DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section conducted the bid opening for the Massey’s Ditch Channel Maintenance Dredging Project as scheduled on Jan. 30. DNREC did not receive an acceptable bid.

As a result, DNREC will update their design specifications and contract documents, and rebid the project later this year. DNREC anticipates that the second invitation to bid, to be announced this spring, will allow a four-month dredging window between Nov. 1 and March 1, 2020.

Vol. 49, No. 28

Other defendants plea to gang activity, weapons, murder, rape, and theft charges

Michael Capriglione, Chief of police for the Town of Newport, has pled guilty to charges stemming from official misconduct. In May 2018, Capriglione ordered the deletion of a surveillance video, which depicted him striking another vehicle in the parking lot of Newport Police Department while driving a departmental vehicle. Capriglione pled guilty to Official Misconduct and Careless Driving and will be sentenced following a pre-sentence investigation by the Court. Deputy Attorney General Sonia Augusthy, director of the DOJ Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust, prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Delaware State Police and Frank Robinson, on behalf of the DOJ.

An 18-year-old member of the Shoot to Kill (STK) gang pled guilty to gun and gang charges. Deputy Attorney General Mark Denney secured the plea from Chaz Cowan of New Castle to 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited and 1 count each of Illegal Gang Participation, and Non-Compliance with Bond Conditions. In February 2018, Cowan, barred from having a gun because of a felony conviction of Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile in 2015, appeared in a YouTube music video holding a gun. While out on bail in a few months later, Cowan violated a no contact order with co-defendants and cellular phones in November 2018 when police arrested him during a car stop. Police arrested Cowan again in January 2019 after a search warrant — conducted in response to a number of shootings — turned up firearms as well as pictures of Cowan holding at least two of them. A Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Cowan to 1 year in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 1 year of probation.

A man and woman have pled guilty to Murder by Abuse or Neglect First Degree in the 2018 beating death of 15-month-old Chosen Smith. Deputy Attorneys General Jim Kriner and Diana Dunn secured the pleas from Tameke Wright, 23 and Lavar Harris, 38, in Superior Court. The couple were babysitting the child in February 2018 when they drove the child to the hospital and reported that he had fallen off a futon. The child died minutes after arriving at the hospital. Upon examination, it was discovered that the child had abrasions and bruises all over his body as well as abusive head injuries, including a fractured skull. The Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma. Detective Devon Jones of the Wilmington Police Department arrested Wright and Harris the following week. Both defendants face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison when sentenced in June. DOJ paralegal Jayna Quillen and victim services specialist Bettina Jones also participated in the prosecution.

A 55-year-old Dover man is awaiting sentencing for raping a teenager. Tyrone Evans pled no contest in Superior Court to Rape Fourth Degree and Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree. In June 2018, Evans exposed himself to the teenager and began having sexual intercourse as the victim slept. A Superior Court judge will sentence Evans in March; there is no minimum prison time but the crimes carry as much as 18 years in prison. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson prosecuted the case with assistance from Detective Dale Boney of the Dover Police Department, administrative assistant Penny Mannering, social worker Lorraine Freese, paralegal Sue Balik and investigator LaVincent Harris.

A nurse who worked at Brookdale Assisted Living Center in Hockessin has pled guilty to stealing from a resident of the facility. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Barchi of the DOJ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) secured the plea from Jennifer Wilson, 31, of Wilmington. In October 2018, Wilson went into a resident’s dresser drawer and took $180 and a credit card, which Wilson used to purchase a television. Wilson pled guilty in the Court of Common Pleas to Theft Under $1,500 and was immediately sentenced by a judge to 1 year of probation, ordered to pay $560.94 in restitution, and reported to the Adult Abuse Registry. Wilson was referred to the Division of Professional Regulation where disciplinary action on her nursing license is pending. Corporal Joshua Walther of the Delaware State Police investigated the case with assistance from MFCU chief special investigator Bruce Pinkett.

Reminder for the week: Spring ahead of Spring Aboard

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Jan. 28-Feb. 3 made 1,152 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 16 citations. Officers responded to 28 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

• On Jan. 30, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Jeremy T. Delinois, 24, of Leipsic, for one count each of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp, and no hunting license in possession. Delinois was video arraigned at Kent County Justice Peace Court 7 and released on unsecured bond pending a future court appearance.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: License forgery or misrepresentation (1), no hunting license in possession (1), and hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (1).

Public Safety: Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (1) and leaving the scene of a property damage vehicle collision (1).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (11)*.

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind boaters to spring ahead of the upcoming National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Spring Aboard campaign for boating education by enrolling now in a boater safety course.

This year’s Spring Aboard campaign will take place from March 17-23, with boating safety courses currently being offered. These courses cover the rules and regulations of Delaware’s waterways, including appropriate speed limits, responsible boating skills and awareness, how to distinguish navigational aids and water depths, weather tips, information about basic engine mechanics, required and/or recommended safety equipment, what to do if a Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officer stops your vessel, and the dangers of boating under the influence. Upon completing the course, boaters receive a boating safety certificate, which is required to operate motorized boats in Delaware for boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1978.

For more information, including Delaware’s boating safety course schedule, access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook, and other boating information, please visit Delaware Boating Safety or contact Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, at 302-365-8705 or email john.mcderby@delaware.gov.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

Contact: Lt. John McDerby, 302-354-1386, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913

(DOVER, Del.—Feb. 8, 2019)—In honor of Presidents Day and George Washington’s birthday, The Old State House, located at 25 The Green in Dover, Del., will present “Civility Ascendant: Celebrating George Washington’s Rules for Civil Behavior and Their Legacy for American Politics,” a presentation by Dr. Samuel B. Hoff, George Washington Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science and Law Studies Program Director at Delaware State University.

The program will take place on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at 2 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public but, due to space restrictions, reservations are suggested by calling the museum at 302-744-5054. Should the event be postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled to Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m., also at the Old State House.

As part of the program, Hoff will provide an overview of Washington’s 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior and discuss how they were practiced by subsequent American presidents together with their relevance to contemporary American politics. The program will conclude with reflections on Washington by historic-site interpreter Tom Welch, followed by a reception and display of presidential memorabilia.

“Civility Ascendant: Celebrating George Washington’s Rules for Civil Behavior and Their Legacy for American Politics” is sponsored by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati and Delaware State University’s Law Studies Program.

Completed in 1791, The Old State House is one of the earliest state-house buildings in the United States, serving as the home of Delaware’s legislature until 1933 when the General Assembly moved to larger quarters in Legislative Hall. The venerable structure now appears as it would have in the late 1700s during the United States’ critical early years as a nation. It features a courtroom, governor’s and county offices and chambers for the state’s Senate and House of Representatives. The building is situated on Dover’s historic Green, a public area designated by William Penn in 1683. The Green is a partner site of the First State National Historical Park.

The Old State House is administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

Dover, Delaware-January 2019 – Help us give a child that is homeless or in foster care a warm hug! Cold weather is still in the forecast and everyone deserves to stay warm. Who doesn’t like getting a hug or knowing that someone cares?
The GACEC and its community Partners are doing just that for the children of Delaware who are homeless or in foster care. This year we have been privileged to partner with many organizations and individuals who have given generously. For the fifth year Operation Warm has donated cases of coats totaling around 800 to the cause. I Heart Media had also been an invaluable partner, helping raise awareness of the need and bringing in many more drop off locations throughout the state. We are grateful to once again have received generous donations of hundreds of handmade blankets from Kozy Kovers for Kids and Fleece for Keeps.
Wendy Strauss, Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, shared “It’s hard for children to learn when their basic needs aren’t even met. We want to ensure that they have the opportunity to stay warm and feel loved regardless of their situation. It is always so heartwarming knowing that Delaware residents always come through and give so generously to those in need. We truly are connecting hearts and collecting hugs for those in need.”
Donations of socks, sweatshirts and sweatpants, warm pajamas and toiletry items are still greatly needed. These items are in short supply for this year’s drive. If you can help please consider donating today.
Drop-off points are located throughout the state and may be found on the homepage of the GACEC at http://gacec.delaware.gov. Contact the GACEC at (302) 739-4553 or Sybil Brown, GACEC Administrative Coordinator Sybil.brown@gacec.k12.de.us for additional information.