Woman Sentenced In Maryland For Interstate Domestic Violence

A U.S. federal judge in Maryland recently sentenced a Florida woman to 16 years in federal prison for interstate domestic violence, according to a Department of Justice press release.

According to the plea agreement in this case, the Florida woman made contact with a 17-year-old minor female via social media in May 2017. After communicating with the minor on various platforms, the minor left her father’s home to date the Florida woman.

In July 2017, the minor’s parents reported her missing to the authorities. It seems that the minor and the Florida woman were staying together in a local hotel. At that time, the Florida woman was on probation for a previous assault and knew of the minor’s age.

On July 21, 2017, the minor traveled independently to her mother’s home in Halethorpe, Maryland. The minor intended to finish high school in Maryland and then return to Florida. The minor planned to resume dating the Florida woman and continued communicating with her via social media and other platforms.

But after the minor got to Maryland, the Florida woman seemed to become agitated. The Florida woman demanded that the minor stay at home and refrain from interacting with friends. Then the Florida woman began to excessively call the minor’s residence in Maryland, where she lived with her mother and grandmother.

The minor’s mother reported these activities to local authorities in Florida, who commanded that the Florida woman cease and desist further communication.

On July 30, 2017, the Florida woman traveled to the minor’s residence in Maryland. Once there, the Florida woman entered the residence and restrained the minor’s grandmother with duct tape. When the minor arrived with a friend, the Florida woman banished a knife and a handgun.

After instructing the minor’s friend to go to the basement, the Florida woman held a handgun to the minor’s head. Then the Florida woman forced the minor into a vehicle, stabbed the minor, and assaulted the minor with a handgun.

At some point thereafter, the Florida woman took the minor to a hotel in Elkridge, Maryland. But when a hotel employee noticed the minor’s wounds, they contacted local police. Officers responded to that call, arrested the Florida woman, and transported the minor to a hospital for medical treatment.

As a result of this incident, the minor sustained a fracture to her orbital bone and stab wounds to her eyelid, head, and hands. And the Florida woman pleaded guilty to U.S. federal charges of interstate domestic violence.

Do You Need Legal Help?

If you need legal assistance with domestic violence under Maryland state law, it can be extremely constructive to speak with a rigorous Bel Air domestic violence attorney. The attorneys at Schlaich & Thompson, Chartered have more than 60 years of combined legal experience in family and criminal law, including domestic violence. If you need legal help, contact us today for an initial consultation.

SOURCE:

justice.gov/usao-md/pr/orlando-florida-woman-sentenced-16-years-federal-prison-interstate-domestic-violence