A 65-year-old Lexington Park man is facing 16 charges after deputies say he pointed a handgun at a group of juveniles over the weekend, though the severity of those charges varies sharply under Maryland law.
St. Mary’s County deputies responded Sunday to the 21000 block of Liberty Street in Lexington Park for a weapons complaint after several juveniles reported that a man had confronted them with a handgun. Deputies located a man matching the description, identified as William James Doyle III, of Lexington Park, who was carrying a Ruger Lightweight Compact Pistol with an empty chamber and a magazine holding six 9mm rounds. According to investigators, several of the juveniles said Doyle pointed the firearm at them during the confrontation. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
Doyle was arrested and charged with seven counts of first-degree assault, seven counts of second-degree assault, one count of wearing and carrying a loaded handgun, and one count of wearing and carrying a handgun. He has not been convicted, and the charges represent allegations only.
The gap between his most and least serious charges is substantial: first-degree assault is a felony under Maryland Criminal Law § 3-202, punishable by up to 25 years in prison, and is classified as a “crime of violence” under the state’s Public Safety Article. Second-degree assault, by contrast, is a misdemeanor under § 3-203, carrying a maximum of 10 years and a $2,500 fine.
The handgun counts are misdemeanors under § 4-203, each punishable by up to five years and a $2,500 fine for a first offense; Maryland law treats the loaded-handgun variant as a mandatory-minimum offense that a judge cannot suspend.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008, or 911 in an emergency. Tips can be submitted anonymously through tip411 by texting “SMCSO” plus a message to 847411, online at www.FirstSheriff.com/tips, through the SMCSO app, or by calling Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333, where tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
