Grand Jury Returns Nine Indictments On Friday

One was against two juveniles charged as adults.

 

 

Frederick, Md. (KM) The Frederick County Grand Jury returned nine indictments on Friday, including a supplemental indictment against Joseph Patrick Shea of Sabillasville, 70, whose charged with sex abuse of a minor. . He was arrested in January of this year, charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, 2nd-degree rape, 3rd-degree sex offense and ten counts of possession of child pornography.

Two girls told investigators that Shea would watch child pornography in their presence, and perform explicitly sexual behaviors in front of them. One of the girls also said she woke up one night and found Shea was having intercourse with her.

Both victims were age nine and 11 at the time of the offense, which the State’s Attorney’s Office says occurred between June 1st to June 30th, 2015.

The Grand Jury also indicted two juveniles who are charged as adults in connection with a shots-fired incident earlier this month. William James Sewell II of Frederick is charged with attempted 1st-degree murder; two counts of 1st-degree assault; two counts of conspiracy to commit 1st-degree assault; three counts of 3rd-degree assault; two counts of reckless endangerment; wearing, carrying and transporting a handgun; use of a firearm in a felony/violent crime; illegal possession of a regulated firearm; and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Marquis DeSade Scottland of Hagerstown is charged with 1st-degree assault; conspiracy to commit 1st-degree assault; three counts of 2nd-degree assault; reckless endangerment; wearing, carrying and transporting a handgun; use of a firearm in a felony/violent crime; and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Both Sewell and Scottland are 16-years of age, and were indicted and co-defendants.

Other indictments returned by the Grand Jury include:

* Jerry Lee Watts III, 22, of Frederick, whose charged with 1st-degree burglary; conspiracy to commit 1st-degree burglary; 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling; conspiracy to commit 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling; theft between $1500 to $25,000; and conspiracy to commit theft between $1500 and $25,000; for an incident which occurred on March 27th, 2019.

* Ashley Renee DeWitt, 27, of Frederick, whose charged with 1st-degree burglary; conspiracy to commit 1st-degree burglary; 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling; conspiracy to commit 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling; theft between $1500 to $25,000; and conspiracy to commit theft between $1500 and $25,000, for an incident which occurred on March 27th, 2019.

Both Watts and DeWitt are co-defendants.

* Nicholas Adrian Benjamin, 18, of Frederick, whose charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana of 10 grams or more; possession of drug paraphernalia (digital scales); illegal possession of ammunition; two counts of drug distribution with a firearm; two counts of the use of a firearm in drug trafficking; four counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm; two counts of possession of a firearm by a minor; and two counts of knowingly altering the identification number of a firearm, for an incident which occurred on March 8th, 2019.

* Troyvonte C. Burns, 28, of Frederick, whose charged with possession with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine; possession of heroin; and resisting and interfering with an arrest,for an incident which occurred on April 4th, 2019.

* Sean Michael McCarter, 41, of Kennett Square, Pa., whose charged with possession of methamphetamine; illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with a conviction for a crime of violence; having a handgun in a vehicle; having a loaded handgun in a vehicle; having a handgun on his person; and driving while suspended for an incident which occurred on March 16th, 2019.

* Heng Liang Chen, 31, of Frederick, for two counts of 2nd-degree child abuse by a custodian of a child; and two counts of 2nd-degree assault, for an incident which occurred on February 4th, 2019.

These indictments move these cases to the Circuit Court where a trial date will be scheduled.

 

By Kevin McManus