Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office recovered a loaded handgun during a traffic stop in Lexington Park on October 8, 2025, leading to the arrest of Marquis Deangelo Barnes, 36, of Lexington Park. The stop, initiated for a vehicle with a malfunctioning headlight, revealed Barnes driving on a suspended license and under the influence of alcohol, with further checks showing he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions and an active protective order.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. when deputies on proactive patrol along Great Mills Road spotted the vehicle near the intersection with Pacific Drive. The driver did not stop immediately and continued to the 21000 block of Liberty Street before pulling over. Upon contact, deputies noted a strong odor of alcohol from Barnes, who admitted to drinking but declined field sobriety tests. He was arrested on site.
A vehicle search uncovered two bottles of liquor—one miniature and one partially full—along with a Taurus .40-caliber handgun loaded and chambered. Barnes faces charges including knowingly possessing a regulated firearm after a disqualifying crime conviction, possession of ammunition while prohibited, carrying a handgun in a vehicle on public roads, carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle on public roads, and failure to comply with a court order to surrender firearms to law enforcement. Additional citations include driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, and related traffic violations. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center and held without bond.
Under Maryland law, individuals convicted of disqualifying crimes—such as felonies, misdemeanors punishable by more than two years imprisonment, or certain violent offenses—are barred from possessing regulated firearms. Disqualifying factors also include fugitive status, habitual substance use, or mental disorders with a history of violence. Protective orders in the state require firearm surrender to law enforcement, with officers responsible for secure transport and storage until the order expires or eligibility is verified. Failure to comply with such orders constitutes a separate offense, as outlined in Maryland’s public safety statutes.
For DUI offenses, Maryland imposes penalties starting with up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for a first conviction, escalating for repeats or aggravating factors like minors in the vehicle. DWI, a lesser charge, carries up to 60 days incarceration and a $500 fine for first offenses. The state prohibits driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, or while impaired by controlled substances. License suspension often follows, with administrative hearings available to contest.
