Man Pleads Guilty in 2017 Laurel Murder

Robbery, burglary, forgery, patient abuse cases also resolved

A 2017 shooting in Laurel left an 18-year-old dead, and will lead to prison for the 19-year-old shooter. Deputy Attorneys General Casey L. Ewart and Kevin Gardner secured a guilty plea to Manslaughter, 3 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and one count of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree in the case of Stephon Jackson of Laurel. In January 2017, Jackson shot and killed Mekell Horsey while at the Wexford Village Apartment Complex on Sunset Drive in Laurel. Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 11 years in prison when sentenced by a Superior Court judge later this year, with a maximum possible sentence of 105 years. Detective Jon King of the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit was the lead investigator, while DOJ social worker Laurel Braunstein and administrative specialist Angelique Waters assisted with the prosecution of the case.

Two men responsible for robbing multiple businesses throughout New Castle County armed with guns received prison sentences from a Superior Court judge. In September 2017, Brandon Dixon, 30, of Middletown, pled guilty to two counts of Robbery Second Degree, Conspiracy Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and a Violation of Probation. The Court sentenced Dixon as a habitual offender because of previous violent felony convictions for robbery, burglary and weapons offenses to 25 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation. Darius Johns, 27, of Wilmington pled guilty in October 2017 to Robbery First Degree, Robbery Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Conspiracy Second Degree. Johns, also a habitual offender for robbery and weapons convictions, received a sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 2 years of probation. Deputy Attorneys General Jamie McCloskey and Kelly Sheridan prosecuted the cases. Detective Anthony Tenebruso investigated the case for the State Police, while Detectives Joseph Womer and Julia Fabbroni investigated the cases for Middletown PD. Paralegal Lisa Loikith and Social Workers Meghan Fisher and Courtney Cochran also worked on this case.

A 37-year-old habitual offender could face at least 8 years in prison after his burglary conviction by a Superior Court jury. Deputy Attorney General William Leonard secured a conviction for Nathaniel Marsh of Wilmington to Burglary Second Degree, 2 counts of Conspiracy Second Degree, Theft Greater Than $1500, and Criminal Mischief Less Than $1000. In July 2017, Marsh took part in a burglary in the 100 block Talbot Drive in New Castle, breaking in through a window and taking items including large screen televisions, video game system, and collector’s coins. A habitual offender due to previous violent felony convictions for robbery, assault, and reckless endangering, Marsh faces 8 years to life in prison when sentenced by the court later this year.

Deputy Attorney General Kate Keller secured a guilty plea to forgery and falsifying records from a 44-year-old Smyrna woman who was working at the Delaware Psychiatric Center as a certified nursing assistant. Daniella Seneus pled guilty to Forgery Third Degree and Falsification of Business Records. In December 2016, Seneus, a certified nursing assistant, falsely indicated on an record that she had performed her required 15 minute face checks on a resident when she had not. That resident was found dead of a medical condition the next morning, and no foul play was involved. A Superior Court judge sentenced Seneus to one year of probation on each charge. Seneus will also be referred to the Adult Abuse Registry. Detective Dave Myers from Delaware State Police investigated the case.

A 50-year-old working as a security guard at the Delaware Psychiatric Center pled no contest to Patient Abuse for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a DPC resident. Deputy Attorney General Kate Keller secured the plea from John Fraim of Wilmington. Fraim made unwanted advances over the course of 2 months during the summer of 2017. A Superior Court judge sentenced Fraim to one year of probation. In addition, Fraim will be referred to the Adult Abuse Registry. Detective Amy Lloyd of Delaware State Police handled the investigation.


Convictions, Sentences For Weapons, Assault, Robbery, Child Pornography

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.


Armed Robber Faces 25 Years in Prison

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.


Prosecutors Secure Sentence For Theft From Vulnerable Family Members

Other defendants face probation and convictions for financial exploitation and armed robbery

Attorneys with the Delaware Department of Justice recently obtained several criminal convictions and sentences:

Alethea Davis-Moses, 46, of Chester, Pennsylvania pled guilty to Financial Exploitation of a Patient in a case handled by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Barchi and Special Investigator Joe Trala. Davis-Moses was a caretaker who withdrew $500 from a resident of a group home without the resident’s consent. The court sentenced Davis-Moses to $500 of restitution, to one year of prison suspended to a year of probation, and ordered to have no contact with the victim or nursing home.

Christopher Szymanski, 45, of Wilmington, faces court-ordered completion of a drug treatment program and probation along with several additional orders secured by Deputy Attorney General Renee Hrivnak on the charges of Theft Felony and Crime Against a Vulnerable Adult, Theft from Senior and Forgery 2nd. Over the course of a year, Szymanski stole checks from his elderly mother and his autistic brother, forged them and cashed them, resulting in over $20,000 from his brother and over $6,000 from his mother. The court sentenced Szymanski to 8 years Level V prison but suspended it upon successful completion of a Level V drug treatment program for 6 months Level IV, followed by a year of Level III probation. Defendant was ordered to undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations, be monitored by TASC, have no contact with the victims or his co-defendant, and to pay restitution to his brother and a bank.

Deputy Attorney General Christina Kontis secured a guilty plea from Joseph Rosado, 22, of Wilmington. to one count of Robbery 1st Degree, two counts of Robbery 2nd Degree, one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and one count of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree stemming from a series of robberies where defendant brandished a firearm and demanded money. Sentencing is scheduled for October 7, 2016.