Maryland : Lead paint
8 landlords fined $240,000 by MDE
Continuing its stepped-up enforcement of lead-paint laws, the Maryland Department of the Environment said yesterday that it had fined eight landlords nearly $240,000.
Doris and Melvin Dorsey of Baltimore were fined $38,500 for a property that the state agency found had violated lead-paint risk-reduction standards.
Other property owners fined were Derrick Anthony Majette of Windsor Mill, $22,000; Derwin A. Mays of Fort Washington, $16,500; HM Realty Inc. of Baltimore, $35,000; David and Yvonne Sakers of Goldsboro, $65,000; Jose A. Navarro of Waynesboro, $22,000; James C. Darling of Denton, $30,000; and Charles M. Bailey of Baltimore, $10,700.
The sale of lead paint was banned in the United States in 1978 after studies found that it could cause serious health problems in children, but lead paint still can be found in older housing. When children ingest dust from the paint, they can develop problems ranging from headaches to severe, permanent mental retardation.
Maryland law requires landlords to hire inspectors to check on whether their rental properties have lead dust or peeling paint.
Tom Pelton
Baltimore County
: Pikesville
Man, 62, admits having child porn
A 62-year-old Pikesville man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to possessing more than 30,000 images of child pornography, federal prosecutors said.Prosecutors say agents recovered from the home of Harold Leroy Rivers numerous CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, external hard drives and other computer equipment containing child pornography last February. Rivers faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by supervised release for life. Sentencing is scheduled for May 9 before U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett in Baltimore.
Brent Jones
Baltimore
: Energy expo
Customers can seek financial help
BGE customers in need of financial help may attend the 2008 Baltimore City Energy Assistance Expo from noon to 6 p.m. today at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries, 6000 Radecke Ave.
The expo provides an opportunity for qualified customers to apply for assistance. To qualify, a customer must be a new or existing BGE customer and may not have received assistance from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program, or MEAP, or the Electric Universal Service Program since July 1.
Customers should take these items to the expo: a photo ID such as a driver's license; proof of income for the past 30 days of all household members; proof of residence (a lease or mortgage, for example); Social Security cards for all household members; and, for heating assistance, a BGE or oil bill.