On January 18, 2024, A Marydel man was sentenced to 25 years of incarceration for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.  He will be required to register as a Tier Three Sex Offender for the rest of his lifetime. The Defendant’s name has been withheld to protect the identity of the minor victim.

The Defendant was arrested on August 10, 2022, after a joint investigation by the Maryland State Police and the Department of Social Services.  The Defendant entered a plea of not guilty and a jury trial subsequently took place in the early part of March of 2023, which resulted in a mistrial.  The State’s Attorney’s Office elected to refile the charges and proceed to a second trial, which occurred in July of 2023. At this trial the Defendant elected to have a bench trial, which means the Circuit Court Judge determines the guilt or innocence of the Defendant based upon the evidence presented at the trial. On July 13, 2023, the Defendant was found guilty of Sexual Abuse of Minor, Third Degree Sexual Offense, Second Degree Assault, and Unnatural/Perverted Practice; he was acquitted of Rape in the Second Degree.

The Defendant is pending sentencing in a second case for first degree assault in which he was found guilty of that charge by a jury on June 21, 2023. He is facing 25 years in prison for that offense.

Christine Dulla Rickard, Deputy State’s Attorney and Caitlin Robinson, Assistant State’s Attorney prosecuted both of these criminal matters.