Jury trials sought in landfill theft cases

Three Carroll County employees accused of stealing recyclable metals from a county landfill asked yesterday to have their cases heard before a jury. The requests led to postponement of their trials until they can be scheduled in Carroll Circuit Court.

Richard Lee Sell, 39, of Westminster, Martin D. Norwood, 47, of Taylorsville and Donald V. Rhoten, 35, of Hampstead, will get about a month's delay while their cases are moved from Carroll District Court.

The three were arrested in a state police sting operation in November and were charged with stealing recyclable metals from the Hoods Mill landfill.

The metals were sold to a Pennsylvania recycler for cash, police said. No dollar value was put on the goods.

Mr. Sell and Mr. Norwood were charged with theft over a period of time, theft and conspiracy. Mr. Rhoten was charged with theft and conspiracy.