Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The county attorney calls the bill to permanently remove the Anne Arundel county executive "premature, because sentencing has not occurred.”
The Anne Arundel County Council introduced legislation that would remove County Executive John R. Leopold from his office, but the county’s attorney said such a decision is may be too hasty. The council cast no vote at its emergency session on Wednesday afternoon, but introduced Bill 7-13, which would declare a vacancy in the executive’s position. The bill draws on a provision recently added to the county's charter after its passage in the November general election. Leopold was found guilty on two counts of misconduct in office on Tuesday. Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond is now serving as acting Anne Arundel county executive as a result of the suspension of Leopold from his duties. County Attorney Jonathan Hodgson argued that …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Anne Arundel county executive could now face removal from office.
UPDATE (6:15 p.m.)—A Circuit Court judge in Annapolis found Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold guilty of two counts of criminal misconduct in office on Tuesday. Chief Administrative Officer John Hammond is now serving as acting Anne Arundel county executive as a result of the suspension of Leopold from his duties. Sweeney acquitted Leopold of three other charges. Leopold faced a five-count grand jury indictment that included four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. The Anne Arundel County Council is expected to vote on Leopold's removal from office as soon as Monday. Prosecutors of the case claimed that Leopold misused his security detail—which is paid for by the county—…
Monday, January 28, 2013
The defense rested its case on Monday morning.
Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney is expected to begin deliberations after closing arguments on Tuesday in the misconduct trial of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. Sweeney rejected defense attorney Bruce Marcus' motion for a summary judgment of acquittal on Monday, which was the second time the defense put forth the motion. Sweeney agreed with part of the first motion on Friday, dismissing one misconduct charge against the Pasadena Republican. The judge said when the police drove Leopold around the county to destroy or remove the campaign signs of his opponent Joanna Conti during the 2010 election it showed "poor judgement" but not misconduct in office. Leopold still faces three counts of misconduct in office and one count of …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Here's a quick look back at the biggest headlines of the week in Annapolis.
1—Police Arrest 2 Men in Connection with Fatal Shooting Detectives arrested two men in connection with a fatal shooting in Annapolis less than 24 hours after officers discovered the victim in the Bywater community. 2—Leopold Misconduct Trial Did you miss some of the day-to-day coverage in the misconduct trial of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold? You can get caught up at Patch's topic page for the trial by clicking the link above. Leopold was charged with four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary in March 2012. 3—Legislators Move to Create Elections for County School Board Members of Anne Arundel County's Statehouse delegation are trying to convert the county School Board from …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Day three of the misconduct trial of County Executive John Leopold centered around his re-election campaign and its operations.
The third day of testimony in the misconduct trial against Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold centered around his 2010 election campaign. Leopold faces a five-count indictment, which includes four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. His bench trial in front of Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeny started in Annapolis on Friday. Leopold's Campaign Signs Cpl. Mark Walker, a 24-year veteran with the Anne Arundel County Police, testified that he placed, distributed and removed campaign signs from around the county during Leopold's 2010 re-election bid. Walker was assigned to Leopold's executive protection unit—a group of officers tasked with protecting the county executive. "Leopold …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Here's a quick look back at the biggest headlines of the week in Annapolis.
No. 1—Secretary, Police Testify in Leopold Trial Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold's misconduct trial started in Circuit Court in Annapolis on Wednesday with jury selection. Leopold faces a five-count indictment, which includes four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. He waived his right to a jury trial and his bench trial in front of Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeny started in Annapolis on Friday. No. 2—Chipotle Coming to Downtown Annapolis The city's Board of Appeals voted unanimously to grant Chipotle a special exception permit to open a location at 36 Market Space—the space currently occupied by Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers. Moe's Southwest Grill had protested the …
Friday, January 18, 2013
The defense for Anne Arundel's county executive says the accusations while "tawdry" do not rise to a level of criminal behavior.
The prosecution and defense laid out their cases in opening statements for the trial of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold on Friday morning. Leopold faces a five-count indictment, which includes four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. Maryland State Prosecutor Emmet Davitt said his case would "in a nutshell" show that the two-term county executive "willfully abused and misused" the powers given to him under the Anne Arundel County Charter. He highlighted the prosecution's first witness, Patricia Medlin, who served as Leopold's scheduling secretary during his two terms in office. "She will describe an atmosphere of intimidation and fear," Davitt said. "Fear of incurring Mr. …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Anne Arundel County Executive will let a judge decide whether he's guilty of misconduct in office.
Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold—who is accused of tasking county police officers with his 2010 campaign errands—has waived his right to a jury trial. He's opting instead to let Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney decide his fate in a bench trial on four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury in March 2012, alleges that Leopold used county police officers assigned to him as a security detail to perform a range of tasks ranging from compiling information on his political "enemies" and removing his opponent's campaign signs in 2010 to running interference between his live-in girlfriend and his mistress. The indictment…
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold faces four counts of misconduct in office.
Opening statements in the trial of Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold—who is accused of tasking county police officers with his personal and political errands—could start as early as Thursday afternoon. Maryland State Prosecutor Emmet Davitt said the jury would be seated on Thursday, but he was not sure whether enough time would be left for pretrial motions and opening statements. It will depend on how quickly Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney can seat 12 jurors and four alternates. Leopold, a Pasadena Republican, faces a five-dcount indictment handed down by a grand jury in March that included four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary. It alleges that …
Shank
12:13 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
This quote sticks in my head with many of today's politicians, "Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct". ~Thomas Jefferson more ›