Other defendants face prison time for rape and child porn charges

Attorneys with the Delaware Department of Justice recently obtained significant criminal convictions and sentences:

Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney and Erika Flaschner successfully tried Dominique Tisinger, 24, of Wilmington, receiving convictions on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited, Resisting Arrest, Attempted Escape Third Degree, and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. In October 2015, police responded to a call about a man threatening people with a gun in the 1900 block of Lancaster Avenue. When police arrived in the area, they attempted to stop Tisinger, prohibited from having a gun because of violent felony convictions for Drug Dealing charges in 2012 and 2013, who was walking in the area of South Broom Street. As he ran from police, officers saw Tisinger throw something that turned out to be a loaded semi-automatic handgun. Tisinger was taken into custody a few blocks away. Tisinger faces sentencing by the court in August, and will receive at least 10 years in prison.

Deputy Attorney General Casey Ewart secured a prison sentence for 36-year-old Tyrell Mackey of Lewes. In September 2015, Mackey broke into the home of his elderly uncle in the 26000 block of Mount Joy Road in Millsboro, and stole a handgun the victim kept for protection. Mackey pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Theft of a Firearm, for which he was declared a habitual offender due to his prior convictions of two violent felonies. Mackey had been prohibited from having a firearm because of a 2007 Possession With the Intent to Deliver Drugs conviction and a 2009 escape conviction. Mackey was sentenced by the court to a total of 12 years in prison, then 2 years of Level III probation after completion of the Key Program.

Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn secured a prison sentence for Matthew Hagins, 28, of New Castle on two counts of Rape Second Degree. In July 2015, Hagins raped a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl who followed him home from a local playground after a basketball game. Judge Abigail LeGrow sentenced Hagins to 20 years in prison, followed by 6 months at Level IV, then two years of Level III probation. Hagins must also register as a Tier 3 sex offender.

Deputy Attorney General Julie Johnson secured a plea from Jeremy Seiller, 31, of Lewes, to four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. In September 2015, members of the Child Predator Task Force, along with Delaware State Police executed a search warrant at Seiller’s home in the 31000 block of Sycamore Court, based on an investigation into the distribution of child pornography on the internet. Detectives seized several computers, including a laptop that contained more than 25 videos of children engaged in prohibited sex acts. Seiller will face up to 12 years in prison when sentenced by the court in July.

Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured a prison sentence for 46-year-old Kalvin Benjamin of New Castle, for his guilty plea to charges of Assault First Degree and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. In March 2015, Benjamin accused another man of stealing Benjamin’s hand truck. The fight turned physical, and Benjamin stabbed the victim in the abdomen, causing extensive internal injuries. Benjamin was sentenced by the court to seven years in prison, which is three years more than the mandatory minimum sentence.

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