Three people are charged with making straw purchases of regulated firearms.
Friday was a busy day for the recently seated Frederick County Grand Jury. "Each year, we seat two grand jurys. We seat one in February, and one in September, and they do hear indictments throughout the year," says State's Attorney Charlie Smith. "This happened to be the February term's first session, and it was quite a busy one. They returned 15 indictments."
Smith says there were a "variety of cases," including one involving straw purchases of firearms. Shauna Janene Kemp, 42, was indicted for making a straw purchase, in which an individual purchases a gun for another person who may not legally be able to buy a firearm. That offense occurred on October 29th, 2011. In addition, Michael Eugene Kemp, 35, is also charged with making a straw purchase, along with nine counts of the unlawful sale and/or transfer of regulated firearms, and 12 counts of illegal possession of a rifle or shotgun, and one count of the illegal possession of a firearm. The offenses occurred on June 12th, July 1st and November 18th, 2011. Wanda Lee Dyson, 42, is also charged with the same charges as Michael Kemp. The offenses she's alleged to have committed occurred on June 12th and July 1st, 2011. All three defendants are Walkersville residents.
"We don't see these very often," says Smith, referring to straw purchases of firearms.
The panel also returned an indictment against Mark S. Schluter, 52, of Frederick. "He was indicted today (Friday) for actual distribution of child pornography, distribution of that," Smith says. "So it's a serious case."
Another indictment was handed down to Calvin Franklin Stone, Jr, 37, for eight counts of being a felon convicted of a crime of violence for possession of a rifle or shotgun.
In addition, Grand Jurors indicted Adam David Fotia, 25, whose address is unknown, and Matthew Alexander Parsons, 22, of Frederick, on armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, theft, assault and use of a handgun in a crime of violence. Along with that, Fotia was indicted for drug offenses.
