Alford Plea

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- A 38-year-old Martinsburg man who was accused of chasing his wife with an ax and attempting to set fire to an artificial plant during an altercation in August 2009 was sentenced Monday in circuit court to five years of probation. Rocky David Sims Jr., of 42 Cornerstone Drive, pleaded guilty under Alford circumstances to counts of attempted malicious wounding, brandishing and domestic battery. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state has sufficient evidence to gain a conviction.

HAGERSTOWN -- A man who last week refused to testify during an attempted-murder trial appeared Tuesday morning in Washington County Circuit Court on charges of soliciting first-degree murder and intimidating a witness. Louis Geraldo Gonzalez, 27, of 82 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown, who is being held without bond at Washington County Detention Center, is accused of trying to entice someone to kill Bruce Jones, who was shot during a robbery in Smithsburg on Jan. 27. Gonzalez originally faced 15 charges relating to the shooting, but entered an Alford plea to one count of armed robbery in September.

HAGERSTOWN -- Jurors in the second trial of a man charged in the Jan. 27 shooting of another man during an armed robbery in Smithsburg were unable to reach a verdict Thursday after deliberating for about 90 minutes in Washington County Circuit Court. The jury will reconvene Friday at 9 a.m. Anthony Caldwell, 26, formerly of 27 E. Lee St. in Hagerstown, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery, using a handgun in a felony violent crime, theft $500 plus, robbery, second-degree assault and wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun upon person.

HAGERSTOWN -- The second trial for a man charged in the Jan. 27 shooting of another man during an armed robbery in Smithsburg began Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court. Anthony Caldwell, 25, formerly of 27 E. Lee St. in Hagerstown, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery, using a handgun in a felony violent crime, theft $500 plus, robbery, second-degree assault and wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun upon person.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Hagerstown woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her conviction on child abuse charges. Sabrina Whiteman, 25, formerly of 316 N. Cannon Ave., was convicted in connection with injuries caused to two children younger than 10 years old. A Washington County Circuit jury in August found Whiteman guilty of two counts each of second-degree child abuse, second-degree assault and contributing to the condition of child,...

HAGERSTOWN -- A Smithsburg man on Monday entered an Alford plea to a charge of manslaughter by vehicle in the May 25 death of 35-year-old Debra Reed Fields-Jordan, who was riding a motorcycle when the accident occurred. Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III sentenced Harry William "Billy" Shrader Jr. to serve the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the vehicular manslaughter charge. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state has enough evidence for a conviction.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - A bubble gum container stolen in a home invasion-style armed robbery in Martinsburg in April 2007 helped police solve a similar armed robbery that happened three days after the first crime. Victor B. Potter Jr., 19, and Gary D. Guest, 22, both of Martinsburg, were sentenced Friday to 10-year and 15-year prison sentences, respectively, in Berkeley County Circuit Court after entering guilty pleas to felony counts of first-degree robbery. A third defendant, Lante J. Cook, 19, also of Martinsburg, was prepared to entered an Alford plea to conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, but a final decision in his case was delayed to determine whether he qualified for a youthful offender program at the Anthony Correctional Center.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. -- A bubble gum container stolen in a home invasion-style armed robbery in Martinsburg in April 2007 helped police solve a similar armed robbery that happened three days after the first crime. Victor B. Potter Jr., 19, and Gary D. Guest, 22, both of Martinsburg, were sentenced Friday to 10-year and 15-year prison sentences, respectively, in Berkeley County Circuit Court after entering guilty pleas to felony counts of first-degree robbery. A third defendant, Lante J. Cook, 19, also of Martinsburg, was prepared to entered an Alford plea to conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, but a final decision in his case was delayed to determine whether he qualified for a youthful offender program at the Anthony Correctional Center.

A 14-year-old boy admitted Wednesday in juvenile court that the state had enough evidence to prove he committed a second-degree assault. On Feb. 21, the boy and two of his friends were playing football at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown when he started punching one of his friends, Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores said Wednesday in court. The victim was injured in the head and back, and taken to the hospital, she said. Washington County Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. accepted the boy's Alford plea.

A 14-year-old boy admitted Wednesday in juvenile court that the state had enough evidence to prove he committed a second-degree assault. On Feb. 21, the boy and two of his friends were playing football at Fairgrounds Park in Hagerstown when he started punching one of his friends, Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores said Wednesday in court. The victim was injured in the head and back, and taken to the hospital, she said. Washington County Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. accepted the boy's Alford plea.