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Cabezas ordered to stay away from woman and son of victim
Victim's ex asks for peace order
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Janet Cabezas
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A La Plata woman filed a peace order Tuesday against the 51-year-old school bus driver accused of shooting her own husband to death during an argument, claiming the defendant showed up at her home in a "very unstable condition."
Janet L. Cabezas of Bryans Road is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the July 20 killing of Steven C. Cabezas Sr.
Her preliminary hearing was postponed after some discussion Wednesday.
During the discussion, a judge told Janet Cabezas to stay away from Gloria Lakner, the woman who asked for the peace order, as a condition of staying out of jail on bond.
Cabezas was also ordered to have no contact with the victim's son, Steven Cabezas Jr., as she has been seen near his home repeatedly, according to Charles County Deputy State's Attorney Anthony B. Covington.
In court documents, Lakner cited her cooperation with homicide detectives investigating Steven Cabezas' murder and past experience with Janet Cabezas as reasons she applied for the peace order.
"Over the past 14 years she [Janet Cabezas] has called and threatened me for various issues," Lakner, an ex-wife of Steven Cabezas Sr., wrote in the filing.
Lakner didn't return calls seeking comment.
Covington said in court Wednesday that physical evidence would be key in proving the charges against Janet Cabezas, so he asked the judge to postpone the preliminary hearing until the final report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is complete.
Visiting Judge Stephen L. Clagett agreed to the delay over the objection of District Public Defender Sheila Sullivan, who said the state's attorney has had plenty of time to prepare for the hearing. She said the preliminary hearing is important in the case because the prosecutor has only 30 days after the hearing to indict or dismiss the charges.
"The autopsy report is fairly essential," said Clagett, who reset the preliminary hearing for Sept. 9.
Janet Cabezas told police that she shot her husband to death during an argument at their home on a rural stretch of Marshall Corner Road, according to charging documents.
Police reported that a family member called authorities at 8:12 p.m. to report the shooting. Witnesses later said that after the shooting, Janet Cabezas was standing in her back yard holding a handgun and reportedly asked them to check and see if her husband was dead, court papers indicate.
Inside the home, police found the body of Steven Cabezas, 54, who had been shot three times in the back and once in the head, Covington said during a court hearing.
Janet Cabezas was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree assault, court papers state. She was released on a $250,000 bond.
Janet Cabezas filed two complaints of domestic violence against her husband in 2008, alleging that Steven Cabezas held her by the neck and pushed her head under water, court documents state.
She asked the court to dismiss one of the orders and rescinded the other.
"We [Steven and I] both have worked very hard for what we have and we want our marriage. Nothing like this has ever happened before," Janet Cabezas wrote in a document asking for withdrawal of the order.
According to Covington, Cabezas asked prosecutors to drop criminal charges against her husband in connection with the alleged assault.
While Janet Cabezas' face was bruised when she was arrested, the victim's family members and friends have said they never knew Steven Cabezas to be abusive.
Lakner filed a complaint of domestic violence against Steven Cabezas in 1995, court records show.
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