St. Mary's County Sheriff's Reports


LEONARDTOWN, Md. (September 17, 2012)—The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.

DRUG ARREST: On September 15, Deputy Wood stopped a vehicle on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. The operator of the vehicle, Paula Jo Smith, 46 of Lexington Park, had committed a traffic violation. The vehicle was also occupied by passenger, John Richard Gregory, 56 of Lexington Park. A Motor Vehicle Administration check of Ms. Smith's driver's license revealed her privilege to drive a motor vehicle was suspended. Smith was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while her license was suspended. A consent search of the vehicle revealed marijuana located in the center console of the vehicle, Smith and Gregory were both arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - suspected marijuana.

Editor's Note: Paula Jo Smith contacted us on 20-SEP-2012 and complained that the above summary of her arrest provided by the Sheriff's Office was not correct. She provided a copy of the arresting officer's Statement of Probable Cause from the District Court. We concur with her claim; our rewrite of the arrest based on this document follows:

DRUG ARREST: On September 15, Deputy Wood stopped a vehicle on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park for driving 43 MPH in a posted 35 MPH zone. The operator of the vehicle was John Richard Gregory, 56 of Lexington Park. The vehicle was also occupied by passenger Paula Jo Smith, 46 of Lexington Park. A Motor Vehicle Administration check of Mr. Gregory's driver's license revealed his privilege to drive a motor vehicle was suspended. Gregory was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended. A consent search of the vehicle revealed marijuana located in the center console of the vehicle.  The arresting officer noted that Smith appeared nervous and initially was hesitant to provide her last name. After being read her Miranda rights, Smith stated that she had no knowledge of the suspected Marijuana. Smith and Gregory were both arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - suspected marijuana.

DRUG ARREST: On September 16, Deputy Wood responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Edge Mill court in Great Mills. Deputy Wood located the vehicle and operator, Jasmine Jena Butler, 20 of Hollywood. As Deputy Wood was speaking with Butler, he observed in plain view a plastic baggy containing suspected marijuana. A probable cause search located further marijuana in the console. Butler was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - suspected marijuana.

DRUG ARREST: On September 16, Deputy Beyer was investigating burglaries in the area of Oaks Road in Mechanicsville. While other deputies were attempting to contact a resident at a particular house in the area, Deputy Beyer was standing behind the residence. Deputy Beyer observed through the rear window of the residence Michael Troy Terrell, 18 of Mechanicsville, place a controlled dangerous substance smoking device and suspected marijuana under a mattress. A probable cause search located the smoking device and suspected marijuana. Terrell was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, suspected marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia.

DRUG ARREST: On September 16, units responded to a noise, loud party complaint on Ronald Drive in Mechanicsville. Upon arrival, deputies observed Nicholas Charles Defillippo, 29 of Mechanicsville, snorting a white powdered substance--suspected cocaine--off of a table located in the garage. A probable cause search of Defillippo's person revealed a plastic baggy containing additional white powder substance. Further investigation revealed the substance to be suspected Oxycodone. Defillippo was arrested charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Oxycodone.

DRUG ARREST: On September 17, Deputy Krum a traffic stop Lexington Drive & Fox Chase Drive in Lexington Park. A wanted check of the passenger, Maurice Leonard Savoy, 27 of Fort Washington, revealed a possible warrant for his arrest in Prince George's County. As Deputy Krum waited for confirmation on the warrant, he asked Savoy if he had anything on his person he should know about. Savoy handed Deputy Krum a percocet pill for which he did not have a prescription. A probable cause search of Savoy's person revealed additional pills, suspected Oxycodone which Savoy did not have a prescription. Savoy was not wanted in Prince George's County but he was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On September 16, Deputy Krum responded to a residence on Three Notch Road in Lexington Park for a disturbance. Investigation revealed Jonathan Shelby Martin, Jr., 26 of Lexington Park, was engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Martin forced open a door which struck the victim in the face and body. Martin was arrested and charged with second degree assault.

SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT: On September 16, Corporal Peacher responded to a residence on Blake Creek Road in Leonardtown for an assault. Investigation revealed John Bernard Somerville, Jr., 46 of Leonardtown, was engaged in a verbal dispute with the victim which escalated into a physical assault when Somerville pointed a knife at the victim and threatened to kill her. Somerville then grabbed the victim around the neck and choked her. The victim was able to escape the assault and called 911. Somerville was arrested and charged with second degree assault.

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED RIFLE/SHOTGUN: On September 16, Deputy Teague responded to Lincoln Avenue in Lexington Park for a report of a man with a gun. Upon arrival, Deputy Teague made contact with James Michael Goldring, 53 of Lexington Park. Goldring was extremely intoxicated. Further investigation revealed Goldring had discharged a shotgun into the air outside of his residence just prior to the deputy's arrival. A consent search of Goldring's residence revealed a short barreled shotgun hidden under a piece of furniture. A search of Goldring's person revealed twelve gauge shotgun shells. The length of the shotgun barrel was less then 18 inches as required by law. Goldring was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and possession of an unregistered rifle/shotgun.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned.

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