Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jury Convicts Aberdeen Resident of Murder in Havre de Grace Shooting

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced that last night, a Harford County jury found Joseph Daniel Parrish, 27, from Aberdeen, Maryland, guilty of murder in the first degree, witness retaliation and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The case began on November 11, 2018, when officers of the Havre de Grace Police Department responded to the 200 block of North Washington Street in Havre de Grace, Maryland following a report of an individual suffering from a laceration. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the victim, 61 year-old Jeffrey Coudon, had sustained gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts and transport of Mr. Coudon to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma, he succumbed from his injuries three days later on November 14, 2018.

Following an extensive investigation, two individuals, Robert Lee Zeman, III, 33, from Havre de Grace, Maryland and Mr. Parrish were identified and arrested in April of 2019. Mr. Zeman was charged with being an accessory to the murder. His trial is scheduled to begin in February, 2020. Sentencing for Mr. Parrish was set for January 30, 2020.

In expressing condolences to the family of Mr. Coudon, Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr, stated, “The Citizens of Harford County delivered justice for Jeffrey Coudon and I hope is that this verdict provides a measure of solace to the victim’s family.”

Mr. Peisinger further thanked the jurors who deliberated the case. He also thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Timothy Doory and Gabriella Vazzana and the Havre de Grace Police Department for their joint effort that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Mr. Parrish.

Truck Driver Indicted on Multiple Counts of Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle Following Fatal 2019 Crash

BEL AIR, MD (August 27, 2019) – Harford County State’s Attorney, Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. has announced that Carloo Watson was indicted today by a Harford County Grand Jury with two counts of Gross Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, two counts of Criminal Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, and four counts of Causing Serious Injury while Using a Cell Phone. The indictment stems from an incident involving a tractor trailer, driven by Mr. Watson, which crashed through eleven cars that were stopped on southbound Rt. 24 at the intersection with Ring Factory Road on the morning of March 11, 2019. As a result of the crash, 65 year old Andrew Klein and 7 year old Tripp Johnson, both residents of Harford County, were killed. Four other individuals were also seriously injured.

Gross Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine. Criminal Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of 3 years incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine. Causing Serious Injury while Using a Cell Phone is a traffic offense that carries a maximum penalty of 1 year incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine.

State’s Attorney Peisinger thanks the Maryland State Police for their investigation of the incident along with the multiple first responder agencies who assisted with the scene and the resulting investigation.

A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Aberdeen Man Receives Combined 35 Year Incarceration Sentence for Two Separate Narcotics Violations

Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, announced today the sentencing of Brandon H. Warfield, 30, Aberdeen, Maryland, in two separate cases. Both cases related to the possession with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances. At the time of his arrest in both of these cases, the Defendant was on probation, to the Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney, Judge, Circuit Court for Harford County for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. Brandon H. Warfield was arrested on November 15, 2017 after an investigation by the Harford County Task Force. He was subsequently convicted on April 8, 2019 after a jury trial before the Honorable Yolanda L. Curtin, Judge, Circuit Court for Harford County. His conviction included the crimes of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine. At his sentencing on July 23, 2019, Judge Curtin imposed a sentence of fifteen (15) years to serve.

Brandon H. Warfield was also arrested on October 7, 2017 after an investigation by the Aberdeen Police Department. He was subsequently convicted after a five (5) day jury trial before the Honorable M. Elizabeth Bowen, Judge, Circuit for Harford County, on August 9, 2019. His convictions included the crimes of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of cocaine, and possession of paraphernalia. On the count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Judge Bowen imposed a sentence of twenty (20) years consecutive to the sentences imposed by both Judge Curtin and Judge Mahoney. A sentence of five (5) years, concurrent to the felony cocaine count, was imposed for the possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. In announcing her sentence, Judge Bowen stated “many offenders see drug offenses as victimless crimes. This is not true. Individuals, families and the communities are the victims.”

Judge Mahoney imposed the balance of Brandon H. Warfield’s sentence, twenty-two (22) months, for violating his probation. That sentence is to be served consecutive to Judge Curtin’s sentence.

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Harford County would like to thank the jurors who deliberated each of the cases. Further, the State’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Aberdeen Police Department, the Harford County Task Force, the Havre De Grace Police Department and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for their hard work and dedication in conducting the investigations that resulted in the conviction of Warfield. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys H. Scott Lewis and Jennifer Jaskulski-Tripp.

Edgewood Resident Convicted of Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine

Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, announced today the conviction of Artiis R. Williams, 37, Edgewood, Maryland, for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a large amount of heroin.