Arundel Digest | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

ANNAPOLIS - Lawyers representing two inmates accused of killing a corrections officer in 2006 will be able to see disciplinary records and investigative files of 20 prison guards under an agreement this week in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Attorneys for inmates Lamarr Harris and Lee Stephens suspect the 20 guards have taken part in corrupt activities, and want to demonstrate how contraband smuggling at the Maryland House of Correction resulted in the death of David McGuinn. The prison has since been closed.

The defense lawyers have sought records that could show gang connections of any of the officers.

Rick Binetti, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said the agency has seen no evidence to indicate a conspiracy between gang members and corrections staff to smuggle illegal items into the prisons or to engage in other corrupt activity.

"The contraband coming in from staff is generally just bad decision making, not some organized activity," Mr. Binetti said in an e-mail.

The agreement forged with Maryland requires that defense lawyers review the records behind closed doors and to keep the information confidential.

Circuit Judge Paul Hackner will decide any disputes over the relevance of documents to the legal proceedings.

Panelists to address board commission

ANNAPOLIS - The county School Board Nominating Commission will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the State House Office Building complex at 6 Bladen St.

The meeting will address administrative issues as well as include commentary from guest panelists invited to share their advice on what role members of the Board of Education should have in county government.

Following the panel, public commentary will be welcome, but must not exceed five minutes.

For details, e-mail the commission at sbncacc@gmail.com.

Coast Guard Yard petty officer honored

CURTIS BAY - An Ellicott City man was honored Wednesday at the Coast Guard Yard as the Baltimore Area Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year.

Petty Officer First Class Robert Flickinger is the yard's executive petty officer for the Coast Guard Aids-to-Navigation Team Baltimore.

A 12-year veteran, he has been stationed in Baltimore since 2005 and executive petty officer for the past three years.

Coast Guard Aids-to-Navigation Teams tend to beacons, buoys and other navigational aids to promote safe navigation for boaters on U.S. waterways.

Petty Officer Flickinger conducted more than 100 aids-to-navigation missions accounting for 600 underway hours during the last year. While engaged in those operations, his professionalism and leadership helped achieve the team's zero operational mishap rating, supervisors said.

The annual awards began in 1981 at the initiation of the State of Maryland Navy League to honor the achievements of Baltimore-area enlisted personnel. Nominations concentrate on members' demonstration of leadership, Coast Guard rating skills, knowledge and core values, personal and work ethics, teamwork and community service.

Indictment expected against county cop

BEL AIR - Harford County prosecutors are expected to seek a grand jury indictment in the case of an off-duty Anne Arundel County police officer suspected of causing a fatal accident then fleeing the scene.

Maryland State Police spokesman Elena Russo said the Harford County State's Attorney may present the case to the grand jury in April, but could decide to wait for a future grand jury session.

The officer has not been identified by police or prosecutors.

The crash happened about 6 a.m. Jan. 28 on Interstate 95.

Police said a northbound Nissan truck struck a sport utility vehicle in the rear, causing the SUV to flip over a median guardrail.

The crash killed 28-year-old Antonio Martinez of Baltimore and injured two passengers.

The truck was found later in Cecil County, at the home of a relative of the officer.

Police seek help with vehicle fires

PASADENA - County firefighters are investigating two suspicious vehicle fires outside a home early yesterday morning.

Crews were called to the 1300 block of Tuggies Road at about 3:40 a.m.

When they arrived, they found two vehicles on fire, with the flames extending to the exterior of the home, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.

It took 34 firefighters about 10 minutes to get the blazes under control.

There was only minor damage to the outside of the house, but both vehicles were a total loss, Chief Cox said.

Fire investigators are calling the incident suspicious.

They are asking anyone with information to call the Arson Tip Line at 410-222-TIPS.

CAC set to elect new officers

ANNAPOLIS - The countywide Citizen Advisory Committee is set to elect its new officers Thursday.

A new chairman, vice chairman and secretary will be selected to serve two-year terms, starting May 1 and ending April 30, 2010, said Judy Rau, a member of the CAC nominating committee.

The CAC is legally charged with advising the county Board of Education on policy and other issues of interest to the community and parents.

Each public school in the county is required to have a CAC, and they converge in the countywide group.

The meeting and election is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the school board room in the school system's central office at 2466 Riva Road in Annapolis.

To run for a position, contact Ms. Rau at judyrau@yahoo.com.

Inmates make for tidier roadsides

GLEN BURNIE - If county roadsides seem tidier lately, thank the inmates from the Ordnance Road Detention Center.

Inmates have collected 11,500 bags of trash, 30 gallons each, plus nearly 7,000 illegal signs from state and county roadways since October, when the Trash and Illegal Sign Removal Project began.

County Executive John R. Leopold launched the program to address complaints of unsightly litter. He secured a state permit so the inmates could collect garbage on state-maintained roads in addition to the county roads already under county jurisdiction.

Each weekend 16 inmates, supervised by four county employees, traverse roads in the county to perform a job that normally would cost taxpayers $13.69 per hour, Mr. Leopold said.

- Staff and wire reports

Corrections

A story about a 10-minute increase in the school day for public school students in Wednesday's Maryland Gazette incorrectly reported an aspect of the teacher contract that went into effect two years ago.

The teachers' workweek was increased by two hours.

An incorrect phone number was published in the March 12 Maryland Gazette story about the fundraiser for Anthony Pagan, a 3-year-old leukemia patient. For more information on the April 19 benefit, contact his aunt, Tricia Collins at 443-631-3783.

We regret the errors.