Rapes, Drugs, Robbery, Witness Intimidation Also Part Of Recent DOJ Cases

A house near Selbyville that had been the site of multiple drug crimes and police calls since 2014 was boarded up as a result of work by the Department of Justice and Delaware State Police to deem it a criminal nuisance property. The property at 37920 Washington Avenue in Selbyville was known in the area as a location for drug purchases and had been the subject of police calls, searches and arrests, including an undercover drug buy and seizure of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, suboxone strips, cash and guns, over a three-year period. DOJ attorney Oliver Cleary filed a request with Superior Court in April 2018 that the property be declared a criminal nuisance, and in June 2018 a Superior Court judge granted the request and ordered the three tenants to be evicted. On July 31, DSP troopers and the DOJ Crime Strategies Unit served the final notice on the property and it was boarded up. As part of the court order, the property owner is to ensure no illicit activity occurs on the property and is prohibited from renting the property to anyone with a felony drug dealing conviction. The state’s criminal nuisance abatement act has been used repeatedly by DOJ over the last several years to address residential and businesses properties that have been found to be the location of ongoing criminal activity. DOJ investigator Mark Hawk of the Crime Strategies Unit participated in the investigation and eviction. A photo of the property can be found here.

Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured a prison sentence for a New Castle man for his February 2018 guilty plea to Attempted Rape Second Degree and Assault Second Degree charges. In April 2017, Joseph Snow, 38, approached a woman at a bus stop in the 800 of North King Street in Wilmington, and tried to force her to perform a sex act on him. When the victim refused, Snow began to choke her and punch her in the face. Good Samaritans were able to stop the attack. A Superior Court judge sentenced Snow, considered a habitual offender due to past convictions on weapons, rioting, and reckless endangering charges, to 32 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation. DOJ social worker Lisa Rapko and paralegal Jayna Quillen assisted with the prosecution.

A guilty plea to drug and weapons charges could lead to life in prison for a 45-year-old Wilmington man who is a habitual criminal offender. Charles Riley pled guilty in Superior Court to Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Drug Dealing Cocaine (Tier 4), and Aggravated Possession of Heroin. In March 2017, members of Operation Safe Streets, Sgt. Matt Rosaio and Probation Officer Dan Collins, conducted an administrative search of Riley, currently on probation from a previous drug conviction, at his home in the 1000 block of Bennett Street. Once in the house, officers found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, crack cocaine, and heroin. A Superior Court judge will sentence Riley, a habitual offender and barred from having a gun because of previous convictions on drug, robbery, weapons, assault, and burglary charges, to between 17 years and life in prison in September. Deputy Attorneys General Timothy Maguire and Rebecca Song prosecuted the case.

A 21-year-old Newark man received an 11-year prison sentence for his part in the robbery of two University of Delaware students. Deputy Attorney General Jamie McCloskey secured the sentence for Karel Blalock. In July 2017, Blalock and another man robbed the students at gunpoint as they walked along South Chapel Street. Prior to trial, Blalock called one of the victims from prison pretending to be someone from the Department of Justice, saying the victim that he was in danger and should leave town before the trial. Newark PD traced the call back to the prison and determined that Blalock made the call himself. In April 2018, Blalock pled guilty to two counts of Robbery First Degree, and one count each of Act of Witness Intimidation and Violation of Probation. A Superior Court judge sentenced Blalock to 11 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation.

A 59-year-old Magnolia man received a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to raping a child in his care. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson secured the sentence after James Stanley pled guilty to Sexual Abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust or Authority First Degree, Sexual Abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust or Authority Second Degree, Rape Fourth Degree. In February 2018, a family friend witnessed Stanley acting inappropriately with the victim and reported it to her family. The victim disclosed that Stanley had abused her on three occasions, including the incident witnessed by the friend. A Superior Court judge sentenced Stanley to 10 years in prison, followed by 2 years of probation. Lorraine Freese and Sue Balik from the DOJ assisted, as did Detective Will Miller from Delaware State Police Troop 3.

A complaint filed by Attorney General Matt Denn’s office asks the state Superior Court to declare the Gold Club near Wilmington a criminal nuisance property and to order that it be closed.

As stated in the complaint, the action comes as the result of numerous arrests at, near or coming from the property for shootings, vehicle thefts, illegal drug possession, assaults, stabbings and other illegal activity. There have been shootings in August 2012, March 2014, May 2014, September 2015 and this past Sunday, November 15, 2015, with the most recent shooting a homicide.

The complaint was filed under the under the state’s Criminal Nuisance Abatement Act, which empowers to Attorney General “to eliminate locations that otherwise attract criminals, violence and the threat of violence,” as stated in Title 10, Section 7102 of the Delaware Code.

“Police have been called to the Gold Club at least 237 times in the last four years,” said Attorney General Matt Denn. “Shutting the doors of a business which consistently brings crime, drugs, and violence to the area is in the interest of public safety.”

The property where the club stands, 1031 South Market St, Wilmington is owned by the Kent Manor Inn, and the Gold Club itself is owned by PML Clubs, Inc.  Both Kent Manor Inn, Inc. and PML Clubs, Inc. Kent Manor Inn, Inc. and PML Clubs, Inc. are owned and operated by Michael Rose.

A copy of the complaint can be found HERE.

A complaint filed by the State of Delaware under the Criminal Nuisance Abatement Act, has led to the signing of a court order calling for the immediate and temporary closure of a property at 1172 Dexter Corner Road in Townsend.

The home, owned by Malcolm McAlpin, was the site of drug use and numerous illegal drug transactions since 2011. The property has also been the target of numerous complaints from neighbors about drug activity and violence.

On March 3, 2015, McAlpin, and Shawn Roy, another resident of the home, agreed to vacate the home no later than March 18th, and conduct no nuisance activity at the property, pursuant to an order by Superior Court Judge Andrea Rocanelli. McAlpin also agreed to sell the property, listing it with a licensed realtor, and have the State pre-approve any potential buyer. Once the sale is complete, the State will file a motion to dismiss its lawsuit against McAlpin and Roy.

John Grimm and Renee Leverette led the proceedings for the Delaware Department of Justice, and were assisted by Delaware State Police detective Sgt. Andrew Lloyd.