DIGEST

The Baltimore Sun

Twins get probation for lying on stand

Twin brothers were placed on probation yesterday for lying on the witness stand about a notorious Annapolis murder, in a sentence that recognized their cooperation with federal authorities to help convict a second person in the crime.

"I was young, and I was scared," Jonathan Griffin said of his lapse of memory when called to testify in the Anne Arundel County murder trial of one of two men accused of fatally shooting Straughan Lee Griffin (no relation) in 2002 in front of his home in Annapolis' Historic District.

Jonathan and Jeffrey Griffin, now 25, were charged with perjury after the 2005 trial of Terrence Tolbert, in which they backed off their grand jury statements that linked Tolbert to a handgun. Tolbert was convicted of murder and is serving life without parole plus 30 years.

But in June they testified, in the federal carjacking-murder trial of Leeander Jerome Blake, Tolbert's accused accomplice. Blake was convicted in U.S. District Court in June and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

The Griffins were placed on 18 months of probation that includes 100 hours of community service. Retired Circuit Judge Joseph P. Manck also suspended an 18-month jail sentence.

Andrea F. Siegel

County Web site gets new look

The Anne Arundel County Web site has launched a new feature application that allows residents to find out what county facilities are available in their community, county officials announced yesterday.

"My Anne Arundel" can be accessed from the homepage of the Anne Arundel County Web site, www.aacounty.org.

Web users can type in their address and the "My Anne Arundel" feature provides residents with information such as their council district, road district, public safety information and waste management services.

Residents can also get a crime report with their community's crime statistics spanning the last three years.

"This is just another way that Anne Arundel County is using our Web site to provide the best possible customer service to county residents," said County Executive John R. Leopold.

ASGT recognized for excellence

Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has won the top honor in a regional community theater competition administered by the British Players.

The July 2006 production of Urinetown, the Musical won the 2006-2007 Ruby Griffith Award for All-Around Production Excellence at a ceremony in Potomac on Sunday.

Twenty-eight community theaters from northern Virginia, Washington and suburban Maryland competed for the prize, which is named for a founding member of the British Embassy Players (now the British Players) and director of its first play in 1964.

"We thought it was an excellent production and we are thrilled that the judges have recognized ASGT, Urinetown director Ron Giddings and the entire cast and crew," said ASGT President Carolyn Kirby. "This was the first time we entered the competition, which makes the award even more special."

ASGT is an all-volunteer community theater that stages its productions outdoors at 143 Compromise St. Its current production of Sweeney Todd, also directed by Giddings, plays until July 28.

More information is available at www.summergarden.com.

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