Guilty pleas entered in cocaine distribution cases

One more set for trial

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

Frederick J. Jefferson, 32, of Lusby entered an Alford plea to conspiracy of distribution of cocaine and second-degree assault on Feb. 4 in a Sept. 15, 2008, indictment which also charged him with first-degree assault on his wife and drug possession and paraphernalia charges. An Alford plea admits the court could prove the charges, but does not admit guilt.

Jefferson's wife called the police around 1 a.m. on July 22, 2008, and told responding police that her husband had strangled her and then put a gun to her head, stating he would kill her if she did not tell him where she hid some drugs, according to charging documents.

Jefferson fled the residence before police arrived, but Calvert County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit Deputy Joseph Windsor used a tracking dog and located Jefferson in the woods behind the residence. The dog also located a purse and Windsor found a small smoking device, a digital scale and a small double plastic baggie.

During a search of the home, police found a glass measuring cup, digital scale, white powder that tested positive as cocaine and a plastic baggie containing 28 clear plastic baggies, which are all evidence of distribution.

The victim told police that a family member told her that Jefferson made a $5,000 purchase of cocaine to sell, and she witnessed her husband walking up and down Millbridge Road in Lusby and getting in and out of vehicles when strangers came by, which caused her suspicion, according to charging documents.

Jefferson, who was represented by Attorney Robert Silberman of Camp Springs, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5.

In a separate case, David Mackall, 24, of St. Leonard pleaded guilty on Feb. 2 to possession of cocaine and the state dropped the charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

When a search warrant was executed at a home on Forest Glen Road on July 31, 2008, Mackall refused to comply with police commands and was tasered when he resisted arrest, according to charging documents. While in handcuffs outside, Mackall tried to run into the woods in the rear of the residence, but was apprehended. Police searched Mackall's pants pockets and found 3.1 grams of crack cocaine wrapped in cellophane, which police stated in charging documents is enough to be considered for distribution.

Mackall, who was represented by Robert Harvey Jr. of Prince Frederick, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11 at 10 a.m.

Damien A. Johnson, 26, of Upper Marlboro, whose Feb. 2 plea hearing was postponed, instead motioned for discovery and inspection of evidence on Feb. 6. The state offered Johnson a guilty plea to count one, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, and the forfeiting of money found on his possession during his arrest. A second plea hearing has not been set and the Feb. 24 criminal jury trial date remains, judicial records state.

Evidence on Johnson resulted from a search of a Huntingtown home on July 17, 2008, in which police found ‘‘approximately 17 grams of crack cocaine which was packaged in a manner which would indicate possession with the intent to distribute," according to charging documents. The three occupants in the home stated that Johnson was a distributor of crack cocaine and along with the cocaine, $733 was found in his possession. A digital scale that contained cocaine residue was located on the kitchen table, charging documents state.

Johnson was indicted on Aug. 18, 2008, with possession with the intent to distribute narcotics and possession of cocaine, court records state.

Assistant State's Attorney Lisa Ridge is lead prosecutor for the state in all three cases.

charvat@somdnews.com