He had threatened his family.
Dominic Michael Valenti (Photo from Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office)
Frederick, Md (KM) A Brunswick man is going off to prison. In Circuit Court on Friday, Dominic Michael Valenti, 26, was sentenced to 35 years in prison with all but ten years suspended for manufacturing an explosive device and 2nd-degree assault. He will be on five-years supervised probation after he’s released, and must undergo drug and mental health evaluation and treatment.
Valenti was arrested in August, 2022, for breaking into his family home in Brunswick. He threatened to kill everyone inside and had access to the kitchen knives and a machete. Police arriving at the scene seized a BB pistol from Valenti, along with a folding knife, and a backpack containing an explosive device. It was examined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF which determined it was operational, and capable of causing injuries.
Valenti pleaded guilty in September, 2023 to manufacturing an explosive device and 2nd-degree assault.
As part of his probation, he was told not to return to his family’s home “until further order of the court.”
“These cases are often the most frightening because of the potential for large scale harm to the community,” says Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, in a statement.. “Hopefully, this lengthy sentence will send a message that there is zero tolerance for destructive device crimes.”
By Kevin McManus