A 13-year-old Calvert County juvenile previously found involved in the rape of two 6-year-old girls has been committed to the custody of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, after a Circuit Court judge on Aug. 26 ordered DJS to secure a placement for him in a residential facility.
The exact facility has not yet been determined, but the order ensures the juvenile will not return to his community or attend Calvert County public schools. The placement may be in Maryland or another state, depending on available bed space.
The juvenile was originally sentenced in late June to probation with electronic monitoring, after the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office had recommended a secure, out-of-home placement instead. At the time, State’s Attorney Robert Harvey was sharply critical of the outcome, saying it reflected “everything that is wrong with our juvenile system.” One of the victims’ mothers also spoke publicly, saying the disposition failed both her daughters and the offender.
Within days of his release, the juvenile violated the no-contact condition of his probation by making a threatening phone call to another juvenile unconnected to the case. At the State’s Attorney’s Office’s request, he was taken back into custody; Harvey’s office filed a motion to revoke his probation, which a judge granted. He was held at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center pending Tuesday’s sentencing, which resulted in this week’s DJS commitment order.
Under the new order, the juvenile will receive counseling, treatment and other services at the secure facility DJS identifies for him. The case was handled by Assistant State’s Attorney April N. Brown.
