2023 Report
Anne Colt Leitess State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County
Always, for the people
Greetings
The start of 2023 marked my 30th year as a prosecutor and my fifth year – and second consecutive term – as the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney. I am honored and grateful to have this position and I will continue to seek justice fairly and ethically and keep our community safe from crime. In 2024, I will once again be back in the courtroom prosecuting a crime that has hurt our residents deeply. It is my privilege to advocate on behalf of the people of this great county.
Our prosecutors took on many serious criminal and traffic matters. in 2023. The year began with the sentencing of Angelo Harrod, who was found guilty of 1 st Degree Murder in the shooting death of Naval Academy mother Michelle Cummings, and two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder of two teenagers who were coming home from a date. The Honorable Pamela Alban sentenced Harrod to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole for his crimes. This sentence sends the message that we won’t tolerate this type of violence in our county, and it is my hope that the Cummings family can find peace and closure knowing the perpetrator has been brought to justice.
In this 2023 Report, we take a moment to highlight some of the memorable cases and contributions our office made to the Anne Arundel County community.
I appreciate having the opportunity to serve as the leader of a dynamic team of attorneys, victim witness advocates, case managers, paralegals and investigators who are dedicated to victims of crime. I wish everyone a safe, peaceful and prosperous 2024!
State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess
ANNAPOLIS, MD – An Anne Arundel County judge sentenced Angelo Harrod to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole in the 2021 fatal shooting of Michelle Cummings, the 57-year-old mother of a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman, and a consecutive Life sentence for the attempted murder of two others, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess announced.
“What was supposed to be a celebratory time turned into tragedy for Mrs. Cummings’ family that summer evening,” Leitess said. “Mrs. Cummings was a proud mother and loving wife who was taken away by senseless gunfire. May this prosecution and sentence show there will be no tolerance for these crimes in our county. I pray that the Cummings family will find peace and closure today.”
“The Annapolis Police Department and my Office worked tirelessly to prosecute this defendant. Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Steinhardt and Carolynn Grammas along with the Annapolis Police Department, and lead Detective Aaron Stein were committed to bringing justice for the victims in this case. John Foster, our Demonstrative Evidence Specialist assisted prosecutors in presenting the compelling audio and visual evidence in this case.”
Anne Colt Leitess Sworn in for New Term
as State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County
On January 3, 2023, Anne Colt Leitess was sworn in for a second consecutive term as State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County.
Our mission statement:
The Office of the State’s Attorney is committed to justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and representing the interests of the State of Maryland in court.
AACounty Police Chief Amal Awad at swearing in.
Commitment to Justice
The Cummings family after sentencing for the defendant for the murder of their beloved mother and wife Michelle Cummings, struck by a stray bullet.
Commitment to Justice
Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime in Connection to Theft, Damage of BLM, Pride Flags Outside Church
A Severn man plead guilty to a hate crime in connection to the destruction of Black Lives Matter signs and Pride flags outside the Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church in Odenton.
Michael D. Billups, 29, entered a guilty plea to Defacing Religious Property. He received a three-year suspended sentence with one-year supervised probation, in which he must complete an anti-bias program among other conditions.
“The defendant took it upon himself to destroy signs and flags which the church displayed to promote their message of love an acceptance,” State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said. “I am committed to prosecuting these crimes because hate-based incidents won’t be tolerated in our community.”
Suspended Baltimore Police Officer
Sentenced to 42 Years in Prison for Murder of Teenage Stepson
Suspended Baltimore police Officer Eric Glenn Banks, Jr. was sentenced to 42 years in prison for the murder of his 15-year-old stepson, Dasan “DJ” Jones, as well as trying to disarm law enforcement at the time of his arrest.
Banks entered an Alford plea to Second-Degree Murder and Attempting to Disarm a Police Officer.
“DJ was a promising young man with his whole life ahead of him,” said Leitess. “A rising sophomore at Glen Burnie High School, he was a member of the allcounty orchestra and attended a challenging magnet program which he said ‘made him want to work harder.’ His budding life was taken by his stepfather in a likely selfish effort to punish his estranged wife who was granted a protective order just hours before.”
Brooklyn Park Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Rape, Sex Offense of 14-Year-Old Girl
An Anne Arundel County judge sentenced Terence Green, Jr. to 25 years in prison for the rape and sex offense of a 14-yearold girl in his Brooklyn Park home.
Upon his release, Green is required to register as a lifetime sex offender and will be on five years of supervised probation.
“The Defendant deserves every bit of this sentence for preying upon a young girl who trusted him as a family friend,” said Leitess. “This sentence not only removes the Defendant from our community for the foreseeable future, but ensures he is a registered sex offender for life.”
In just two hours of deliberations, a jury found Green guilty of two counts each of SecondDegree Rape and ThirdDegree Sex Offense.
Commitment to Justice
Washington, D.C. Police Officer
Sentenced to Eighteen Months for Fatal Lothian Crash
Washington, D.C. police officer Austin Kirk Smith was sentenced to 18 Months in jail for two counts of felony vehicular manslaughter in a crash that killed a young couple at a Lothian intersection.
“The reckless manner in which the defendant was driving showed not only a lack of judgment, but a total disregard for human life,” State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said. “Had the defendant been driving even close to the speed limit, this tragedy could have been avoided.
“This sentence sets the example that anyone who commits such an irresponsible act will be held accountable, regardless of their position.”
Invesgation revealed Smith was driving 105 miles per hour leading up to the collision.
Jury Finds Man Criminally Responsible for Murder of 5-Year-Old Sister
Following a five-day trial, an Anne Arundel County jury found 20-year-old Stephen Jarrod Davis II, of Pasadena, criminally responsible for the 2020 First-Degree Murder of his 5-year-old half-sister, Anaya Jannah Abdul.
The following month, the Honorable William Mulford sentenced the Defendant to Life in prison, with all but 60 years suspended.
“The defendant took his anger for his family out on the most vulnerable member, his 5-year-old sister, states that was enough to cause damage,” Lietess said. “Prosecuting a Defendant this young for such a violent crime is not easy, but the Defendant must be held accountable for his actions.”
Man Charged with Three Counts FirstDegree Murder, Hate Crimes, in Annapolis Mass Shooting
An Anne Arundel County Grand Jury returned an indictment on July 21, 2023 charging Charles Robert Smith, age 43, of Annapolis, with 42counts, including three counts of First-Degree Murder and Hate Crimes related to a mass shooting that killed three men, including a father and son, in Annapolis.
According to the indictment, Smith is charged with using firearms during the incident while at his Annapolis home.
The prosecution will be lead by State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess with the assistance of Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Steinhardt. The State’s Attorney thanked Annapolis police, the FBI, and other Federal agencies for their work on the investigation.
Commitment to Justice
Man With History of Sexual Assaults
Sentenced to Life in Prison for First-Degree Rape of Woman
Davon Ferguson, 41, who was accused of the sexual assault of multiple women over several years, was sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole for the First-Degree Rape of a woman at a Linthicum motel.
“The Defendant was previously found guilty of first-degree rape in Baltimore in 2010 and learned nothing from his previous sentence,” Leitess said. “I want to commend two of the Defendant’s previous victims for bravely testifying at trial, which helped lead to a guilty verdict.
Following a four-day trial, an Anne Arundel County jury found Ferguson guilty of First-Degree Rape and two counts each of Second-Degree Rape.
Third and Final Suspect Sentenced to Life in Prison for Annapolis Murder
The third and final suspect in the killing of 22-year-old Cornell Young in Annapolis was sentenced to Life in Prison for Felony FirstDegree Murder, Robbery, and Weapons Offenses.
“Mr. Young was lured to a parking lot and killed by gunfire in broad daylight during a brazen robbery attempt,” Leitess said. “Today’s sentence shows that we will not allow gun violence to be normalized in our community.”
Taylor is the last of three men convicted and sentenced for the killing. Kenon Jackson, 22, entered an Alford Plea to First-Degree Murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jaonte Coates, 33, followed with an identical plea and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Pair Sentenced to 40 Years for 2017 Murder of Former Roommate
Calling the Defendants’ actions senseless, thoughtless and heinous, an Anne Arundel County judge sentenced Christina Harnish, also known as Christina Stallings, and William Rice to the maximum 40 years in prison in connection to the murder and disappearance of their former roommate, Megan Tilman.
“Megan was a vulnerable young woman who was killed by two people she trusted who worked their way into her life and took advantage of her financially,” Leitess said. “Her family long awaited answers for this crime, and I hope this sentence brings a sense of closure and relief for the nightmare of an unsolved murder of a beloved daughter and mother.”
Community Engagement: National Night Out 2023
The Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office participated in National Night Out, an annual community-building event that promotes policecommunity partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. Members of the SAO were located throughout Annapolis and Anne Arundel County in seven locations: Annapolis Gardens, Bay Ridge Gardens, the Michael E. Busch Library, Brooklyn Park, Millersville, Crofton, and Davidsonville.
Chief Ed Jackson, Annapolis Police Dept & State’s Atty Leitess
Sharon Jones, SAO and the “Mayor of Shadyside” Mohan Grover
State’s Atty Leitess, Jen Corbin and Melissa Ray from County Crisis Response, Jennifer DuLaney and Stassia Prigge, SAO
Victim Witness Director Joan Stammnitz, State’s Atty Leitess, ASA Marot Willamson
Christina Gran and Sean Fox, SAO
Sheriff Everett Sesker, Conor Curran, St. Atty Leitess, Clerk of the Court Scott Poyer
Community Engagement
Child Abuse Prevention Day –County Executive Steuart Pittman proclaimed April 20, 2023 as Anne Arundel County Child Abuse Prevention Day. Members of the Anne Arundel County Multi-Disciplinary Team gathered to recognize the occasion.
Bring Your Kid to Work Day – At 2023 Bring Your Kid to Work Day, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess explained the job the State’s Attorney’s Office does for presenting criminal cases. She spoke about DNA and cell phone records as crucial evidence in a crime. The kids had great questions and learned a lot.
Special Guests of the Anne Arundel County Muslim Community during Ramadan at the Makkah Learning Center in Gambrills – State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess, Steve Leitess, Police Chief Amal Awad, Judge Christine Celeste, Fire Chief Trisha Wolford, Senator Dawn Gile, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Major Katherine Goodwin, Captain Herb Hasenpusch were all special guests of the Anne Arundel County Muslim Community during Ramadan at the Makkah Learning Center in Gambrills, Maryland.
Community Engagement: Prevention Through Education
Deputy State’s Attorney Brian Marsh gives a presentation on how to stay safe on social media and the internet to students at St. Martin’s-in-theField Episcopal School in Severna Park.
By visiting every corner of our county to host educational seminars, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess provides citizens with the skills they need to recognize potential criminal activity and avoid becoming a victim. These informative discussions cover everything from the serious consequences of drug abuse, fraudulent schemes that exploit senior citizens, and the dangers of online predators and cyberbullying.
If you are interested in having State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess speak to your organization, select a program below and fill out the corresponding
Cyber Safety
Senior Fraud Prevention
Community Engagement: Giving Back
Thanksgiving Turkeys
Through their generous donations, employees of the State’s Attorney’s Office contributed $750 in assisting Sylvia Snowden and the Circuit Court Drug Court Program to continue the work of the late Michelle Ludlow for the 32nd Annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner..
This dinner benefits community members in need and supports We Care & Friends in Annapolis in serving their annual free Thanksgiving dinner at the Stanton Center. The donations assisted in the purchase of 50 turkeys for the event.
Angel Tree
In the spirit of giving, employees of the State’s Attorney’s Office, along with our colleagues in the Criminal Clerk’s Office, fulfilled the wishes of 65 local children through Anne Arundel County’s Christmas Angels program.
In total, the Anne Arundel County Government and the Department of Social Services helped 150 children in need receive wrapped gifts during the holiday season. The sight of dozens of new bikes and hundreds of gifts was amazing.
Det. Aaron Stein with an award for his work in investigating the murder of Michelle Cummings
Community Engagement: National Crime Victims Week
“Taking Power Back”
In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Office of the State’s Attorney hosted an Awards Ceremony on April 26, 2023 in the Historic Courtroom in Annapolis. Those who helped victims of crime -from law enforcement to witnesses-were celebrated for their contribution to others.
The annual event celebrated and recognized those who regained control of their tragedies to “elevate, engage and effect change.”
ASAs Carolynn Gramma, Jason Steinhardt and Victim Witness Director Joan Stammnitz present Annapolis
Victim Witness Director Joan Stammnitz
Victim Advocate Jennifer DuLaney (L) and ASA
Anastasia Prigge (R) honors two survivors who made a difference by testifying at trial.
