A Queen Anne’s County jury convicted Kirk Ralph Fonseca, 33 of Chestertown, Maryland on March 11, 2019 of illegal possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony, as well as illegal possession of ammunition as a felon. Assistant State’s Attorney Leigh Dillon prosecuted the case on behalf of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

 The charges arose on August 16, 2018 when law enforcement arrested Mr. Fonseca in his motel room at the Courtyard Inn on Church Hill Road in Chestertown, Queen Anne’s County. Mr. Fonseca was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Kent County for threatening witnesses in an unrelated case.  Officers found Mr. Fonseca in bed with Sherelle Hopkins (a co-defendant). They also located two loaded handguns on the television stand of the motel room. Mr. Fonseca was (and remains) prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition, due to his prior felony conviction of possession with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.

Ms. Dillon commended the members of the Kent and Queen Anne’s County Drug Task Forces, as well as the Maryland State Police S.T.A.T.E. team and the Maryland State Police Apprehension Team for their hard work and dedication on this case.  “This is a case of extraordinary work across counties and law enforcement agencies. Thanks to the hard work and persistence of all the police officers involved, we were able to take two handguns out of the hands of criminals, and take a dangerous man off the streets.”Ms. Dillon said.

On April 30, 2019, Mr. Fonseca was sentenced to twelve years of incarceration, with a five year mandatory minimum.