WCBC

May 25th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

Michael O. Twigg, State’s Attorney for Allegany County, announced the following sentences in the Circuit Court of Allegany County:

Lester Salmond, 36, Baltimore, Maryland.

Lester Salmond was sentenced to 25 years in the Department of Corrections stemming from his arrest on July 17, 2015.  Salmond was a suspect in a robbery in the area of Baltimore Avenue, Cumberland.  Members of the Cumberland City Police Department responded to the location and were able to develop Salmond as a suspect.  He was observed a short time later and was apprehended as he attempted to flee.  Once arrested, Salmond was found to be in possession of 18 individual bags of crack cocaine and a loaded pistol.  Salmond was convicted Assault, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm.  Salmond was sentenced to 10 year with 5 suspended for the Assault; 14 years for the Possession charge; and 10 years with 4 suspended for the firearms charge.  All the sentences are imposed to run consecutive to each other for a total of 25 years actual incarceration. 

Twigg commented that “Salmond represents the worst type of offender that we see in our community.  His decision to come here and sell narcotics is one that he will have to live with for many years to come.  My Office will continue to focus its attention on those criminals that come to Allegany County and sell this poison to its citizens.”

William John Barry Christman, 28, Frostburg, Maryland.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, William John Barry Christman, 28, of Frostburg, Maryland, was found guilty by a jury of his peers, on the charges of possession of Oxycodone, and possession with intent to distribute the same.  Mr. Christman was sentenced to 10 years incarceration within the Department of Corrections; four of those years were suspended.  Christman will be on probation for a period of three years after his release.

The charges were the result of a State Police traffic stop where Christman was the driver of the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle discovered fifty-seven Oxycodone pills.  This led to a search warrant executed by C3I Narcotics of Christman’s motel room and the discovery of additional pills.  In total, 258 Oxycodone pills and an excess of six thousand dollars were seized from Christman.

Twigg commented that “Misuse and addiction to these pills is extremely dangerous and presents a threat to the entire country.  Indeed, much of the current overdose epidemic that is gripping our State is directly attributable to the illegal use of these drugs.”

Both cases were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Samuel J. Lane.  Kelly Clary, Esq. represented Salmon and Sean P. Gallagher represented Christman.  The Honorable Timothy Finan presided over both matters.