Region Digest

Court says name change didn't invalidate case

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ An appellate court has ruled that changing your name is no escape from criminal charges.

The Court of Special Appeals upheld the Washington County cocaine distribution conviction of a man named in an indictment as Thomas Reginald Martinez.

Martinez had argued that the 2007 conviction was invalid because a key witness against him testified that she bought drugs from a person dressed as a woman and named Tameka Arrington.

Martinez conceded that he had legally changed his name to Tameka Arrington, but said the prosecution never...