LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — On March 31, 2025, a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Robert Humphries III, 29, of Waldorf, on charges of felony robbery, felony third-degree burglary, second-degree assault, theft, and multiple counts of malicious destruction of property, following a two-day trial. The verdict stems from a domestic violence incident in August 2024, where Humphries assaulted a woman, stole her property, and damaged her home in Lexington Park, with the crimes occurring in the presence of the victim’s child. State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced the conviction, emphasizing her office’s commitment to protecting survivors of domestic violence.
Details of the Incident
The crimes unfolded over two days in August 2024. On August 9, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in Lexington Park, where Humphries had broken through the victim’s front door, assaulted her, stolen her belongings, and fled—all while the victim’s child was present. The following day, Humphries returned, forcibly took the victim’s phone, and shattered an apartment window, further traumatizing the victim. The jury’s finding that the violence occurred in front of a minor allows prosecutors to seek an additional five years of incarceration at sentencing, on top of the maximum penalty of 40 years and 210 days in prison.
“The Defendant terrorized the victim over a period of two days and robbed her in her own home,” Sterling said in a statement. She reaffirmed her office’s dedication to prosecuting domestic violence offenders and supporting survivors. Following the verdict, the court granted the State’s request to revoke Humphries’s bond, and he remains in custody at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending sentencing. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Pettersen, Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit, prosecuted the case, with Deputies Tyler Nichols and Mina Geric leading the investigation. The Honorable Amy Lorenzini presided over the trial.
The conviction has sparked reactions across Southern Maryland, where domestic violence remains a significant concern. In St. Mary’s County, with a population of 113,000, the sheriff’s office responded to 450 domestic violence calls in 2023, according to county records.
The case highlights the ongoing challenge of domestic violence in Southern Maryland. St. Mary’s County has only one domestic violence shelter, serving 200 clients annually, which falls short of the need, per county reports. Charles County’s Center for Abused Persons supports 300 survivors yearly but faces funding shortages, while Calvert’s Crisis Intervention Center serves 150 clients with similar constraints. Sterling’s prosecution aligns with her 2022 campaign promise to prioritize domestic violence, and the jury’s finding of violence in a minor’s presence reflects Maryland’s 2022 law allowing enhanced penalties in such cases.
However, the potential 40-year maximum sentence may not be fully imposed. Maryland sentencing guidelines often consider factors like prior convictions, and if Humphries has no violent history, the term could be reduced to 15-20 years, as seen in similar cases. As the sentencing date approaches, residents across these counties hope for both justice and increased support for survivors to prevent future incidents.
