A 41-year-old Wilmington man faces at least 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to weapons charges. Deputy Attorney General Allison Abessinio secured the plea from Robert Johnson. During a fight in September 2016, Johnson stabbed 57-year-old Carl Huggins multiple times in his home in the 400 block of North Church Street in Wilmington. The two had argued earlier in the day. Johnson pled guilty to Assault First Degree and two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony. A Superior Court judge will sentence Johnson in December and faces 6 to 75 years.

Deputy Attorneys General Anna Currier, Barzilai Axelrod, and William Leonard secured a guilty plea from John Trotter, 42, of Wilmington, after his arrest following an investigation into heroin sales. Paralegal Bridgitt Martin assisted in the case as well. In August 2016, police arrested Trotter when a New Castle County Police SWAT team executed a search warrant at his home in the 200 block of Clyde Street in Wilmington. Earlier that summer, police observed Trotter sell heroin to an informant. Trotter pled guilty to Drug Dealing Tier 4 Heroin, Conspiracy Second Degree, and Possession of a Destructive Weapon. Trotter also pled guilty to Assault Second Degree for a July 2016 arrest for punching his girlfriend during an argument. Social Worker Stacey Murphy assisted with the July 2016 case. Trotter faces between 2 and 40 years when sentenced by a Superior Court judge in December.

Deputy Attorney General Anna Currier secured a prison sentence for a Wilmington man for his plea to robbery and weapons charges. Throughout the summer of 2016, Michael Watson, 29, stole several firearms from his father. In September of that year, Watson robbed the Valero gas station in the 800 block of South Dupont Highway in New Castle, threatening the clerk with a knife. Deputy Attorney General Kelly Sheridan secured a guilty plea from Watson in Superior Court in August 2017 to Robbery First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Robbery Second Degree and Theft of a Firearm. A judge sentenced Watson to 5 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either work release or home confinement, then 2 ½ years of probation.

A 50-year-old Smyrna man was sentenced to prison and must register as a Tier II sex offender in relation to child pornography charges. In February 2017, members of the Child Predator Task Force conducted a search warrant at Michael Dennis’s home, and found images of children involved in prohibited sexual acts as defined by Delaware law. Dennis pled guilty in August to 2 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography and 2 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. A Superior Court judge sentenced Dennis to serve 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of probation.

Other defendants face prison time for assault and escape charges

Deputy Attorneys General Kelly Sheridan and Jamie McCloskey secured a guilty plea from a 30-year-old Middletown man for robbery and weapons charges. From 2016 to 2017, police believe Brandon Dixon and an accomplice robbed multiple businesses throughout New Castle County armed with guns. Dixon pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, two counts of Robbery Second Degree, Conspiracy Second Degree and a Violation of Probation. Dixon is facing a minimum of 25 years in prison if declared a habitual offender at the time of sentencing in December, based on previous convictions for weapon and burglary charges.

A 28-year-old Wilmington man faces a minimum of 4 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to an assault last year. In December 2016, Wilmington Police responded to a call regarding an assault with a tire iron at Celebrations nightclub and restaurant located on South Market Street. Video surveillance of the attack led police to Alphonso Williams. Deputy Attorney General Christina Kontis secured the plea from Alphonso Williams to Assault Second Degree and Conspiracy Second Degree. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 4 years in prison when sentenced in December if he is declared a habitual offender as a result of previous convictions for weapons, drug dealing and theft. Lisa Loikith, a paralegal, and Crystal Pitts, social worker, assisted Deputy Attorney General Kontis with the case.

Deputy Attorney General Matthew Bloom secured a guilty plea from a habitual offender on the charge of Escape After Conviction. Wayne L. Williams Jr., 46, escaped from the Plummer Work Release Center to travel to New Jersey and fight his former girlfriend’s boyfriend, but caused no injuries to the boyfriend. Williams has a prior conviction for Escape and multiple Robbery convictions. Sentencing in the matter was deferred.

LAUREL – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police are searching for a suspect in an assault on one of their officers in the Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Laurel last night.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers are attempting to locate Daniel A. Allen, 21, of Seaford. Allen was contacted by Fish & Wildlife officers when he was found trespassing after hours in the Nanticoke Wildlife Area. During an associated traffic stop, the suspect assaulted one of the officers, fled on foot, and jumped into Broad Creek. Allen was last seen by pursuing officers swimming towards the opposite shoreline.

Delaware State Police officers and Delaware State Police Aviation responded to assist with a ground search. Additional Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and local fire departments responded with vessels and conducted a search of Broad Creek, but the suspect was not located.

The ongoing investigation into the incident is being conducted by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police. Anyone with information regarding this incident or the location of Daniel A. Allen are asked to contact Lieutenant Casey Zolper, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, at 302-381-5718.

Media Contacts: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902