(Dec. 17, 2015) Six months after a Worcester County District Court judge set probationary terms for the defendants in the January vandalism of more than a dozen vehicles and several landmarks in downtown Berlin, a number of those terms have not been met.
Mark A. Vernarelli, director of community engagement with the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services, said Nicholas Bonser and Jordan Denton, both 18 when they pleaded guilty in June, had paid some of the $8,843.06 in restitution and completed a portion of the 150 hours of community service ordered by the court.
Vernarelli added that each had written a required letter of apology to the town, although Berlin Town Administrator Laura Allen and a number of other town officials said they had not seen one.
Information about the third defendant in the trial, a juvenile, was not available, and Vernarelli said he could not disclose the exact amount of money paid or service hours completed.
“Our parole and probation agent is working with them to make sure their court-ordered conditions are satisfied,” he said in an email last Wednesday, adding that both were under supervision until 2017.
One of the victims, Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger, said she had also not seen a letter and had received just $27 in restitution from Bonser and Denton and nothing from the juvenile defendant.
Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell, another victim, said he had received no restitution. Another resident, who asked not to be named for the story, claimed to have received two checks for $1.22 each.
Vernarelli said all money submitted by the defendants went directly to the victims, “even if it’s piecemeal.”
“They are supposed to pay monthly and must finish by the time their supervision ends,” he said. “If they fall behind, agents work with them and remind them of the importance of their obligation. The division and department of public safety in general take victim issues very seriously … and will make every effort to ensure that the restitution and community service requirements are fulfilled.”
Bonser and Denton originally had 90 days to complete the community service and restitution terms, but each received an extension in September.
The court in September agreed to an extension of the terms in both cases.
Mark A. Vernarelli, director of community engagement with the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services, said Nicholas Bonser and Jordan Denton, both 18 when they pleaded guilty in June, had paid some of the $8,843.06 in restitution and completed a portion of the 150 hours of community service ordered by the court.
Vernarelli added that each had written a required letter of apology to the town, although Berlin Town Administrator Laura Allen and a number of other town officials said they had not seen one.
Information about the third defendant in the trial, a juvenile, was not available, and Vernarelli said he could not disclose the exact amount of money paid or service hours completed.
“Our parole and probation agent is working with them to make sure their court-ordered conditions are satisfied,” he said in an email last Wednesday, adding that both were under supervision until 2017.
One of the victims, Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger, said she had also not seen a letter and had received just $27 in restitution from Bonser and Denton and nothing from the juvenile defendant.
Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell, another victim, said he had received no restitution. Another resident, who asked not to be named for the story, claimed to have received two checks for $1.22 each.
Vernarelli said all money submitted by the defendants went directly to the victims, “even if it’s piecemeal.”
“They are supposed to pay monthly and must finish by the time their supervision ends,” he said. “If they fall behind, agents work with them and remind them of the importance of their obligation. The division and department of public safety in general take victim issues very seriously … and will make every effort to ensure that the restitution and community service requirements are fulfilled.”
Bonser and Denton originally had 90 days to complete the community service and restitution terms, but each received an extension in September.
The court in September agreed to an extension of the terms in both cases.