Press Release 2022

December 15, 2022
The Honorable John Maloney sentenced Abraham Douglas, 21, of Washington D.C. to life in prison plus an additional 25 years for the death of Ahamdou Bamba Gueye, 23, of Takoma Park. A jury had convicted the defendant of First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony and Third-Degree Burglary. 
"We express our deepest condolences to the family of Ahmadou Bamba Gueye. This senseless violence has no place in our community and thanks to the work of the responding officers and detectives on this case along with outstanding prosecution by Assistant State’s Attorneys Marybeth Ayres and Lauren Turner, the defendant will be held accountable,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

December 14, 2022
The Honorable Karla Smith sentenced Joshua Wright, 18, of Bethesda, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years for the death of a 33-year-old man on December 19, 2021. Co-defendant Antonio Lawrence is scheduled for trial beginning February 6, 2023.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

December 1, 2022
A jury has convicted James McClain, 39, of Rockville, on charges of second-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape and two counts of third-degree sex offense for his assault on a victim who was Previously unknown to him. McClain faces up to 60-years in prison and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2023.
"The bravery of the victim in coming forward initially and then participating in the trial, testifying before the jury, cannot be overstated. We are grateful for her help and the Posecutorial work of Assistant State's Attorneys Gabriel Carrera and Lauren Fetsch. A Predator in our community will now be held to account," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

October 11, 2022
The honorable Judge David Lease sentenced defendant, Anthony Millhouse, 40, of Washington D.C., to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised probation upon release. Millhouse was convicted by a jury on April 13, 2022, of armed carjacking and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.
“This is an appropriate sentence for the defendant who terrified an innocent member of our community as she went about her day. We thank our partners in the greater metropolitan area for working with us to recover the victim’s vehicle and for their help in tracking down Millhouse, so that he is not able to target anyone else and can be held responsible for his actions,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. 
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

September 20, 2022
The Honorable Sharon Burrell sentenced Biet Van Tran, 65, to life without the possibility of parole on the charge of first-degree murder and to an additional 55 years for two counts of attempted first-degree murder for stabbing attacks on two victims.
"This was about as vicious an attack as you can possible imagine. As Judge Burrell stated in court, Biet Van Tran committed the ultimate crime against these three innocent victims and will pay the ultimate punishment. We thank the survivors for their bravery in participating in the trial and working with Assistant State's Attorneys Ashley Inderfurth and Kyle O'Grady to make sure this defendant will never harm anyone again," said State's Attorney John McCarthy. 
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

September 9, 2022
The Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Vaughn Darvel Bellamy, 32, of Hagerstown, MD, to life in prison plus an additional 40 years. A jury convicted Bellamy and Bryan Byrd, 31, of Washington D.C., on charges of first degree murder for the death of Alexander Buie in 2013, and multiple related charges. 
State's Attorney John McCarthy offers the following statement: "This was a case of mistaken identity. Alexander Buie was a truly innocent victim, and lost his life at a time when he was trying to maintain his sobriety and get his life back on a positive path. Justice will now be served for the family of Mr. Buie, as the men responsible for his death are being held accountable. I thank Assistant State's Attorneys Mary Herdman and John Lalos for their work in this matter." 
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

June 27, 2022
The Maryland Court of Appeals handed down its opinion yesterday in the case of Rony Galicia, 30, of Boyds. This reverses an opinion from the Court of Special Appeals and reinstates Galicia's convictions on two counts of first-degree Premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and armed robbery.
"The opinion from Maryland's highest court reaffirms what the State believed from the beginning. Roby Galicia is, indeed, responsible for the violent deaths of these two teenagers along with his co-defendants. We are pleased to learn the jury's decision will be upheld and Galicia will continue to serve out his sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Our hearts are with the families of the victims today," said State's Attorney John McCarthy. 
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

May 13, 2022
The Honorable Harry Storm sentenced Dontaye Hunt, 21, of Silver Spring, to 19 years in prison and three years of supervised probation upon release. Hunt pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery for the deaths of 23-year-old Jordan Radway and 24-year-old Christian Roberts. He cooperated in the case, testifying against co-defendant Andy Panton. Hunt is one of three co-defendants in this case.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 6, 2022
The Honorable Harry Storm sentenced Kevin McGuigan, 24, of Potomac, of Rockville, to life in prison suspend all but 80 years.
"Sometimes cases take time and require a mixture of law and medicine. I commend Assistant State's attorneys Donna Fenton and Lauren Turner for their work in the competency hearings leading up to today. Kevin McGuigan has continued to exhibit violent behavior, pleading guilty to first degree assault for attacking a fellow detainee while he was in custody receiving medical treatment. We thank Judge Storm for imposing an absolutely appropriate sentence today," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 6, 2022
A jury has found defendant Joshua Toure, 26, of Boyds, guilty of first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, for the death of 28-year-old Joseph Davis. Toure faces life in prison plus an additional 20 years.
"This sort of senseless violence within our neighborhoods is unacceptable. It is a reminder about how dangerous and potentially life threatening the buying and selling of drugs can be. Thanks to the work of Assistant State's Attorneys James Dietrich and Kelly McGann, the defendant now faces life in prison plus additional time. Our hearts go out to the family of Joseph Davis as they continue to grieve, and we look forward to a significant sentence in this matter," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

April 1, 2022
The Honorable Jeannie Cho sentenced Ruel Francis Dempster II, 34, of Silver Spring, to life in prison suspend all but 40 years and five years of supervised probation upon release.
"I thank Judge Cho for imposing 40 years of incarceration time in this case. This defendant fled the country after committing murder in our community, but will now be held accountable for his actions and Prevented from endangering the life of anyone else," said State's Attorney John McCarthy.
Read more (PDF)
John J. McCarthy
State's Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland

In the matter of the February 26, 2022 police-involved fatal incident in Rockville, Maryland.

Pursuant to Md. Code, State Gov’t § 6-106.2(c), (d), the Office of the Attorney General Independent Investigations Division conducted an investigation relating to the February 26, 2022 police-involved fatal incident.  The attached report was written by the Office of the Attorney General Independent Investigations Division and any redaction's were made by the Office of the Attorney General in Preparation for public release.  Pursuant to an agreement between the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, based upon a thorough review of the report it is the opinion of the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office that the actions of the officer involved in the February 26, 2022 incident were reasonable under the circumstances.  Accordingly, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County declines to file charges against the involved officer.
On February 26, 2022, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Montgomery County Police Department (“MCPD”) Officer Antonio Copeland observed a silver Honda Accord commit multiple traffic violations including speeding in the area of Rockville Pike and Nicholson Lane in North Bethesda. Officer Copeland conducted a traffic stop on the car, and while he was standing next to the Honda, the driver drove away. Officer Copeland returned to his car and pursued the Honda. During the pursuit, the driver of the Honda crashed in the 3600 block of Randolph Road in Wheaton. The driver, Noraly Paz Chavez, was pronounced dead on the scene. The passenger was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries and was treated and released. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. February 26, 2022 Event (pdf file) John J. McCarthy State’s Attorney For Montgomery County, Maryland