A Lexington Park man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, with one year of active incarceration, for his role in the death of a man outside CalvertHealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick.
On February 3, 2025, Joshua Walter Messick, 36, was sentenced in the Circuit Court for Calvert County after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Judge Mark W. Carmean handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised probation following his release.
In 2024, Messick was working as a security guard at CalvertHealth Medical Center when he was called to remove a man from the hospital lobby. After escorting the victim outside, Messick forcefully shoved him to the ground, causing the victim to strike his head on the pavement. The man suffered a traumatic brain injury and later died.
Messick was arrested following an investigation and stood trial in August 2024, where a jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Monte.
The court’s ruling follows a case that raised concerns about the use of force in security-related incidents. Prosecutors argued that Messick’s actions were excessive and ultimately resulted in the victim’s death.
Messick will serve one year in prison before being placed on supervised probation for three years. The remaining years of his sentence will be suspended.
Authorities have not released the name of the victim.
