LA PLATA, Md. — A Waldorf man received a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree assault and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, following a 2024 shooting at a local apartment complex. Edward Stanley Stewart III, 39, appeared before Charles County Circuit Court Judge Monise A. Stephenson on August 21, 2025, for sentencing. State’s Attorney Tony Covington announced the outcome, which includes concurrent terms for the charges.
Stewart entered his guilty plea on July 2, 2025. The case originated from an April 10, 2024, incident when Charles County Sheriff’s Office officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 2100 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf. They found Stewart bleeding from gunshot wounds and with a torn shirt. He told officers the victim had shot him. Stewart was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment.
Investigators determined the events began the previous day. Stewart discovered his wife intoxicated in the victim’s apartment and confronted him. After returning home with his wife, Stewart sent threatening text messages the next day, warning the victim to stay away. While walking his dog, Stewart spotted the victim through a window in a vacant apartment. He placed his dog in a vehicle, climbed through the window, and confronted the victim again.
The men exited the apartment, and a verbal argument escalated into a physical fight in the building’s breezeway. The altercation shifted back inside the vacant unit, where the victim, who was armed, shot Stewart multiple times. Stewart was also armed with a gun during the incident, despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
The sentence details include 20 years for first-degree assault on count five and five years concurrent for firearm possession with a felony conviction on count nine. Under Maryland law, first-degree assault is a felony that prohibits intentionally causing or attempting to cause serious physical injury to another, or assaulting another with a firearm. Convictions can result in up to 25 years in prison. This offense elevates from second-degree assault when it involves a firearm or intent to cause serious harm.
Possession of a regulated firearm by a person with a disqualifying felony conviction carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, with a mandatory minimum of five years without parole if the prior conviction involved violence. Maryland statutes bar individuals convicted of felonies or certain misdemeanors punishable by more than two years imprisonment from owning or possessing firearms. Stewart’s prohibition stemmed from earlier convictions, including a 2008 guilty plea to third-degree sex offense, which resulted in a suspended sentence and probation. In 2016, he appealed aspects of that case, challenging the sentence’s legality, but the court upheld key terms.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office handled the initial response and investigation. A press release from the agency detailed the April 10, 2024, events, noting officers detained the shooter at the scene and confirmed the individuals knew each other. No ongoing threat to the community was reported, and detectives sought public tips through Charles County Crime Solvers.
Maryland’s gun laws, strengthened in recent years, aim to prevent prohibited individuals from accessing weapons. A 2025 Maryland Supreme Court ruling upheld bans on gun possession for those with non-felony sentences of two years or more, reinforcing restrictions like those applied to Stewart. Federal laws also prohibit felons from possessing firearms, aligning with state measures to reduce risks.
Stewart’s case highlights the consequences of escalating personal disputes with weapons. With his 20-year term, the sentence serves as a deterrent in a county working to maintain public safety amid occasional violence.
