Department of Justice Highlights Include Robbery and DUI Convictions, and a Prison Sentence for Child Abuse

WILMINGTON, DE – Deputy Attorneys General within the Delaware Department of Justice had several significant successes recently.

Trials:

Deputy Attorneys General Matt Frawley and Christina Kontis secured a guilty verdict against Leshawn Buckham, 28, of Wilmington, on two counts of first degree robbery. Buckham was seen shoplifting from the Sears in the Concord Mall in Wilmington in August 2014. When approached in the parking lot, she assaulted two loss prevention officers from the store, including using pepper spray, before getting into a car and driving away.

Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci secured a conviction against Joseph Mullins, 28, of Clayton, on charges of second degree driving under the influence, careless driving, and failure to have insurance. He was immediately sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by one year of probation. He is also required to complete a DUI program.

Sentences:

Deputy Attorney General Josette Manning secured five-year prison sentence for Casey Eller, 36, of Smyrna, for his guilty plea to first degree child abuse. In May 2014, Eller abused his 5-month-old son resulting in a long term, serious injury.

Deputy Attorneys General Joe Grubb and Michael DegliObizzi secured a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence against 28-year-old Darryl West of Bridgeville, for drug dealing, promoting prison contraband, and conspiracy. West was a corrections officer and was caught smuggling cell phones and marijuana into the prison.

Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured a 20-year prison sentence for Jason Scott, 39, of Newark, for attempted murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The shooting took place during a drug deal at a Pike Creek apartment complex in May 2014. Scott was also sentenced to probation for 2 counts of third degree burglary, and second degree conspiracy for a series of vehicle burglaries in New Castle County parks. Burglary 3rd Degree and Conspiracy 2nd degree in a separate case. His probation will run after his prison time, concurrent to his probation on the attempted murder.

Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured a 9-year prison for Maurice Clements, 24, of Bear, for possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, drug dealing, and second degree conspiracy. Clements was also declared a habitual offender. Another defendant in the case, Michael Clements, 26, also of Bear, was sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison for possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, and drug dealing.

Deputy Attorney General Barzilai Axelrod secured a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Jerel Hackett, 45, of Wilmington for possession of burglar tools. In April 2014, Hackett tried to steal scrap metal from an electrical substation, and fled when police tried to arrest him. Hackett, who was declared an habitual offender, also received probation on his accompanying resisting arrest charge.

Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured a prison sentence for Jamal Winckler, 25, of Newark. He was sentenced to 8 years, suspended after 3 years, followed by probation, on charges of fourth degree rape, and sex offender unlawful sexual conduct against a child. Winckler had sex with a young teen while the victim was at a friend’s house.

Resolutions:

Deputy Attorney General Sonia Augusthy secured a guilty plea from Paul Jewell, 32, of Newark, on charges of rape and continuous sexual abuse of child. Jewell faces a minimum mandatory sentence of four years in prison, and has agreed to request no less than eight years at sentencing.

Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a guilty plea from Corey Sliwinski, 18, of Wilmington, for possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. Sliwinski was arrested for two violations of probation, and police found a gun while searching his home. Sliwinski was sentenced to a minimum mandatory 5 years in prison, plus an additional 30 years of back time.

Deputy Attorney General Caterina Gatto secured a guilty plea to one count of second degree burglary, and two counts of third degree burglary from William Comrie, 44, of Newark. Comrie was responsible for two break-ins in Newark in April of 2014. He was sentenced as a habitual offender to eight years in prison.

Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured a guilty plea from Gregory Davis, 57, of Clayton, to two counts of second degree burglary, and two counts of second degree forgery. Davis broke into homes, stole money and checks, and then cashed the checks at area banks. He is being declared a habitual offender, and sentencing is recommended for 12 years in prison.

Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured a guilty plea to two counts of second degree robbery, and one count of second degree conspiracy from Dymere Hall, 22, of New Castle. Hall is responsible for the robberies of two convenience stores in New Castle County in December 2014.