scott shellenberger

• Opinion

It's still illegal to smoke pot in public

It's still illegal to smoke pot in public

• Maryland

Baltimore County considers fines for 'unruly social gatherings' in Towson

The Baltimore County Council will consider creating a new civil citation to be issued to tenants in Towson who host "unruly social gatherings" as well as their landlords.

By Pamela Wood

Jan 10, 2016

• Drug Trafficking

Bipartisan panel in Annapolis recommends much shorter drug sentences, more drug treatment

An influential General Assembly panel is recommending a dramatic reduction in jail sentences for drug offenses — part of a plan to imprison thousands fewer people and use the savings to help others stay out of jail.

By Luke Broadwater

Dec 17, 2015

• News

Suspect killed in Towson liquor store robbery identified

A 25-year-old Baltimore man was shot to death while trying to rob a Towson liquor store Monday night, Baltimore County police said.

• Maryland

Maryland could save $247 million and cut prison population, reform panel is told

Maryland could save about $247 million over 10 years and cut its prison population by almost 4,000 if it adopts a series of reforms under consideration by a high-profile commission, researchers told the panel Wednesday.

By Michael Dresser

Dec 2, 2015

• News

Attorney general's office makes rare move into street crime

• News

Man identified, sought in crash that killed 1-year-old

Baltimore police have identified and are searching for the driver who allegedly fled police in Baltimore County and caused a crash that killed a 1-year-old boy.

• Opinion

Baltimore's power couple

The Mosbys' marriage presents interesting questions in the mayor's race, but it shouldn't disqualify Nick Mosby from consideration.

• Baltimore County

Grieving mother pens book about her son's mysterious death in 2006

Adrienne Miranda, a Lutherville woman whose son was killed in a construction site incident in 2006, has written a self-published book and is doing signings at local bookstores. Miranda contends her son was murdered. The case is classified as a homicide by the state medical examiner's office, and was the subject of a Sun story in 2011. No one was ever charged, but Miranda is still fighting for "justice."

• Politics

In Annapolis, lawmakers take a hard look at crime and punishment

Democrats and Republicans in Annapolis are taking a hard look at Maryland's approach to crime and punishment.

By Michael Dresser

Oct 23, 2015

• Maryland

In Annapolis, lawmakers take a hard look at crime and punishment

Democrats and Republicans in Annapolis are taking a hard look at Maryland's approach to crime and punishment.

By Michael Dresser

Oct 17, 2015

• News

Former Baltimore prosecutor, police officer charged in theft scheme

A former Baltimore City prosecutor and a city police officer have been indicted on charges of theft and misconduct in office, charges that stem from an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain overtime.

• News

Balto. Co. police release video to defend officer who killed unarmed suspect

Keith Harrison McLeod, 19, of Washington, was shot three times after he tried to buy narcotic cough syrup with a forged prescription from a Main Street pharmacy, police said.

• Unions

Balto. Co. plans to start using police body cameras in July

Baltimore County plans to outfit its police officers with body cameras beginning next summer, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said Thursday.

• Maryland

Kamenetz and Johnson to announce body camera program

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Police Chief Jim Johnson will unveil plans Thursday to equip county police officers with body cameras, according to officials who were briefed on the plans.

• News

No charges against Shattuck in Baltimore County

Baltimore County's top prosecutor says he will not pursue criminal charges against former Ravens cheerleader Molly Shattuck after re-examining allegations of sexual abuse..

By Alison Knezevich

Sep 4, 2015

• Maryland

Son of Baltimore police commander charged in killing

The son of a high-ranking Baltimore police commander has been charged in the stabbing death of his roommate Monday in Southwest Baltimore, police said.

• News

Allegations against Shattuck in Baltimore County to be re-examined

Now that former Ravens cheerleader Molly Shattuck has been sentenced in Delaware for the sexual assault of a teenage boy, Baltimore County State Attorney Scott Shellenberger says he will re-examine allegations involving her in Baltimore County.

By Alison Knezevich

Aug 25, 2015

• Opinion

Dundalk beating was a hate crime

Race played a roll in attack on 61-year-old in Dundalk and that needs to be acknowledged — and prosecuted

• Baltimore County

Monkton teen accused in Carver Center plot will be tried as juvenile

A Monkton teenager who was initially charged as an adult and accused of planning to attack his Towson high school will now be tried in juvenile court.

By Alison Knezevich

Apr 30, 2015

• Baltimore City

Mayor defends, critics denounce police use of secret cellphone surveillance tool

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Friday defended the Baltimore Police Department's widespread use of a secret cellphone surveillance device that allows officers to track criminals by sweeping up neighborhood phone signals, echoing police claims the program is limited in the type of data it collects.

• Politics

Lawmakers press for details on police phone tracking technology

Lawmakers raised new questions Thursday following revelations that Baltimore Police made widespread use of a controversial cell phone surveillance device that for years they have been bound by the FBI from discussing.

• News

Baltimore Co. police used secretive phone-tracking technology 622 times

Baltimore County police have used controversial cell-phone tracking technology more than 600 times in the past five years, the department said for the first time Thursday.

By Alison Knezevich

Apr 9, 2015

• Opinion

Don't lock up children forever

Maryland should put an end to life-with-out parole sentences for minors

• Opinion

Will Maryland go back on its word?

Several years ago when opponents of the death penalty were making their case for repeal, we constantly heard the refrain that "life without parole" is a sufficiently tough sentence. This year the assault on eliminating life without parole has begun.

• Maryland

Two UMBC students expelled after sexual assault investigation

Two University of Maryland-Baltimore County students have been expelled for violating the student code of conduct, following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of another student in August, school officials confirmed.

By Alison Knezevich

Mar 12, 2015

• Opinion

Shellenberger and Vatz make a weak case for the death penalty

Shellenberger and Vatz make a weak case for the death penalty.

• Readers Respond

Baltimore County is still in the dark ages on the death penalty

Baltimore County is still in the dark ages on the death penalty.

• Opinion

Choose life and mercy — even for heinous crimes

Choose life and mercy — even for heinous crimes.

• Opinion

Killing each other won't make us safer

The death penalty should stay dead

• Opinion

Who says innocent people are never executed?

Who says innocent people are never executed?

• Opinion

The death penalty is dead; let's move on

The death penalty is dead; let's move on

• Opinion

Shellenberger's hypocrisy on the death penalty

Shellenberger's hypocrisy on capital punishment

• Opinion

A death penalty rebuttal, point by point

Arguments for reinstating the death penalty in Maryland are misleading and false

• News

Former Balto. Co. police cadet pleads guilty to stealing from evidence room

A former Baltimore County police cadet who was accused of stealing cash and thousands of pills from an evidence room pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft and drug charges.

By Alison Knezevich

Jan 7, 2015

• Health

Maryland strips doctor of license for assisting in six suicides

A Baltimore anesthesiologist who made national news as "The New Doctor Death" held the hands of six elderly Marylanders as they asphyxiated themselves with helium and then covered up their suicides, officials said in a state order they filed this month to strip him of his medical license.

By Scott Dance

Dec 30, 2014

• Crime

For human trafficking victims, state offers 'a new beginning'

Towson attorney helps young woman clear her prostitution conviction, one of the first cases to use a state law that helps victims of human trafficking get a fresh start

By Alison Knezevich

Dec 8, 2014

• Crime

Teen sexting remains a vexing problem for law enforcement

So-called sexting among teens — a practice considered by some experts to be a normal part of adolescence — is a vexing issue for law enforcement officials. Even after new laws outlawing "revenge porn" and "cyberbullying," sexting is difficult to prosecute not only because youth are involved but also because it's not necessarily illegal.

By Alison Knezevich

Nov 28, 2014

• Trials and Arbitration

O'Malley, murder victims' daughter speak about death penalty

A Western Maryland woman whose parents were killed by man on death row said she urged Gov. Martin O'Malley in a phone conversation Monday afternoon not to commute the man's sentence.

• Politics

O'Malley asks to meet with families of death row inmates' victims

With two months left in office, Gov. Martin O'Malley has asked to meet with at least two families whose loved ones were killed by men on Maryland's death row — a move that may signal the governor is poised to take action on death penalty cases.

• Baltimore County

Shiflett sentenced to life without parole in stabbing death of Reisterstown woman

A Baltimore County judge sentenced a 35-year-old man to life without possibility of parole Wednesday for the 2013 murder of a Reisterstown woman who prosecutors said he had threatened for years.

By Alison Knezevich

Nov 19, 2014

• Baltimore County

Carver Center student should be tried in juvenile system, lawyer says

The attorney for a 16-year-old student accused of planning an attack on his Towson school says he will try to get the teen's case transferred to the juvenile system.

By Alison Knezevich

Nov 10, 2014

• Elections

Republicans ride GOP wave to gain General Assembly seats

Capitalizing on a GOP surge nationally, Maryland Republicans picked up several seats in the General Assembly where they have been the minority party for years.

By Luke Broadwater

Nov 5, 2014

• Politics

Candidates hope to pry 'soft' supporters off the couch

Political professionals say most people know whom they choose between Democrat Anthony G. Brown and Republican Larry Hogan – if they actually bother to go to the polls. It's getting the may-not-bother people to show up that's the key to victory for either campaign for governor, experts say.

By Michael Dresser

Nov 1, 2014

• Politics

Shellenberger touts Brown's work on domestic violence in new radio ad

Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger is featured in a new radio ad supporting Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's gubernatorial run, as Democrats try to win over county voters in the final stretch before Election Day.

By Alison Knezevich

Oct 30, 2014

• Baltimore County

Baltimore officer cleared in off-duty Middle River shooting

A Baltimore police officer who authorities say shot a man who attacked him in Middle River last month has been cleared of wrongdoing, Baltimore County police said Thursday.

• Baltimore County

Baltimore officer cleared in off-duty Middle River shooting

• Politics

Marijuana possession now a fine, but prosecutors see complications

• Maryland

Questions linger on eve of marijuana decriminalization enactment

Despite contradictions and unanswered questions plaguing Maryland's marijuana decriminalization law, scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, police plan to do what they can to enforce the new regulations and prosecutors hope the coming legislative session will offer the opportunity for clarification.

• Baltimore County

Baltimore County jury finds man guilty in fatal stabbing case

A Baltimore County jury Monday found an Anne Arundel County man guilty in the fatal stabbing of a woman he once dated.