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Man convicted in Severna Park shooting

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HomesInAnnapolis.com

Church Hill

Denton
Published September 07, 2008

A 40-year-old man who shot another man during a break-in at a Severna Park home last year pleaded guilty Friday to attempted murder and agreed to a 171/2-year prison sentence.

Police raided the same house two months after the break-in while investigating allegations of dog fighting and drug dealing.

Paul Anthony Walsh of Severna Park pleaded guilty to attempted murder, attempted armed robbery and a handgun charge as part of a plea agreement with the state. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to a 35-year sentence of which he will only have to serve half. He will be sentenced Nov. 14.

Deputy State's Attorney William Roessler noted the brazen nature of the June 30, 2007, home invasion. He said Walsh and an accomplice kicked down the door to 85 Glenns Road as Kevin J. Green, Michelle Beswick, and two other women ran for cover. He said the men were yelling for them to give them "the money."

He said Walsh went upstairs and shot Mr. Green twice in the chest and once in the hand. Mr. Green had to jump out of a second-floor window and hide in the woods behind his house to escape.

At the same time, his accomplice, Ambrose Rawls Jr., 29, of Baltimore, went to the basement and pistol whipped Ms. Beswick.

Walsh and Rawls eventually left the house without any money and drove away in a two-tone car. Police were called, told of the getaway vehicle, and arrested the pair after a high-speed chase.

Rawls entered an Alford plea April 15 to first-degree assault, attempted robbery and use of a handgun during the commission of a felony. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence while admitting that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. It carries all the consequences of a guilty plea.

Rawls was sentenced in July to 28 years in prison.

Kristin Fleckenstein, spokesman for the State's Attorney's Office, explained prosecutors agreed to give Walsh a shorter sentence than Rawls because of their respective criminal records and the evidence. She said Walsh's record was not as extensive as Rawls, who has six prior convictions in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. She noted that Ms. Beswick's blood was on Rawls' shirt, definitively linking him to the home invasion.

Police raided Mr. Green's house Sept. 7 after receiving a tip from neighbors that the residents were running a dog-fighting ring on the property.

Police seized four full-grown pit bulls and a puppy - many of which had injuries and scars from fighting. They said they caught Mr. Green in the bathroom with two baggies of crack cocaine and $600 in cash floating in the toilet.

Mr. Green, who claimed earlier this year the dogs weren't his and the drugs never existed, is charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute and maintaining a dog-fighting premises. He now plans to enter into a plea agreement with the state Sept. 29, but the details of that agreement are not available.

 

Reader comments: ( Post )
Comments solely reflect the views of and are the responsibility of users, not Capital Gazette Communications, Inc. or its suite of online properties including HometownAnnapolis.com, CapitalOnline.com, HometownGlenBurnie.com, and others. Readers may find some comments offensive or inaccurate. To comment, users agree to abide by rules of participation. If you believe a comment violates these rules, please notify us.
2 months 25 days 13 hours ago
Joke Prosecutors office
I'm sure all county residents sleep more easily at night knowing that someone who shoots a man twice in the chest and once in the hand was given due consideration when apparently his criminal career starting in 1992 culminated in the shooting he is charged with in 2007 merited rewarding. Only an incompetent prosecutors office incapable of serious prosecution of crimes would justify a plea deal as has happened here. The community and the county deserve more. This newspaper fails in its obligation to ask hard questions when confronted by government spokesman putting forth such ludicrous statements; however, if you get a contract for turf installation it is good to know that this newspaper will ask any tough question put forth by Democrat officials.
Mark Collins - Pasadena, MD

 

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