Office of the State's Attorney

Dear Citizens of Worcester County: Happy New Year! One year ago, I was sworn in as your State’s Attorney and since that time, I have relished the opportunity to advance the cause of justice in our county. As our dedicated team at the Office of the State’s Attorney begins tackling the challenges of this new year with determination and spirit, I am pleased to provide you with this brief review of our progress, and to outline for you our continued priorities moving forward. During 2019, our…

On December 12, 2019, Keith Mariani, age 61, of Berlin, Maryland, was sentenced to life imprisonment with all but 15 years suspended for his conviction on 1 count of 2nd degree rape, and sentenced to serve another 15 years in prison for his conviction on a 2nd count of 2nd degree rape. The Honorable Brian D. Shockley, Administrative Judge of the Worcester County Circuit Court, imposed both sentences to be served consecutively and without the possibility of parole, meaning that Mariani will…

On December 11, 2019, Darrell Richardson, age 60, of Pocomoke City, Maryland, was sentenced to a total of 30 years’ incarceration with all but 20 years suspended for convictions on 3 counts of distribution of child pornography by the Honorable Beau H. Oglesby in the Worcester County Circuit Court. Upon his release, Richardson will be on 5 years of supervised probation and is required to register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years. The charges stem from a cyber tip received by the Worcester…

On November 22, 2019, Todd Pivec, age 41, of Cockeysville, Maryland, was convicted of negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and driving a vehicle not equipped with ignition interlock in the Worcester County Circuit Court. The Honorable Beau H. Oglesby postponed sentencing until February 14, 2020 so that a pre-sentence investigation can be conducted. Pivec faces a total of 17 years in prison at sentencing. On June 21, 2019, just after 1:00 am, Ocean City Police Department was alerted by a…

On November 14, 2019, Elizabeth Redding, age 28, of West Ocean City, Maryland, was sentenced to 20 years’ incarceration with all but 10 years suspended, after having been convicted of distribution of fentanyl in the Worcester County Circuit Court. This conviction also resulted in a violation of Redding’s probation in another case, for which she was sentenced by the Honorable Beau H. Oglesby to serve an additional 3 years’ incarceration consecutively. Redding will be on 5 years of supervised…

The Office of the State’s Attorney and law enforcement agencies in Worcester County have joined with the Department of Social Services and the Worcester County Health Department to create a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the swift and thorough investigation of criminal complaints involving vulnerable adult victims. Working collaboratively on the range of legal, medical and mental health issues that commonly present during these investigations will allow for better assessments of the needs…

On October 18, 2019, Jennifer Zadnick, aka Jennifer Snider, age 45, of Ocean City, Maryland, was convicted of theft from $100 to $1,500 in the Snow Hill District Court. The Honorable Gerald V. Purnell scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2019, to allow Zadnick time to pay $530 in restitution to the Ocean Pines Fire Department. Zadnick faces 6 months in jail at sentencing. The charges stem from Zadnick’s involvement in a fundraiser for the Ocean Pines Fire Department. The Fire Department…

On July 10, 2019, Jeremy Flatley, age 18, of Newark, Maryland, was convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon in the Worcester County Circuit Court. On October 4, 2019, he was sentenced by the Honorable Beau H. Oglesby to serve 20 years in the Division of Correction, with all but 8 suspended. Flatley will be on 4 years of supervised probation upon his release. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Basket Switch Road in Newark,…

On September 13, 2019, Richard Perry, age 51, of Berlin, Maryland, was sentenced to 7 years’ incarceration with all but 14 months suspended after having been convicted of theft scheme over $100,000 in the Worcester County Circuit Court. In July, 2019, the Honorable Brian D. Shockley postponed sentencing to allow Perry time to gather the substantial amount of restitution owed to the victim. As a part of the plea, Perry forfeited over $30,000 seized by the Ocean City Police Department and…

On September 11, 2019, Keith Mariani, age 61, of Berlin, Maryland, was found guilty of 2 counts of 2nd degree rape by the Honorable Brian D. Shockley, Administrative Judge of the Worcester County Circuit Court. Prior to the trial date, the State filed a notice which increased the maximum penalty to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ incarceration without parole on each count. Sentencing was deferred by the Court pending a pre-sentence investigation. The charges…