Delaware News

Drunk Driving Incident In Rehoboth Beach Sends Man to Prison

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, January 4, 2019



Robbery, weapons and drug charges lead to prison for other defendants

A Middletown man whose drunk driving led to accidents and injuries over a July weekend in Rehoboth Beach received a prison sentence in Superior Court. A judge sentenced Martin Tuohy, 45, to a total of 2 ½ years in prison, followed by a year of probation in exchange for his December 2018 no contest plea to Driving Under the Influence – Third Offense, Reckless Endangering First Degree, and 3 counts of Vehicular Assault Second Degree. While driving drunk, Tuohy fled from the scene of his first accident on Rehoboth Avenue, speeding and colliding with several parked cars before hitting a vehicle stopped at a red light. Tuohy continued driving, almost hitting several pedestrians, stopping after causing an accident that sent a family to the hospital, and then hitting a light pole. Deputy Attorney General Nichole Gannett prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Laurel Braunstein.

A 38-year-old Middletown man faces at least 15 years in prison for robbing 2 New Castle County banks and a donut shop just over 6 years apart. Deputy Attorney General Will Raisis secured a guilty plea from Travis McNeal to 2 counts of Robbery First Degree and 1 count of Robbery Second Degree. In February 2012, McNeal robbed the Dunkin’ Donuts on Pulaski Highway in Glasgow, then later the same day robbed the PNC Bank on Kirkwood Highway near Prices Corner. Once the investigation led to McNeal, he was already in custody in Pennsylvania awaiting trial on robbery charges, and wanted for the same in Maryland. McNeal was returned to Delaware in December 2017, and while out on bail in March 2018, he robbed the Fulton Bank on Main Street in Middletown. McNeal faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years on each count when sentenced by a Superior Court judge in March. DOJ paralegal Julianne Besznyak and social worker Courtney Cochran assisted with this case.

A traffic stop in Wilmington led to a prison sentence for an illegal firearm for a 23-year-old Wilmington man. In November 2018, John Stowe was the passenger in a car pulled over by Wilmington Police. When an officer asked Stowe to step out of the car, Stowe reached into his coat pocket. The officer, who was able to remove Stowe’s hand from his pocket and take him into custody, then found a loaded 9mm handgun in the pocket of Stowe’s coat. Stowe cannot legally possess a firearm because of a 2017 conviction for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. Stowe pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited, and was immediately sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 5 years in prison including the completion of the Key drug rehabilitation program, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 18 months of probation. Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci prosecuted the case.

Deputy Attorney General Michael Cooksey secured a prison sentence for a man dealing drugs in the Edgemoor Gardens area of Wilmington. A Superior Court judge sentenced Michael Poole, 40, of Wilmington to 2 years and 5 months in prison, followed by one year of probation. In November 2017, officers approached Poole who was wanted on outstanding warrants. As officers tried to handcuff Poole, he ran, and was taken into custody after a brief chase and struggle. Officers found him in possession of crack cocaine. In July 2018, Poole was arrested after agreeing to meet an undercover police officer for a drug sale. Poole pled guilty to Drug Dealing and 1 count of Resisting Arrest, and found guilty at trial of Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 count of Resisting Arrest.

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Drunk Driving Incident In Rehoboth Beach Sends Man to Prison

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, January 4, 2019



Robbery, weapons and drug charges lead to prison for other defendants

A Middletown man whose drunk driving led to accidents and injuries over a July weekend in Rehoboth Beach received a prison sentence in Superior Court. A judge sentenced Martin Tuohy, 45, to a total of 2 ½ years in prison, followed by a year of probation in exchange for his December 2018 no contest plea to Driving Under the Influence – Third Offense, Reckless Endangering First Degree, and 3 counts of Vehicular Assault Second Degree. While driving drunk, Tuohy fled from the scene of his first accident on Rehoboth Avenue, speeding and colliding with several parked cars before hitting a vehicle stopped at a red light. Tuohy continued driving, almost hitting several pedestrians, stopping after causing an accident that sent a family to the hospital, and then hitting a light pole. Deputy Attorney General Nichole Gannett prosecuted the case with assistance from social worker Laurel Braunstein.

A 38-year-old Middletown man faces at least 15 years in prison for robbing 2 New Castle County banks and a donut shop just over 6 years apart. Deputy Attorney General Will Raisis secured a guilty plea from Travis McNeal to 2 counts of Robbery First Degree and 1 count of Robbery Second Degree. In February 2012, McNeal robbed the Dunkin’ Donuts on Pulaski Highway in Glasgow, then later the same day robbed the PNC Bank on Kirkwood Highway near Prices Corner. Once the investigation led to McNeal, he was already in custody in Pennsylvania awaiting trial on robbery charges, and wanted for the same in Maryland. McNeal was returned to Delaware in December 2017, and while out on bail in March 2018, he robbed the Fulton Bank on Main Street in Middletown. McNeal faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years on each count when sentenced by a Superior Court judge in March. DOJ paralegal Julianne Besznyak and social worker Courtney Cochran assisted with this case.

A traffic stop in Wilmington led to a prison sentence for an illegal firearm for a 23-year-old Wilmington man. In November 2018, John Stowe was the passenger in a car pulled over by Wilmington Police. When an officer asked Stowe to step out of the car, Stowe reached into his coat pocket. The officer, who was able to remove Stowe’s hand from his pocket and take him into custody, then found a loaded 9mm handgun in the pocket of Stowe’s coat. Stowe cannot legally possess a firearm because of a 2017 conviction for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. Stowe pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited, and was immediately sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 5 years in prison including the completion of the Key drug rehabilitation program, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 18 months of probation. Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci prosecuted the case.

Deputy Attorney General Michael Cooksey secured a prison sentence for a man dealing drugs in the Edgemoor Gardens area of Wilmington. A Superior Court judge sentenced Michael Poole, 40, of Wilmington to 2 years and 5 months in prison, followed by one year of probation. In November 2017, officers approached Poole who was wanted on outstanding warrants. As officers tried to handcuff Poole, he ran, and was taken into custody after a brief chase and struggle. Officers found him in possession of crack cocaine. In July 2018, Poole was arrested after agreeing to meet an undercover police officer for a drug sale. Poole pled guilty to Drug Dealing and 1 count of Resisting Arrest, and found guilty at trial of Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 count of Resisting Arrest.

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.