Delaware News

Department of Justice Recent Cases Include Prison Time For Assaults, Weapons Charges, and Child Pornography

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, May 6, 2016



Prosecutors within the Delaware Department of Justice recently obtained significant convictions and sentences.

A Wilmington man will spend eight years in prison for a domestic assault. Deputy Attorney General Joe Grubb obtained the sentence from the court for John McCasline, 50, on charges of Assault Second Degree, and Terroristic Threatening as a habitual offender. In August 2015, McCasline went to his girlfriend’s home in the 200 block of West Fourth Street in Wilmington, and during an argument, hit her repeatedly in the head with a bottle. After serving his prison term, McCasline will serve 6 months at Level IV, followed by 18 months Level III probation.

Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a plea from Robert Bright, 25, of New Castle, for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. In September 2015, Bright robbed a man at gunpoint in the 1200 block of Maple Street in Wilmington. Bright was later arrested with a loaded firearm in his possession along with several items belonging to the victim of the robbery. The court sentenced Bright to 15 years at Level V, suspended after 5 years for 2 years at Level IV, suspended after six months for 18 months of Level III probation. Bright was sentenced by the court to an additional two years in prison for Violation of Probation relating to a 2011 robbery.

Deputy Attorney General John Downs obtained a prison sentence for William Burrows, 40, of Benton Harbor, Michigan. In July 2015, Burrows traveled to Delaware from Michigan to meet a 15-year-old girl he had talked to online. The girl met Burrows at a motel in the Newark area, where he raped her. A few days later, Burrows threatened two of the girl’s friends with a knife when they told him to stay away from the victim. Burrows pled guilty to Sexual Solicitation of a Child and Rape 4th. Burrows was sentenced by the court to a total of 40 years at Level V, suspended after 15 years, followed by 6 months at Level IV, then 2 years at Level III probation. Burrows is also required to register as a Sex Offender and undergo sexual offender counseling.

Deputy Attorney General Abigail Layton secured a prison sentence for 32-year-old Donald Estep of Newark. In February, Estep pled guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, and one count of Dealing in Child Pornography. Estep, who was arrested in July 2015 after an investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, created an online account to access and download images of child pornography from an overseas website. Estep was sentenced by the court to 10 years in prison, suspended after 4 years for 3 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 2 years of Level III probation. Estep must also register as a Tier 2 sex offender.

Deputy Attorney General Abigail Layton obtained a four-year prison sentence plus probation for Benjamin Luscher, 43, of Newark. In August 2015, a State Police investigation showed Luscher used a computer file sharing program to download and share images of child pornography. In March 2016, Luscher pled guilty to 1 count of Possession and 1 count of Dealing in Child Pornography. The court sentenced Luscher was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after 4 years for 6 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 2 years of Level III probation. Luscher was also ordered to register as a tier 2 sex offender.

Deputy Attorneys General Gregory Strong and David Weinstein won a conviction against LeToni Wilson, 32, of Middletown, for Theft Greater Than $100,000. Wilson served as the trustee on a special needs trust account for her disabled child. During her tenure as trustee, Wilson diverted more than $100,000 to her own use, including the purchase of luxury items and travel. Wilson is scheduled for sentencing in June.

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Department of Justice Recent Cases Include Prison Time For Assaults, Weapons Charges, and Child Pornography

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, May 6, 2016



Prosecutors within the Delaware Department of Justice recently obtained significant convictions and sentences.

A Wilmington man will spend eight years in prison for a domestic assault. Deputy Attorney General Joe Grubb obtained the sentence from the court for John McCasline, 50, on charges of Assault Second Degree, and Terroristic Threatening as a habitual offender. In August 2015, McCasline went to his girlfriend’s home in the 200 block of West Fourth Street in Wilmington, and during an argument, hit her repeatedly in the head with a bottle. After serving his prison term, McCasline will serve 6 months at Level IV, followed by 18 months Level III probation.

Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a plea from Robert Bright, 25, of New Castle, for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited. In September 2015, Bright robbed a man at gunpoint in the 1200 block of Maple Street in Wilmington. Bright was later arrested with a loaded firearm in his possession along with several items belonging to the victim of the robbery. The court sentenced Bright to 15 years at Level V, suspended after 5 years for 2 years at Level IV, suspended after six months for 18 months of Level III probation. Bright was sentenced by the court to an additional two years in prison for Violation of Probation relating to a 2011 robbery.

Deputy Attorney General John Downs obtained a prison sentence for William Burrows, 40, of Benton Harbor, Michigan. In July 2015, Burrows traveled to Delaware from Michigan to meet a 15-year-old girl he had talked to online. The girl met Burrows at a motel in the Newark area, where he raped her. A few days later, Burrows threatened two of the girl’s friends with a knife when they told him to stay away from the victim. Burrows pled guilty to Sexual Solicitation of a Child and Rape 4th. Burrows was sentenced by the court to a total of 40 years at Level V, suspended after 15 years, followed by 6 months at Level IV, then 2 years at Level III probation. Burrows is also required to register as a Sex Offender and undergo sexual offender counseling.

Deputy Attorney General Abigail Layton secured a prison sentence for 32-year-old Donald Estep of Newark. In February, Estep pled guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, and one count of Dealing in Child Pornography. Estep, who was arrested in July 2015 after an investigation by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force, created an online account to access and download images of child pornography from an overseas website. Estep was sentenced by the court to 10 years in prison, suspended after 4 years for 3 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 2 years of Level III probation. Estep must also register as a Tier 2 sex offender.

Deputy Attorney General Abigail Layton obtained a four-year prison sentence plus probation for Benjamin Luscher, 43, of Newark. In August 2015, a State Police investigation showed Luscher used a computer file sharing program to download and share images of child pornography. In March 2016, Luscher pled guilty to 1 count of Possession and 1 count of Dealing in Child Pornography. The court sentenced Luscher was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after 4 years for 6 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 2 years of Level III probation. Luscher was also ordered to register as a tier 2 sex offender.

Deputy Attorneys General Gregory Strong and David Weinstein won a conviction against LeToni Wilson, 32, of Middletown, for Theft Greater Than $100,000. Wilson served as the trustee on a special needs trust account for her disabled child. During her tenure as trustee, Wilson diverted more than $100,000 to her own use, including the purchase of luxury items and travel. Wilson is scheduled for sentencing in June.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.