On June 7, 2019, Rodney Harmon, Jr., age 34 of Stockton, Maryland, was sentenced in the Worcester County Circuit Court to a total of 75 years’ incarceration in the Maryland Division of Correction, with all but 37 years suspended. Harmon will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. Harmon was convicted of 3 counts of sexual abuse of a minor and 1 count of displaying an obscene item to a minor on February 14, 2019.
The charges stem from a complaint of child sexual abuse received by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2018. The Worcester County Child Advocacy Center (the Cricket Center) and Child Protective Services began a joint investigation which revealed that Harmon had sexually abused multiple children while serving as a youth pastor for a local church in Pocomoke City, Maryland.
Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser commended the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Cricket Center, Life Crisis, and Detective Martin for their tireless work on the investigation, and thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Farlow for prosecuting this difficult case. Heiser stated "I am proud that the collaborative efforts of all agencies involved allowed the State to argue for and obtain a sentence above the Maryland sentencing guidelines as a result of these heinous offenses, which were committed against the most vulnerable in our community."
The mission of the Cricket Center is to create a community response in which abusers are held accountable and children and families experience hope and healing. The multidisciplinary team is made up of law enforcement officers, child protective service personnel, prosecutors, advocates, mental health therapists and medical personnel. To learn more, or to report suspected child abuse, please contact 410-641-0097.