Man convicted in Severna Park shooting

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.