MEDIA RELEASE
 
May 5, 2008
 

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Report for May 5, 2008

             On April 26, 2008 between 2100 hours and midnight, Deputies from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office participated in “Strike Force Sobriety Checkpoints” along with the Calvert County and Charles County Sheriff’s Offices.  The St. Mary’s County’s Sobriety Checkpoint was conducted on Maryland Route 4 at North Patuxent Beach Road in California.  Seven hundred and thirty vehicles passed through the checkpoint.  Three vehicles were pulled aside for further roadside sobriety testing.  William Thomas Franklin, age 27 of Lexington Park, was arrested by Corporal Mark Clark and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.  The drivers of the other two vehicles were given roadside sobriety tests and determined to be with in the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.

            On April 23 through April 26, 2008, Cassandra Bechas, age 46 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, broke into the victim’s residence located on Old Great Mills Road in Great Mills.  Bechas and the victim had been in a relationship but the relationship had ended and the victim told Bechas she was not permitted back in his residence.  A witness saw Bechas in the victim’s residence on April 26, 2008 and confronted her.  The witness was familiar with the victim’s residence and observed a computer to be missing from the residence.  The witness located Bechas’ vehicle and observed the computer to be in Bechas’ vehicle.  Deputy James Maguire located Bechas.  Deputy Maguire observed the victim’s computer in Bechas’ vehicle.  Bechas was arrested for the Burglary and Theft.  A search incident to the arrest revealed a cigarette containing suspected crack cocaine stuffed in the filter.  Bechas was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – crack cocaine.

            On April 27, 2008 at approximately 0100 hours, Deputy Michael George was assisting with traffic control as the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) was replacing a power pole on St. John’s Road in Hollywood.  Deputy George heard a woman, later identified as Rebecca Irene Shaw, age 38 of Lexington Park, scream.  Shaw ran towards Deputy George’s vehicle.  Shaw ran into Deputy Georges’ vehicle causing a dent.  Deputy George attempted to talk to Shaw to determine what was going on.  Shaw was very uncooperative, screamed profanity and cursed at Deputy George.  Shaw’s balance was poor as she attempted to walk and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and person.  Shaw refused to calm down and continued to yell profanity.  Shaw’s yelling and profanity caught the attention of the SMECO employees as they tried to work.  Deputy George told Shaw she was under arrest and as he attempted to handcuff her, Shaw attempted to pull away and flee.  Deputy George placed Shaw on the ground and she continued to resist by kicking Deputy George.  Shaw was handcuffed and continued to try to pull away from Deputy George.  Shaw was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Assault and Destruction of Property.

            On April 27, 2008 at approximately 0230 hours, Deputy Scott Ruest observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the rear parking lot of the Wawa in Lexington Park.  The vehicle was running, the headlights on and the driver, identified as Michael Troy Langley Jr., age 22 of Leonardtown, was sitting in the driver’s seat asleep.  Deputy Ruest attempted to get Langley’s attention by knocking on the driver’s door but Langley did not respond.  The door to the vehicle was unlocked so Deputy Ruest opened the door to check Langley’s welfare.  In the vehicle Deputy Ruest observed a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage half-full in the center console.  Deputy Ruest had Langley exit the vehicle.  Through Deputy Ruest’s investigation he discovered Langley to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance – marijuana.  Langley was arrested for Possession of Marijuana.  A search incident to the arrest revealed a glass controlled dangerous substance smoking device on Langley’s person.  Langley was charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – marijuana and Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance Paraphernalia. 

            On April 28, 2008, Deputy Jean Vezzosi responded to the McKay’s Food Store in Lexington Park for a report of a theft.  The investigation revealed Kevin Jerome Chase, age 38, and Mary Elaine White, age 51 both of Great Mills, took various items from the McKay’s Store, concealed those items and exited past the cash registers without paying for them.  Both Chase and White were charged with Theft Under $100.00.

            On April 23, 2008, Deputy Michael Campbell responded to a residence in Mechanicsville for a report of a theft.  The investigation revealed between the dates of February 17, 2008 and April 9, 2008, Lisa Darlene Latham, age 40 of Charlotte Hall, stole a check book from the victim.  Latham forged and cashed fourteen checks totaling over $4,000.00 without the permission of the victim.   Deputy Campbell completed an Application for a Statement of Charges against Latham for Theft and Theft Scheme.  An Arrest Warrant was issued for Latham charging her with fourteen counts of Theft Over $500.00 and two counts of Theft Scheme.  On April 28, 2008, Latham was arrested on the warrant.

            On May 1, 2008 Detectives from the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations Vice/Narcotics Division executed a Search and Seizure Warrant at ADF Bingo Hall in Mechanicsville.  Seized during the execution of the warrant were electronic gaming devices and related evidence.  Detectives were assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Annapolis Office.  Unfortunately there is no additional information that can be released at this time.

            A joint investigation by the St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed Christopher Michael Holland, age 31 of Leonardtown, sexually molested a three-year-old child on four separate occasions over the past year.  Holland was arrested on May 1, 2008 and charged with four counts of Child Sexual Molestation and four counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child.  He is currently being held in the St. Mary's County Detention Center on a $300,000.00 cash bond.

            If any additional information is needed, please contact the Duty Officer at 301-475-4200 x1900.