Death Penalty

O'Malley hasn't been good for Maryland To the editor: I believe the morale in this country is at the lowest most of us have seen in our lives. Gov. O'Malley wants to abolish the death penalty to protect convicted killers and give them something our homeless pray for: food, housing, medical coverage and education. I challenge the governor to tell the families of the firemen recently killed by a convicted murderer whom our justice system released that the death penalty will not work.

Marlin Martin of Smithsburg said that the death penalty in Maryland should “stay as it is” and rejected the argument that there is a risk of executing an innocent person. “I think that does not happen often,” Martin, 71, said. “When capital punishment is practiced, that person no longer will have an opportunity to commit a crime, and I think that far outweighs the fact that someone innocent might be executed.” Sheridan Webb of Hagerstown, however, said that the death penalty is “unfair” and that life in prison for “heinous crimes” should be enough to keep criminals from committing more crimes.

Gov. Martin O'Malley testified Thursday at hearings in front of the House and Senate judicial committees in support of his bill to repeal the death penalty, but a majority of Washington County legislators still support the death penalty. “Is the death penalty consistent with our values as people?” asked Gov. O'Malley at the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing Thursday. “Capital punishment is expensive. It does not work.” At the senate hearing, Sen. Christopher Shank, R-Washington, who is a member of the Senate committee, asked O'Malley what the ultimate punishment would be for an inmate who would kill a correctional officer if the death penalty was not an option in the state.

The trial for a Waynesboro, Pa., man accused of fatally shooting three people in Quincy Township, Pa., last summer could be held late this year. Kevin M. Cleeves, 36, is charged with three counts of criminal homicide, kidnapping of a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, interference with custody and endangering the welfare of a child. The Franklin County (Pa.) District Attorney's Office has filed the necessary paperwork that would allow it to seek the death penalty at trial.

“To the statement in the paper about the Bible and not judging people, from someone in Smithsburg: I know what the Bible says, but making a statement that's actually the truth about someone, I guess hurts some people.” - Hagerstown “You know, for my grandkids, I'm getting concerned about these elections, that people that they're electing to the high offices, they're on the fringe ... they're about half nuts, half of them. So I hope people will start using their heads and start voting for common sense people.” - Hagerstown “I went through (a drive-through)

The day is largely ceremonial. Yet, sometimes, the opening day of the Maryland General Assembly sets the tone for the rest of the session. And even though Gov. Martin O'Malley told the House of Delegates on Wednesday that this is “going to be the best session we ever had,” the legislators of the Washington County delegation said they were busy sorting through the issues that will affect residents the most. Chief among them is the issue of the disparity grant, which could bring some much needed money to the county.

Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for a Chambersburg resident accused of bursting into a home and killing a man Oct. 22. On Wednesday, the Franklin County (Pa.) District Attorney's Office filed the paperwork necessary for it to pursue the death penalty during the trial of Carl Varner, 54, of 238 E. McKinley St. Chambersburg police say 29-year-old Victor Hugo Campos-Olguin died when Varner and another man fired shots inside a home in the 300 block of East King Street. Varner appeared before Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carol L. Van Horn on Wednesday for mandatory arraignment.

A man accused of fatally shooting three people in Quincy Township, Pa., and fleeing the state with his daughter in July pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the criminal charges filed in his case. Kevin M. Cleeves, 35, appeared before Franklin County (Pa.) Court of Common Pleas Judge Shawn Meyers for mandatory arraignment. Cleeves said little as his public defender indicated the defendant would plead not guilty on all counts. Cleeves is charged with three counts of criminal homicide, kidnapping of a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, interference with custody and endangering the welfare of a child.

The Franklin County District Attorney has filed a notice that will give him the option to pursue the death penalty in the case against a Waynesboro, Pa., man charged with fatally shooting his wife and two other people in July. District Attorney Matt Fogal said Friday during a press conference in the Franklin County Courthouse annex that the filing of the notice of aggravating circumstances will allow his office - if it chooses - to request at a later time to seek the death penalty for Kevin M. Cleeves.