Other Recent Cases Include Murder 2nd, Attempted Murder, Robbery, Weapons, Drugs

In two cases investigated and prosecuted by DOJ’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust:

Pace Campbell, 42, of Wilmington pled guilty to one count of felony theft and one count of Second Degree Forgery involving funds from the Wilmington Manor Fire Company, where she was an employee. During her employment, she forged three checks and stole funds. Campbell was sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 2 years of supervised probation. Campbell must also pay restitution in the amount of $9,817.40, have no adverse contact with Fire Company and its employees and board members, and participate in substance abuse evaluation and treatment. Deputy Attorneys General Dennis Kelleher and Brionna Denby, with the work of Special Investigator Jean Rothenburger, secured the guilty plea.

Tennell Brewington, a former Head of School at the Family Foundations Academy charter school in New Castle, pled guilty to Unlawful Use of a Credit Card, which is a felony, and Official Misconduct for misusing a state-issued purchasing credit card used during her employment with Family Foundations Academy. Brewington, 47, of New Castle, was sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 3 years in prison suspended for 1 year of supervised probation and one year of unsupervised probation. Brewington must pay restitution in an amount that will be determined by the court, and have no contact with Family Foundations Academy. Deputy Attorney General Dennis Kelleher and the work of Special Investigator Brittney Ketler secured the guilty plea.

In other recent cases:

Brian Goodwin, 34, of Newark pled guilty to Murder Second Degree for the April 2016 shooting death of Lauren Steed and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. The investigation by Detective Hector Garcia of the New Castle County Police revealed that Goodwin had shot Steed at his home in New Castle, then reported the incident the following day. Deputy Attorneys General Sonia Augusthy and A.J. Roop prosecuted the case. Goodwin’s sentencing by a Superior Court judge will take place in September.

A 29-year-old Wilmington man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of Attempted Murder by a Superior Court jury. Deputy Attorney General Dan McBride secured the sentence for Thomas Rivers for the attempted murder of Shurki Brown in Wilmington. In April of 2015, Brown and his acquaintance were getting into a vehicle on the 300 block of W. 7th Street when Rivers approached Brown and shot him multiple times. Five days later, Rivers was taken into custody with assistance from members of Operation Safe Streets and Probation and Parole.

Deputy Attorneys General Kelly Sheridan and Jamie McCloskey secured prison sentences for two New Castle men who committed a string of Bear robberies. In August 2016, Jaak Norman, 19, and Brandon Anderson, 18, committed armed robberies at a Dollar Tree in the Bear area multiple times over the course of 2 ½ weeks. Norman pled guilty to Robbery First Degree, Robbery Second Degree, Attempted Robbery Second Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony and Conspiracy Second and was sentenced to a total of 5 years in prison by a Superior Court judge. Anderson pled guilty to Robbery First Degree, Robbery Second Degree, Attempted Robbery Second Degree and Conspiracy Second Degree and was sentenced to a total of 3 years in prison by a Superior Court judge.

A Superior Court jury convicted Jordan Harris, 21, of Lincoln on weapons charges and multiple traffic offenses. Prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Taylor, Harris was found guilty of Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited, Possession of a Firearm Ammunition By a Person Prohibited, Resisting Arrest, and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and minor traffic offenses. In July 2016, Delaware State Police responded to the 400 block of North Street in Milford regarding a separate case when they witnessed a car occupied by Harris and a passenger driving erratically, which triggered a low-speed pursuit. Harris faces a 5-year minimum mandatory sentence on the Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited charge when sentenced in September.

Deputy Attorney General Haley King secured a drug-related conviction after a seven-day trial in Superior Court for a 45-year-old Selbyville man. In August 2016, Roderick Mumford, who has had multiple prior drug trafficking convictions, was found in possession of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana after officers executed a search warrant at Mumford’s home in the Houston Acres neighborhood in Millsboro. The cocaine that was found during the execution of the search warrant was a Tier 5 amount of the drug. Mumford was convicted of Money Laundering, Tier 5 Possession (Cocaine), Tier 4 Drug Dealing (Cocaine) and Drug Dealing (Heroin) and he will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in September.

Others face sentencings for weapons charges. A Newark man faces at least 15 years in prison for an attempted kidnapping. Deputy Attorneys General Christina Kontis and Joe Grubb secured a guilty plea to Attempted Kidnapping Second Degree, Burglary Third Degree and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender from 35-year-old Joseph Rudge. In July 2016, Rudge grabbed a woman by the neck, and tried to place a wet rag over her mouth as she was unloading items from her car into her Colonial Gardens Apartment in the 300 block of East Main Street in Newark. The victim was able to scream and elbow Rudge, forcing him to run away. Rudge faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years when sentenced by Superior Court Judge Richard Cooch in March.

Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn secured a guilty plea and prison sentence for Lamarr Anderson, 26, of Wilmington on weapons charges. In February 2015, a State Police Trooper attempted to stop a car driven by Anderson for a traffic violation along Salem Church Road in Newark. Anderson ignored the Trooper’s emergency lights and continued to drive until crashing into a telephone pole, when Anderson got out of the car and began running. The Trooper caught up with Anderson and was able to place him under arrest after using his Taser. At the time of his arrest, Anderson was carrying a loaded .45 caliber automatic pistol. Anderson pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and was immediately sentenced by Superior Court Judge Paul Wallace to 10 years in prison followed by probation. Anderson also faces sentencing on a probation violation where he faces 5 years of back time.

Deputy Attorney General Christina Kontis secured a guilty plea from David Mize, 26, of Newark for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon and Menacing. In August 2016, Mize was asked to leave the Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Ridge Avenue in Middletown for acting aggressively and using foul language. As the restaurant manager tried to subdue Mize in the parking lot, a handgun fell out of Mize’s pant leg. Police also discovered Mize had a knife in his backpack. Mize faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison when sentenced in Superior Court in March.

Other defendants face prison time for weapons, assault, burglary and child abuse charges

A 23-year-old man from Bear will spend 22 years in prison after being sentenced in New Castle County Superior Court for a shooting in Wilmington last summer. In July 2015, Shaquille Campbell shot a man in the leg, a short time after the two argued in the 100 block of North Van Buren Street in Wilmington. Campbell was convicted in March 2016 of Attempted Murder, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. Deputy Attorneys General Daniel McBride and Rebecca Song prosecuted the case, with Detective Ricardo Flores of Wilmington Police as the chief investigating officer.

Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured a prison sentence for Datwan Lum, 27, of Middletown. In August 2014, Lum forced his way into the basement window of a home in the 2200 block of Hillside Road in Wilmington, and stole an iPad, computers, and a briefcase. A few days later, Wilmington Police spotted him in the 400 block of East 3rd Street, and as Lum ran from them, he dropped a loaded .38 special revolver. Lum was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison following multiple trials for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Burglary Second Degree, two counts of Theft From a Senior, Criminal Mischief, Conspiracy Second Degree, and Receiving Stolen Property. The prison term also includes a Violation of Probation for a 2010 Robbery Second conviction.

Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a five-year prison sentence for Conway Hayman, 17, of Wilmington. In October 2015, he shot a man in the 100 block of North Franklin Street in Wilmington during a robbery attempt. Hayman pled guilty in May 2016 to Assault First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Attempted Robbery Second Degree, and Conspiracy Second Degree.

Deputy Attorney General Julie Finocchiaro secured a prison sentence for James Jones, Jr., 33, of Claymont. In December 2015, Jones broke into two units in the Harbor House Apartments in Claymont, stealing money, jewelry, and an AR-15 rifle. In May, he pled guilty to two counts of Burglary Second Degree, Theft of a Firearm, Theft from a Senior, and Resisting Arrest. Jones was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by probation.

Deputy Attorney General Karin Volker secured a plea to Child Abuse Second Degree from John Holliday, 39, of Newark. In March 2016, Holliday hit his then 11-year-old son in the head with the handle of a knife while disciplining the boy by fighting with him. The child suffered cuts and bruises to the face. Holliday also threatened the child with the knife. Holliday faces up to two years in prison when sentenced by the court.

Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Taylor secured a guilty plea from Tyra Mills, 41, of Dover, in connection with a 2014 Kent County investigation which resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 20 people involved in the drug trade in Kent and New Castle Counties, mostly centered in the Capital Park neighborhood of South Dover. Mills pled guilty to four counts of Drug Dealing, and one count of Possession of Illegal Prescription Drugs. Mills will be sentenced in Kent County Superior Court in November.

Deputy Attorney General John Donahue secured a plea to Unlawful Sexual Contact in the First Degree from John King, 67, of Millsboro. His victim was a child under the age of 10. King, a Tier 2 sex offender will be sentenced by the court in October.

Department of Justice Consumer Protection Unit asks other potential victims to come forward

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit announced that a New Castle County-based contractor faces criminal charges for defrauding multiple Delaware homeowners.

Mario Mareno, 49, doing business as Tradesmen Services, was arrested on Friday, May 13 by the First State Fugitive Task Force on four outstanding warrants for Home Improvement Fraud from the Delaware State Police, the New Castle County Police, and the Middletown Police Department. The Consumer Protection Unit is aware of other homeowners who have contacted authorities regarding Mareno and believes that there are more victims who have not yet come forward.

Law enforcement believes Mareno typically solicits and corresponds with victims via Facebook, text messaging, or email, and gets the victims to make large up-front payments, allegedly to obtain required permits and purchase materials, and then never substantially completes the work. In some cases, victims say they have discovered that Mareno did not obtain permits or purchase materials as represented. Mareno allegedly gives victims excuses for why the work is not done, and repeatedly promises to refund up-front payments but never actually does so.

“Home improvement scams are one of the most common types of complaints made by consumers to our Consumer Fraud Hotline,” said Attorney General Matt Denn. “All Delawareans hiring a contractor for home improvement work need to be alert for scams, and help avoid them by doing homework before hiring a contractor. Contractors should always be bonded and maintain all required licenses for mechanical work. It’s also important for homeowners to follow up on references, talk to friends and neighbors about a contractor’s reputation, and never pay for the work in cash or up front.”

Additional alleged victims have been identified by the Consumer Protection Unit, and the office urges other consumers, who believe they may have been victimized by Mareno or Tradesmen Services, or have information to share with authorities, to contact Consumer Protection Unit Special Investigators Jose Ortiz (302-577-8421) or Alan Rachko (302-577-8309).

If consumers suspect they are a victim of home improvement fraud, they should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-220-5424.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A New Castle man will spend 20 years in prison after being sentenced in New Castle County Superior Court on one count of Sexual Abuse by a Person of Trust First Degree. Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen obtained the sentence for 39-year-old Jair Molina. In February, Molina pled guilty to abusing a girl in his care while she was 12 and 13 years old. Molina was sentenced to 30 years Level V, suspended after 20 years for 2 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 18 months of Level III probation. Molina must also register as a Tier 3 sex offender.

Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn obtained a 23-year prison sentence for Herbert Clanton, 49, of Norfolk, Virginia. In November 2014, Clanton broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend on Fairway Road in Newark, and refused to let her leave. While inside, Clanton hit and choked the victim. Clanton was sentenced as a habitual offender to Burglary 2nd, Kidnapping 2nd and Strangulation, receiving 23 years Level V followed by probation.

Deputy Attorney General Casey Ewart secured an 11-year prison sentence for Andrew Moore, 32, of Laurel, who pled guilty in March to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Burglary 2nd, and Theft of Firearm. In November 2014, Moore broke into a home on Revel Road in Millsboro, stealing more than $10,000 worth of guns, televisions, and jewelry. He also broke into the home’s shed and stole a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. The Court sentenced Moore to a total of 11 years and 6 months at Level V including completion of Key/Crest program, followed by 2 years of Level III probation with Crest Aftercare.

Deputy Attorney General Caterina Gatto secured a 10-year prison sentence for Michael Wiggins, 29, of New Castle on drug charges. Wiggins was arrested in December 2014, when a Delaware State Trooper spotted a car 2014 Dodge Charger in the parking lot of the Fairview Inn on South Marking Street in Wilmington. Upon investigating, the trooper noticed drugs and a gun in the front of the car. That investigation lead to the search of two motel rooms and another vehicle, where additional drugs and a second gun were located. Wiggins was convicted of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Drug Dealing (Tier 4 quantity of heroin), and Conspiracy Second Degree. Wiggins was sentenced to 10 years Level V.