WCBC

October 18th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

Allegany County States Attorney Michael Twigg, State’s Attorney, announced on Thursday that Mark Whorton, Jr, 35 of Cumberland, was convicted of second degree burglary.  The Honorable W. Timothy Finan, Allegany County Circuit Court Judge, sentenced Whorton to 15 years in the Maryland Department of Corrections, suspending all but 10 years of the sentence.

On March 3, 2018, Cumberland City Police were called to an unoccupied residence on Maryland Avenue for suspicious activity.  When police arrived, they found the residence ransacked.  The owner arrived and indicated items were missing from inside her deceased mother’s home.  A witness having observed the suspicious activity earlier, was able to provide police with a description of the suspect and the license plate number of the vehicle which had driven away with the suspect in it.  Police were able to locate the vehicle, and ultimately contacted Whorton and his girlfriend, who admitted to having been in the Maryland Avenue earlier in the day.  The stolen items were recovered within their residence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Erich Bean.  Mr. Whorton was represented by attorney Kelly Clark.

Also Thursday Twigg announced that Sandra DeGrange, 54 of  Frederick, was convicted in Allegany County Circuit Court of conspiracy to commit robbery.  The Honorable Jeffrey Getty sentenced DeGrange to 10 years in the Maryland Department of Corrections, suspending five years of the sentence. 

In the early morning hours of December 29, 2017, two local convenience stores were robbed.  During the course of the investigation, it was learned that DeGrange had conspired with Christopher Platter to rob the 7-Eleven Store located on Maryland Avenue. Platter entered the store displaying a toy gun, robbed the clerk, then exited the store and entered a vehicle driven by DeGrange, who fled the area.

Platter has previously been convicted of the robberies and is serving a 15 year sentence in the Maryland Department of Corrections.

The case was investigated by the C3I Unit and Cumberland City Police Department.  Assistant State’s Attorney Erich Bean prosecuted the case.  DeGrange was represented by attorney Kelly Clark.