Two plead guilty in drug distribution case

Friday, Dec. 5, 2008

Two Lusby residents pleaded guilty in the Calvert County Circuit Court on Dec. 1 to drug related charges.

Jamar D. Mackall, 32, of Lusby pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of marijuana and Christina M. Tomco, 29, of Lusby pleaded guilty to an amended charge of maintaining a common nuisance in the July indictments that stemmed from a month long investigation by the county's Narcotics Unit.

Judge Marjorie Clagett explained the amended charge to Tomco, saying the charge means maintaining a dwelling used for the purpose of illegally distributing drugs or to manufacture, distribute, dispense, store or conceal drugs illegally.

Attorney Robert Harvey Jr. of Prince Frederick represented the two defendants, who reside together at a White Sands residence. Harvey said the plea entered for Mackall agreed "to dismiss the two other [drug related] cases in their entirety and all other counts," and Mackall's sentence would be no more than 18 months active incarceration time. Harvey asked that Tomco be allowed to serve some of the sentence on weekends."

"She was not distributing herself," he said.

"She knew the activity that was going on," Clagett said, and reread the law of maintaining a common nuisance. Both have a sentencing date of Feb. 23.

Assistant State's Attorney Lisa Ridge said Mackall sold marijuana to an undercover police officer on June 4 and 12 a short distance from the home. When a search warrant was executed, police found a bag with 142 grams of marijuana, numerous small bags and a digital scale with a cup on it that contained trace amounts of marijuana, according to court documents. During the search, $865 was seized and it was agreed that the money be forfeited.

Harvey, who is not requesting a presentence investigation for Mackall, said Mackall shows a steady track record of employment for work release.

Harvey requested a presentence investigation for Tomco, who is currently unemployed.

charvat@somdnews.com