11

and confirmed the defendant as the probable source of the Rockville DNA. The defendant was convicted of first degree rape and sentenced to life in prison.

 

3.  State v. Ardeshir Mojab: ASA Lynn Nixon handled this case involving the importation of opium from overseas into Montgomery County. This case was a multi-agency law enforcement effort involving members of the MCPD Special Investigations Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and the United States Postal Inspectors Service. The defendant arranged for a shipment of opium to enter the United States through a connection in Germany. At the shipment’s United States entry point at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport, a Customs and Border Protection K9 team discovered the package in transit to Montgomery County. The MCPD SID team of elite narcotics investigators conducted a thorough investigation resulting in charges against the defendant. The defendant entered a plea of guilty to one count of Importer of Controlled Dangerous Substances and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute.

 

4. State v. Armando Green: Lalos prosecuted this case of robbery. The defendant approached a car with four occupants in a Rockville parking lot. He brandished a handgun and robbed them, shooting one occupant in the foot. The driver of the vehicle quickly fled down Rockville Pike. The defendant got in a car and proceeded to engage in a high-speed chase of the victims down the road. As he pursued the victims, he fired at their vehicle numerous times and attempted to run them off the road. He subsequently crashed the car and fled on foot.  At the jury trial, the State introduced DNA evidence linking Green to the crime.  He was found guilty of four counts of Robbery with a Dangerous and Deadly Weapon and received a sentence of 80 years.

 

5. State v. Arthur Phillips: Bills and Crawford handled the prosecution of this home-invasion robbery case. The defendant was one of three men who broke into an apartment in Germantown, violently assaulted the victims, and attempted a robbery. During the course of the home invasion, the defendant shot a victim in his 20s, paralyzing the victim. After an exhaustive investigation by detectives from MCPD Major Crimes, the defendant was identified as the shooter. After a jury trial, he was convicted of eight charges and sentenced to 160 years.

 

The members of the Upcounty team consider it a privilege and honor to serve the people of Montgomery County.

The State's Attorney's Office proudly initiated the Citizen Complaint Bureau on July 6, 1999. This service enables direct citizen complainant contact with the State's Attorney's Office within 72 hours of filing a criminal complaint. These early contacts better enable our office to prepare cases for court, or to divert appropriate cases to one of a variety of dispute-resolution programs.

As a direct result of this effort, we have reduced the criminal docket in Montgomery County by approximately 25%. The State's Attorney's Office now focuses more resources on high priority cases.

CCB has two locations: 1307 Seven Locks Road in Rockville (301-610-7217) and 8552 Second Avenue in Silver Spring (301-563-8576). 

Citizen Complaint Bureau

Juvenile Court

Division

The Juvenile Division, led by Margaret Burrowes, prosecutes juveniles charged with violations of the criminal law.  This team filed approximately 1,800 petitions in 2008.  In Maryland, anyone under 18 is considered a juvenile. For certain crimes, a juvenile 14 to 17 years old may be charged as an adult. 

In addition to filing petitions, the SAO Juvenile Division screens appeals submitted to the office by the Department of Juvenile Services. The team files the appropriate charges, prepares the case for trial, and manages all post-trial proceedings. Team members also handle proceedings that involve competency issues, violations of probation, and waivers to the general courts. When the Court finds a juvenile responsible for a crime, the team also works to collect financial restitution for victims.

The juvenile court laws require that cases be charged and tried more quickly than in adult criminal court. If the juvenile is detained or placed on home electronic monitor, the law requires that the trial occur within 30 calendar days. Within this period of time, the attorney must interview all the witnesses, obtain all the documents, file the appropriate charges, and conduct the trial.

The Juvenile Division works with social-service agencies to ensure that juvenile offenders are receiving needed treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation.  The Division also works with the Montgomery County Juvenile Drug Court Program.  This program seeks to reduce delinquent behavior by rehabilitating juvenile offenders who have a history of significant substance abuse.  tizens through education and employment.

The Juvenile Division also works with the Teen Court program.