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$20 doesn't get homeless man very far

Man who got break from judge charged again

By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

Published 07/09/09

Three weeks ago, a county judge reached into his own wallet and gave a petty criminal $20 to get on a bus and get out of town.

Instead of taking the judge's advice, he's back behind bars.

Devan Williams, 20, was charged Tuesday morning with felony theft and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Williams, who has a history of misdemeanor convictions, was arrested after he allegedly stole a car from a local dealership and sped off down West Street. He's being held once again at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in Parole, this time on a $20,000 bond.

Circuit Court Judge Paul A. Hackner, who heard almost immediately from deputies that Williams was still in Annapolis, declined to comment about the man's most recent run-in with the law.

The arrest came 18 days after Hackner ordered Williams' immediate release from the county jail, where he had served the previous 69 days on charges he broke into the city police station and stole a police uniform.

Williams pleaded guilty June 18 to misdemeanor theft and impersonating a police officer charges. Hacker then sentenced Williams to two years in prison, but he suspended all but the time he already had served.

Before ordering Williams' release, however, Hackner gave him the $20. He said he hoped Williams would go to Baltimore and reconnect with his family.

"That's my contribution to the peace and quiet of Annapolis," Hackner said. "Hopefully, you can get a bus or something and get out of town."

He later said he felt bad for Williams. He openly worried that without the bus fare, Williams would walk out of the jail and commit another crime in Annapolis.

"I just felt like we'd be setting the guy up for failure," the judge told The Capital.

But according to court documents, the money did little to keep Williams out of trouble.

A city police officer was parked at a gas station on West Street near McKendree Avenue at about 5 a.m. when he saw a 2006 Mercury Mariner speed by in the westbound lanes. The vehicle, which the officer eventually determined was driving 60 mph in the 30 mph zone, also did not have its headlights on, court document said.

The officer stopped the vehicle near Chinquapin Round Road and spoke to the driver, whom he later identified as Williams. There, Williams said he did not have a driver's license and that he didn't know who owned the car.

"The vehicle was sitting on the lot of the Lincoln-Mercury dealership with the keys in the ignition and I just took it," Williams told police, according to court documents.

Williams has been a regular guest of the county jail over the past two years. According to online court records and jail staff, he has 10 previous convictions - primarily for misdemeanors like trespassing and disorderly conduct.

No trial date has been set on Williams' car theft charges.

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Not just this case - 2009-07-13 12:42:07

But the judges in the County really start to heed the sentencing guidelines. They are fairly lenient as it is; but when a judge disregards them it send the wrong message to everyone.
The bad guys know that they can do essentially anything and get a slap on the wrist (hey if you are lucky yo may even score $20 to buy some crack).
The good guys become completely dis-infatuated and disappointed with the system.
And the cops sit there and wonder if their chosen career really means anything at all.

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John F. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

$20 - 2009-07-10 12:09:25

The $20 probably bought him his drug of choice and the need to steal the car to find someone to rob or something to steal for more.

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Michelle B. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Good

where's the follow-through? - 2009-07-10 11:28:13

First, why didn't the judge give him a bus ticket rather than cash, and have him escorted on board? Second, why wasn't he arrested on contempt of court charges the minute he was spotted back in the city limits? (According to a previous article he was seen by police prior to stealing the car.)

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Scott S. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent

Wishful thinking. - 2009-07-10 08:03:00

But who didn't predict this would happen? But then again the local justice system is not justice per se but simply a process. If the system can grab money from those that can afford it (And pass some on to lawyers, social workers and other parasites) they do. If not they might, just MIGHT jail someone. Mostly, dangerous 5 time losers are just released on a promise to appear and then IF actually convicted they are released on probation and soon afterwards re-offend. Usually it's PBJ, a Stet or Nolle Pro. Why? Because the jails are full. Full of whom? Go to the Detention Center on any Friday at 5:00 and you'll see hundreds of people waiting to get in that hurt no-one but got stopped at a checkpoint and blew a .08, had a tiny amount of weed or had a gun in the trunk. The car thieves and housebreakers that actually DO get jail time see it as a vacation from the hot or cold streets with 3 hots and a cot, cable TV and gleeful association with like minded animals.

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Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Good

Bad Judge(ment) - 2009-07-09 15:55:40

I'm very confused by the judicial system decision in this case. Mr. Williams has been a regular guest of the county jail system for the past two years. He steals a police officers uniform and impersonates a police officer and only serves 69 days for that but was given a 2 year sentence which was promptly suspended, given $20 by the Judge and was released to commit another crime of stealing a car, driving 60 mph in a 30 mph zone. Please explain to me when will this stop? When Mr. Williams kills someone from another car theft or gets his hands on a gun and robs someone at gun point and kills them? I really hope the next judge looks at Mr. Williamss history of crime, see's that it's getting worse rather then better, and thinks of a better way to handle it rather then giving the guy $20 and hopes he becomes Baltimores problem and not Annapolis anymore. There has to be a better way to help someone.

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m. jones - annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Shocking? - 2009-07-09 13:58:13

No one, the judge included, is really surprised at this turn of events, are they? The first thing that came to mind when I heard of the judge's attempt to rid the city of this trash was, "What a waste of $20".

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Mark P. - Chester, MD - Karma: Neutral