Robin Ficker of Poolesville was disbarred Thursday by the Maryland Court of Appeals for what Judge Robert McDonald called a failure to comply with elementary standards of the legal profession.
A former Maryland state delegate seeking the Republican nomination for governor has been disbarred from practicing law by a state court following a complaint by the Attorney Grievance Commission.
The Maryland Court of Appeals said in its ruling Thursday that Robin Ficker has been the subject of a long history of complaints of professional misconduct that expand over three generations of the bar counsel, The Washington Post reported.
In an email, Ficker said the ruling was “a political decision by recent political appointees. … My clients love me. It is judges and lawyers complaining.”
According to the court ruling, the disbarment stems from a case in which Ficker failed to appear for trial and made other mistakes. Ficker said the case, which occurred three years ago, involved a person accused of driving without a license who he represented for free but didn’t show up for a court date, and “They are blaming the attorney, come on.”
The disbarment was “a political decision. They are political appointees,” he said, adding, “Most judges don’t like defense attorneys as it is.” He speculated that the court was annoyed that he recently won a case in Calvert County that changed the rules for political signage.
Ficker said he could apply for reinstatement but won’t in the near future. He is a licensed real estate agent in Maryland, and “There is a hot market now,” he said. Also, running for governor is taking up time, he said.
“All you can do is light a candle. I am not going to curse the darkness.”
Robin Ficker, the mystifying former delegate who's run for numerous state and local offices and became famous for heckling opposing teams at Bullets games in the 90s, was disbarred yesterday by the Maryland Court of Appeals for professional misconduct. https://t.co/k4qp9uHsCEpic.twitter.com/NpDzV5ZsQd
The 39-page ruling also said Ficker has been disciplined for professional misconduct eight times dating back to 1990.
Ficker is competing against former Maryland commerce secretary Kelly Schulz and Del. Daniel Cox, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.
The proposed (PGCPS) Preparatory K-8 public school is at Tantallon community within Fort Washington it is mired in major controversy.
UPPER MARLBORO, MD — The Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) District’s school naming committee is tasked with naming a brand-new elementary school in south Prince George’s county, and has narrowed the field to 4 possibilities — including a politician and army general as well as names based on local geography. The PGCPS system is therefore inviting the public to help name the new southern elementary school.
The first of public surveys had been scheduled online this week until today Friday, March 4th but Voting has been extended to Monday, March 7th, 2022, 12 noon.
The proposed (PGCPS) Preparatory K-8 public school which has faced major push back from southern community remains on course. “The new school is essentially a leech on the resources of the community, it exist totally out of any public control,” Samuel Dodges said.
Several civic associations led by Tantallon Square Area Civic Association (TSACA) continues to oppose an environmental degradation involving a forest being cleared for new school construction at Swan Creek Road and Fort Washington Road. In this area, flooding is a major concern for many residents. Standing flood waters can also spread infectious diseases, contain chemical hazards, and cause injuries. Each year, flooding causes more problems than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. The most common flood issue occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood waters which causes death in many cases.
A sign left by protesters concerning the proposed new school
For the first survey despite pushback, PGCPS has invited the public to submit the preferred names for the new school, which is currently under construction at the intersection of Swan Creek Road and Fort Washington Road. PGCPS is seeking the public’s input on the finalists, now through March 7 at noon. — vote for your favorite here. Vote totals will be presented to the Current CEO Dr. Monica Goldson. Nominations are open to all citizens, including PGCPS staff, students, parents, and community members, and nominators may not submit more than one name. According to PGCPS website, a committee comprised of community liaisons, students, parents, and district representatives has developed a short-list of naming options for community members to select from. Final voting data will be utilized to inform the committee’s recommendation to PGCPS CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson who will then make an official recommendation to the Prince George’s County Board of Education.
Some citizens in the southern region close to the proposed new school which was launched in the midst of covid-19 lockdown and protests displayed dismay on the omission of the proposed names of the original owner of the land who gave it to PGCPS as gift for $10.
Full criteria are contained in PGCPS Policy and Rules regarding the naming of a new school. Want to know more about who’s who before you vote? Here’s a brief description of the 4 choices.
PGCPS naming options:
Colin Powell K-8 Academy
Colin L. Powell (Apr 1937 – Oct 18, 2021) was a United States general and statesman and the first African American to hold the positions of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State. Powell was born in Harlem, New York in 1937 to Jamaican immigrant parents who stressed the importance of education and personal achievement. Powell received his bachelor’s degree in geology from the City College of New York. Powell authored two books, “My American Journey” and “It Worked for Me, Lessons in Life and Leadership” and was the recipient of numerous awards including a Purple Heart, Soldier’s Medal, and Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Fort Washington K-8 Academy
Fort Washington was constructed to defend the Potomac River approach to Washington, DC during the American Civil War and has stood as silent sentry for over 200 years. Fort Washington was the only defense for the Nation’s Capital until the Civil War when a circle of temporary forts was built around the city. Fort Washington still stands as a historic landmark in the community with its namesake.
Tantallon K-8 Academy
Tantallon is a community within Fort Washington, Maryland in which the new K-8 academy will exist. The name Tantallon was taken from Scotland’s fabled “Castle Tantallon” a once mighty fortress that towered over the forbidding waters of the Firth of Forth.
Swan Creek K-8 Academy
Swan Creek, is a stem of the Potomac River that traverses Fort Washington, Maryland and runs along the Tantallon Community nearby Swan Harbor and Swan Creek roads as well as Tantallon and Arrow Park drives. The new K-8 academy will be located at the intersection of E. Swan Creek and Fort Washington roads.
The new, 234,000-square-foot kindergarten through eighth grade school on wetland is scheduled to open to students for the 2023 -2024 school year.
The new K-8 school will replace the current elementary and middle school in Fort Washington. A spokesperson with the school system said the Board of Education has not determined what will happen to those school buildings once students are relocated. But there are concerns the current CEO and others connected to her and the county leadership are in link with developers to advance corruption in the county as seen elsewhere in recent past according to a resident who did not want to be identified. Call your elected officials now and the law enforcement community.
former Board member Edward Burrough III demonstrating with parents last year at the proposed site.
Belinda Queen, a member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, is resigning to run for the Prince George’s County council District 6. (Courtesy photo)
By Reform Sasscer Staff:
One of the newly elected Board of Education member Belinda Queen has resigned. A first-term board member, who has been tough but fair has been embroiled in controversy in recent months, announced her resignation Thursday on social media. Her resignation will take place on March 7th, 2022.
Belinda hit the ground running in 2019 after she got elected when she demanded answers after discovering corruption at High Point High School in Prince George’s County public Schools (PGCPS). “First question, which the public should be asking: What took anyone in the Board so long?”, She asked at the time. (See the report here).
Belinda becomes the 3rd Board member to resign after former Board of Education member now Councilman Edward Burroughs III resigned to run for county council District 8. Burroughs resignation was followed by Raaheela Ahmed, 28, who served on the district’s school board for the past five years. She steped down, effective Feb. 19, to run for the Maryland Senate seat, currently held by incumbent Ron Watson. He was appointed to the District 23 seat by Gov. Larry Hogan in August.
Belinda is resigning to run for county council District 6 after unearthing wide ranging system corruption on the county level.
School board members are largely unpaid volunteers, traditionally former educators and parents who step forward to shape school policy, choose a superintendent and review the budget. But a growing number are resigning or questioning their willingness to serve as meetings have devolved into shouting contests between deeply political constituencies over how racial issues are taught, masks in schools, ethics reports, COVID-19 vaccines and testing requirements etc.
School Board Tensions
School board members across the country have received threats and hateful messages, sparked by tense debates over mask mandates and other COVID-19 rules, LGBTQ books and the teaching of race. However, here in the Prince George’s county though, the local board is in tension after some Board members questioned how public land, money was being utilized to build new schools without transparency.
News of land being set aside for purposes of education and/or public use is typically met with celebration. But an increasing chorus of voices within Prince George’s County and the real estate industry is casting doubt on whether public money is being used properly throughout Prince George’s county. “We live in a time when Prince George’s county struggles mightily to adequately fund schools and social services. If we are going to expend funds for Education, the county should be paying current fair market value supported by analysis that would pass muster with private market buyers, said Matt Lowery.”
Her departure creates a vacancy on the school board. By law, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has the authority to appoint a replacement. Other departed board members have said they see the iron in that , given county Executive Alsobrooks wanted to have them removed through unorthodox means using drummed up ethics report.
Belinda is among the elected members of the school board that have pushed to see the structure of the board overhauled from a mix of appointed and elected members to an all-elected school board.
She and others have clashed repeatedly with board chair Juanita Miller, who holds one of the seats on the school board appointed by Alsobrooks.
Belinda was first elected to the Prince George’s County Board of Education in 2018 defeating Carolyn Boston overwhelmingly. However, she began her political career earlier. She first ran for the Prince George’s County Democratic State Committee, before running for the Prince George’s County Board of Education.
“ It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of District 6 and each and every scholar, Parent of PGCPS and the community… I feel honored to have accomplished everything that I ran to do in putting kids first ” ..Belinda wrote in among other issues in her resignation letter. To do otherwise, would have been the district failure.”It has been a pleasure working with each one of you,” she wrote.
Drummed up Ethics Charges.
After major fallout with county Executive Angela Alsobrooks last year, the ethics panel acting under orders above organized a scheme to deprive elected board members of their powers in the county. Thus, after the Prince’s George’s County School Board recommended that six elected board members either resign or be removed following an investigation.
The ethics findings are not public, but documents were reviewed by the press. They were also anonymously sent to each elected leaders throughout the county.
The ethics panel recommended the resignation or removal of Edward Burroughs, David Murray, Raaheela Ahmed, Joshua Thomas, Kenneth Harris and Shayla Adams-Stafford. The panel recommended sanctions for Belinda Queen.
“I know it’s supposed to be confidential, but somebody took it upon themselves to anonymously mail them around to elected officials in the county,” said Ivey. “And I happen to live with two of them.”
The ethics findings say board members violated policy when they hired a board lobbyist and when they decided to reorganize the board office, making staffing changes and prompting a “federal discrimination lawsuit.”
“I think they are riddled with inaccuracies and false on their face,” said Ivey of the findings.
Some board members are also accused of a pay-to-play scheme involving a labor union they received campaign contributions from.
Ivey said that the actual resolution passed by the board does not name the labor union in question and disputed the notion that there was anything unethical about the campaign donations.
Board chair Dr. Juanita Miller called for this ethics investigation soon after she was appointed by the county executive as board chair.
More recently, this group of elected board members petitioned the state to have her removed, making their own misconduct claims against Miller.
While there was a public board meeting at night, the primary discussion about the ethics investigation happened in executive session.
Six members, mostly appointed, voted to accept the findings. The seven members under investigation were barred from voting. This left them shaken to the core after County Executive Alsobrooks went after them for drummed up “ethics violations” until they ran scared for their dear lives as their political future was on the line. However, Alsobrooks is violating the law and her administration is engaged in violating peoples rights using the court system to punish some personnel in the school system and others opposed to their illegal schemes using lawyers tied to them, records show.
Belinda’s resignation from PGCPS comes at a sensitive time, when corruption, in particular in Prince George’s county has become a state capture, leading to polarization among county citizens: those in support of corrupt regimes (because of kickbacks and handouts) versus those opposed to them. In the presence of diametrically opposed groups in society, compromise and reasoned discussion has diminished in many ways. As a result, Policies are judged not on the basis of ideology or a project’s inherent merits, but on who the policy proponents are and what benefits competing networks can reap such as within the Board itself and elsewhere.
In our blog post recently, we cited the role the county Executive Angela Alsobrooks is playing in advancing public corruption in the county through violations of law including campaign finance. There is more involving the county Executive touching on new schools and the Tantallon Community. Whether falling under the label of political cronyism, crony capitalism, political party cartels, oligarchy, plutocracy and even kleptocracy, widespread patterns of private and public corruption construct social systems that are rigged in the private interest as seen in this case. Citizens with strong ethical principles (and citizens who lack significant funds, connections, favours to dispense, “hard power” over others such as guns or private enforcers) lose representation, influence and power.
The rule of law is fundamental to maintaining the freedoms of individuals in a society, and for the protection of people’s rights. You cannot ask the county citizenry and their kids to obey the law when you are violating it in many ways willfully yourself”, one parent who did not want to be identified said.
When corruption pervades the justice system, people can no longer count on prosecutors and judges to do their jobs. The powerful may escape justice. And citizens, especially those with few resources or few powerful allies, may be unfairly accused of crimes, deprived of due process, and wrongly imprisoned.
Delbert Del McFadden, executive director, Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (DC.gov)
Washington DC: (Reform Sasscer) – The D.C. leader in charge of one of the mayor’s key anti-crime initiatives has abruptly resigned after recent out of control violent crime in the District of Columbia involving Prince George’s county Public Schools (PGCPS) youth.
The office is charged with overseeing violence interrupters, the Safe Passage program aimed at getting youth safely to and from school and implementation of the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act, which addresses crime as a public health emergency.
Several sources familiar with the matter told the press that McFadden’s resignation came as a surprise to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office.
The mayor did not immediately comment on the resignation, which comes days after Bowser launched another anti-crime initiative involving Prince George’s county Executive Angela Alsobrooks due to the recent out of control violence involving PGCPS youth inside the District of columbia.
McFadden was appointed in October 2017 and has spent 20 years “advocating for disadvantaged youth and reducing criminal elements in targeted communities,” his bio says. “Director McFadden is a community organizer and educator with experience in implementing evidence-based violence prevention and intervention programs across the city. During a long career at Collaborative Solutions for Communities, located in Ward 1, Mr. McFadden served as coordinator for numerous intervention programs, including Weed and Seed, Project Safe Neighborhood and the Citywide Coordinating Council on Youth Violence Prevention,” the city government websitesays.
Early this month, Government and law enforcement leaders in the District and Prince George’s County joined forces to combat the recent rise in carjackings and other violent crimes that have occurred in both jurisdictions.
On Feb. 2, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee III joined Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and her police chief, Malik Aziz joined forces, to announce the joint partnership at the Marvin Gaye Park located in Northeast.
“We are focused in both jurisdictions on collaborating to make our communities safer for all people,” Bowser said. “We are particularly focused on how we reach our young people and engage them so they don’t get involved in violent activity, how we hold them accountable when they do and how we get them on a more productive and positive path forward.”
The issue of carjackings in the region became even more pronounced on Jan. 15, following the attack of a D.C. Council (D) at-large candidate at a gas station located in Northeast. After contacting the police, Nate Fleming talked about the crime on social media and the story went viral.
On Jan. 30, D.C. police announced a 17-year-old District Heights, Md. resident had been arrested in connection to the crime. Contee said the arrest resulted from collaborative efforts led by D.C. and Prince George’s County police. Fleming expressed satisfaction following the arrest.
“I’m pleased to see that MPD has made an arrest of one of the suspects in this incident,” Fleming said. “We know that in the majority of these carjacking, juveniles are the assailants. We need to attack juvenile violent crime comprehensively both in the short-term and long-term. In the past two weeks, there have been numerous carjackings throughout the District, including another one at the same gas station where I was carjacked and several carjackings in the blocks nearby. Urgent action is needed.”
Bowser said many of the young carjackers cross the District-Prince George’s County border to commit their crimes. Realizing many of the youth lack a strong direction in their lives, the mayor said the city offers activities that can distract them from crime such as sports, afterschool programming and employment opportunities.
According to Alsobrooks, for example, there have been 162 carjackings in Prince George’s County. She acknowledged on Tuesday first half of January and said that juveniles are responsible for 96 of them.
“And so this tells us a lot about where we’re headed. And we must do something right now to disrupt it,” Alsobrooks said.
Dr. Monica Goldson a CEO for PGCPS who was selected through public corruption has never spoken publicly about the out of control fights and public corruption sweeping quietly through the school system. These willful violations include closing down schools ready for real estate option, paying off lawyers, siphoning money off to friends and family etc. Prince George’s county citizens must raise up and demand answers without delay. These out of control fights and other purposeful disregard are not fair to county residents, their families and United States.
To be effective, violence prevention programs require community-wide collaborative efforts led by school system leader that include students, families, teachers, administrators, staff, social and mental health professionals, law enforcement, emergency response personnel, security professionals, school board members, parents and the businesses. The school system leader takes an active role to effect change and not hide in the closet and wish these problems away. Dr. Monica Goldson “Goldson” has failed to provide proper leadership and it’s time for her to go due to corrupt leadership style!
Stay with Reform Sasscer Movement for more details on this developing story.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses carjacking issues in her city while Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz and D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee III listen.
One of the youngest members in the history of the Prince George’s County Council was sworn in Tuesday.
Since he was a student at Crossland High School, Edward Burroughs III has been a public servant, rising from the student member on the Prince George’s County Board of Education to its youngest elected member when he was 18. Now at 29, he’s a County Council member.
“If you would have asked me a year ago, six months ago, where would I be, it would not be on the Prince George’s County Council,” he said. “For those of you who have known my story and know what we’ve been through, this is the last place that I ever thought I would be.”
When former District 8 Council member Monique Anderson-Walker stepped down to be running mate for gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot, Burroughs won the special election with more than 70% of the vote in the primary, beating former Council member and state Del. Tony Knotts.
On the school board, Burroughs helped elect progressive candidates, causing a shift in the power of the board. That shift led to frequent clashes with school system leadership, and Burrough’s fight against former PGCPS CEO Kevin Maxwell went all the way to the governor. Maxwell later resigned.
Political leaders spoke in support of Burroughs Tuesday, including U.S. House Majority Leader and Prince George’s County native Rep. Steny Hoyer.
“There’s been controversy on the Board of Education, but you have tried to be a steady, focused voice,” he said.
“I’m here today to celebrate Ed, to celebrate his perseverance, his passion, and to remind each and every one of you that he is someone who is an example of the ultimate measure of a man,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said.
Burroughs’ campaign was not supported by everyone on the board. Some Council members were missing from his swearing-in.
“I’m going to fight to do what’s right on behalf of the people of Prince George’s County, and often that gets me into some good trouble, but I feel comfortable in that space at this point, and I look forward to contributing and supporting and working together as best we can,” Burroughs said.
After winning his seat, Burroughs resigned from his job overseeing the Teen Court Program within the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said Burroughs helped grow the program and wrote legislation expanding the state’s definition of child abuse.
The regular primary election will happen in June. Burroughs and Knotts have both filed to run, and Burroughs will need to win to keep his seat on the Prince George’s County Council.
Boundaries approved by a majority of county councilmembers, based on new contours initially proposed by Councilmember Derrick Leon Davis (D-District 6). Screenshot.
By Bruce DePuyt: Maryland’s highest court has agreed to consider an appeal filed by the Prince George’s County Council in a controversial local redistricting case.
The order, issued late Friday, came in response to a ruling from a Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge late last month.
In a lawsuit filed by four county residents, Judge William A. Snoddy ruled that the council failed to follow proper procedure when it approved a new map for use beginning this year. He ruled that the Prince George’s charter requires the council to pass a redistricting bill. The panel filed a resolution.
Snoddy ordered the county to void the council-approved map and to use instead the map crafted by an independent commission. That map made only modest changes to the map the county has used since 2012.
The court scheduled oral arguments in the case, Prince George’s County v. Robert E. Thurston, et al, for March 4. The hearing will be held online.
The council has been heavily criticized for the way it handled the once-a-decade process of redrawing local political boundaries. At a marathon hearing just prior to the vote, approximately 120 residents accused the panel of replacing the commission map with one that six council members — just enough to pass the plan — crafted in secret. No one spoke in favor of the plan, which was adopted on a 6-3 vote.
Critics pointed to numerous instances in which progressive and independent-mind candidates — including one former council member — were narrowly drawn out of districts they intended to run in.
Nine members of the Prince George’s Council represent districts and two serve at-large.
The council members who supported the disputed plan expressed confidence that they faithfully followed the law and the charter.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Prince George’s Council Chairman Calvin S. Hawkins II (D) said: “The Council voted to adopt its 2021 Redistricting Plan by Resolution under the authority granted by voters in 2012 with approval of Ballot Question A, and the County Charter, which states the Plan shall be adopted by Council Resolution.”
The original filing deadline for candidates wishing to run this year, when almost all state and local seats are on the ballot, was Feb. 22. But late last week the Court of Appeals moved the deadline to March 22 to give it time to hold hearings in a series of lawsuits challenging the General Assembly’s plans to redraw congressional and state legislative districts.
Sunday, February 13, 2022 – A candidate for Prince George’s County Executive Leigh Edmond Bodden has been exposed badly for engaging in road side fights with the police officers a few years back. A former New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden was arrested drunk, after an officer saw him try to pass another driver by crossing into oncoming traffic, report says. Police Officer said Bodden initially claimed not to have drank any alcohol, but later admitted to having “two or three.” Bodden then went on a threatening, racist tirade against police Officers, leading to his arrest, police said.
Read the court report below
Leigh Edmond Bodden (born September 24, 1981) is a former American football cornerback. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Duquesne. Bodden has also played for the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots.At the moment, Leigh is running to be the Prince George’s County Executive.
RICHMOND, Va. (CN) – A federal judge refused to throw out DUI and various related charges against former New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden, concluding any reasonable trier of fact would have found him guilty.
As recounted by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, Bodden was pulled over during the early morning hours of August 24, 2013, after an officer saw him try to pass another driver by crossing into oncoming traffic.
The officer, John Harmer, later testified that he himself had to use evasive maneuvers in order to avoid a head-on collision with the one-time NFL player.
Harmer said that as the two men spoke on the side of the road, “he smelled alcohol on Mr. Bodden’s breath and also noticed that his eyes were red, watery, and bloodshot.”
Harmer said Bodden initially claimed not to have drank any alcohol, but later admitted to having “two or three.”
The officer called for the assistance of a colleague certified to conduct field sobriety tests. Harmer said Bodden was initially reluctant to submit to the test, but ultimately took the walk and turn test, and the one leg stand test.
Bodden did poorly on the first, suggesting to the officers at the scene that there was more than a 80 percent chance his blood alcohol level was .10 percent or greater. Based on that assumption, the officers asked Bodden to take a breathalyzer test, but he declined, they said. The officers then placed the former athlete under arrest.
According to Judge Lee, “Upon arrest, Mr. Bodden because increasingly agitated and aggressive, and directed numerous expletives at the arresting officers.
A hearing transcript has Harmer describing how Bodden said, “”The black officers were Uncle Toms, sucking the white man’s dick” and “The white officers, the white Nazi race, white Nazis.”
“He said that we were poor people, just trying to mess the rich to get their money,” Harmer continued. “He stated that he could buy and sell anyone of us at any time because he’s got the money and he can buy his way out of anything. And he was going to sue us all.”
“Mr. Bodden yelled, ‘You’re a faggot. All of you all are faggots,'” said John Coffman, one of two officers who responded to the scene to conduct the sobriety test..
“He said, ‘Here you go, you Uncle Tom ass, you bitch ass nigger,'” testified Officer Demetrius Owens, the other sobriety test officer.
“After transporting Mr. Bodden to the Court Liaison Office, Mr. Bodden was placed in a holding cell. While in the cell, Mr. Bodden continued his aggressive behavior, repeatedly kicking the holding cell door,” Judge Lee wrote. “Officers thought Mr. Bodden’s behavior was so aggressive that they placed him back in the holding cell. Mr. Bodden eventually fell asleep in the cell.”
Eventually, Bodden was driven to a nearby taxi stand and released from police custody, Lee wrote.
Bodden was later found guilty of reckless driving, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a blood alcohol level test and failure to carry a drivers license.
He was sentenced to one year supervised probation, three days of jail time and a fine of $350 on the basis of this being his first conviction.
On review Judge Lee said the evidence presented was sufficient to support a conviction; he also said that given Bodden faced as much as six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for the reckless driving charge, “the Magistrate Judge’s sentence was well within the statutory limit, based on the consideration of relevant factors, and there was no significant procedural error.”
As a result, Lee wrote, “Bodden has failed to meet the heavy burden required to overturn a sentence imposed by a magistrate judge.”
Bodden was acquitted of misdemeanor in 2007 after refusing to pull over for an officer while picking up his girlfriend and children from Cleveland’s Hopkins Airport. He was accused of resisting arrest, and verbally abusing officers. He has since apologized for the incident.
Bodden spent eight years with the NFL as cornerback for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.
County Executive Alsobrooks pictured at the Prince George’s County Board of Elections office where she was issued her official certificate of candidacy.
Largo, Maryland: (Reform Sasscer) – Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks filed for re-election on Wednesday February 9th, 2022 to lead the Prince George’s county, Maryland a second time.
Her run is themed “Further Together,” which her campaign said comes from an African proverb she always quotes — “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The message is aimed in part at tamping down those citizens who had an assumption that Alsobrooks was about to withdraw and not seek reelection given her waning popularity and other potential hopefuls.
Her focus, according to a news release, will be to “build on the strides that she has made in education, COVID-19 response, improving government services, making our communities safer, and expanding access to quality health care.”
There was chatter last year that Alsobrooks would make run for Maryland governor, but she dismissed those claims after major fiasco became public. The debacle involved Board of education members after they were set up and questionable ethical issues advanced under duress and intertwined with power struggle to dim their lights within the school Board.
Alsobrooks has been county executive since 2018. The Democratic politician is the first Black woman to serve as the County Executive of Prince George’s County. Prior to winning the election, she served as a State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County from January 3, 2011 to December 3, 2018. She was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s county, 1997-2002 and worked under former County Executive Jack Johnson’s tutelage who was engaged in illicit affair with her under questionable standards.
First, instead of returning full control over the superintendent to the Board, as every other school board in the state has, Alsobrooks should have recommended a legislation to “redefine” the board’s powers. The current redefinition as submitted would leave in place all (or nearly all) the unilateral powers of the CEO under current law, effectively preventing oversight of the superintendent by the board hence advancing public corruption which is currently in progress under CEO Monica Goldson “Goldson”. This must be removed entirely.
Second, the Education task force made no recommendation regarding the filling of board vacancies. Under current law, vacancies are filled by the County Executive. The task force advanced by close working friends either overlooked this or decided to leave it in place to dupe the public in order to continue their shenanigan willfully and under color of law. If the school board is to be fully returned to the people of Prince George’s county, an amendment is needed to return to prior law and fill vacancies by special election and not appointments done by County Executive Alsobrooks who has been advancing violations.
Third, there is need for Union accountability in the Prince George’s county especially for the Union Executives. There has been too much misconduct swept under the rug. The Unions and the union executives have too much power and have been abusing it. 90% of elected officials in Maryland have union backing and can’t make them accountable due to conflicts of interests. They should not be above the law.
Even among those in close touch with Alsobrooks’ innermost circle, interpretations about her intentions vary. One Democrat involved in campaigns said they couldn’t think of a single person they had spoken to in the last month who thought she was going run again to be a real one due to all the ongoing willful violations.
People who are on the candidates’ list for Prince George’s County Executive as of Thursday include Democrats Lawyer Moisette Tonya Sweat, Angela Alsobrooks, Leigh Bodden, Billy W. Bridges and Sherman R. Hardy.
Prince George’s County’s primary election is scheduled slated to take place in June 2022.
Zion Wormly(Left) and Kyle Moorehead(Right) More and more violent behavior from PGCPS students, they need help and they are NOT getting it!
FORT WASHINGTON, Md. (Reform Sasscer) — The Homicide Unit identified and arrested three suspects, two adults and one juvenile who is a Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) student, in connection with a fatal shooting in Fort Washington in 2021. The adult suspects are 19-year-old Kyle Moorehead of Oxon Hill and 20-year-old Zion Wormley of Capitol Heights. The third suspect as indicated is a 17-year-old male who is a PGCPS student. All three suspects are charged as adults in connection with the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Jether Bonds of Fort Washington.
On July 24, 2021, at approximately 11:50 pm, officers responded to the 6800 block of Cherryfield Road for a reported shooting. The officers discovered Bonds outside suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed the suspects shot the victim during a drug-related robbery.
The three suspects are each charged with first degree murder and related charges. They are in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-516-2512. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Please refer to case 21-0033396.
At least 10 juveniles were killed last year in Prince George’s County, Maryland which was the worst year for teen violence in the county since 2008.
According to Alsobrooks, for example, there have been 162 carjackings in Prince George’s County. She acknowledged on or around January 11th that, juveniles are responsible for 96 of them.
“And so this tells us a lot about where we’re headed. And we must do something right now to disrupt it,” Alsobrooks said.
Dr. Monica Goldson a CEO for PGCPS who was selected through public corruption has never spoken publicly about the out of control fights and public corruption sweeping quietly through the school system. These willful violations include closing down schools ready for real estate option, paying off lawyers, siphoning money off to friends and family etc. Prince George’s county citizens must raise up and demand answers without delay. These out of control fights and other purposeful disregard are not fair to county residents, their families and United States.
More and more violent behavior from students these days, the students need help and they are NOT getting it! More needs to be done to safe lives. To be effective, violence prevention programs require community-wide collaborative efforts led by school system leader that include students, families, teachers, administrators, staff, social and mental health professionals, law enforcement, emergency response personnel, security professionals, school board members, parents and the businesses. The school system leader takes an active role to effect change and not hide in the closet and wish these problems away. Dr. Monica Goldson “Goldson” has failed to provide proper leadership style for sometime! It’s time to advance changes without fear.
Dr. Monica Goldson is the most scandal-ridden politician CEO in PGCPS history. This is her soft underbelly. Those who’ve joined her and others protecting her shenanigan have many corrupt skeletons in their cupboards. We will expose ALL in the coming weeks. They are going to wish they never joined politics. Watch this space. As a CEO for PGCPS, she was selected through public corruption and has never spoken publicly about the out of control fights and public corruption sweeping quietly through the school system as a corrupt leader.She is also not responsive to parents needs and many are being blackballed within the system affecting parents, teachers and students due to retaliation.
By Kate Ryan: The last group of Prince George’s County, Maryland, public school students to receive instruction virtually is now back in the classroom.
Students from kindergarten to sixth grade attended school virtually as part of the school system’s strategy to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
In December, Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Dr. Monica Goldson said that students in grades 7-12 would have virtual instruction until Jan. 18, and those from kindergarten to sixth grade would return on Jan. 31.
Goldson said the extended period for the younger students was designed so that the school system could provide opportunities for as many children as possible between the ages of 5 to 11 to be vaccinated.
“We partnered with our local health departments to offer several vaccination clinics” in order to make it convenient for parents to get their children vaccinated, Goldson said.
But a number parents with children in K-6 said they wanted their children to continue to attend school virtually. An online petition from Prince George’s County schools parent Danielle Wood called for keeping children in the virtual mode until the end of the school year. By Monday, there were 1,628 signatures on the petition. Last week, there was also a protest outside the school system’s Board of Education offices in Upper Marlboro over the return to in-person learning.
In an interview with WTOP, Goldson said the virtual instruction for the younger students was always designed to be a temporary option.
“While I fully understand parents feeling like their child’s in a routine and comfortable,” Goldson said the school system had been very clear that the return to in-person learning was a priority.
Goldson said that the Maryland State Department of Education allows school systems some flexibility to make decisions, but “their goal is to aggressively work to bring students back to in-person normal attendance, and “we are honoring exactly what we submitted to the state that we would do.”
Details on proposed FY 2023 budget
Goldson recently offered details on her proposed FY 2023 budget to the Prince George’s County Council.
She told them she’s working with state lawmakers to include roughly $26 million for county schools under the Education Effort Adjustment, part of the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a state education funding formula. The provision is tied to student enrollment figures.
Goldson said student enrollment in Prince George’s County schools is projected at 130,000 this year compared to 135,000 last year at the same time.
Other priorities in the budget include $229.2 million to provide access to technology for students, $131.8 million for added personnel, $140.4 million to enhance student mental health resources, $5 million to reduce class size, and $2.5 million to redesign the alternative programs at the high school level.
Redesigning alternative education
Goldson’s approach to what she calls the “redesign” of alternative education has gotten pushback from both students and staff at two facilities: Tall Oaks Vocational High School in Bowie and the Community Based Classroom in Bladensburg.
Staff and students at those two schools recently testified before the Prince George’s County Board of Education, urging the board to oppose the plans.
Goldson said she wants to be clear: Staff members at the county’s five alternative schools will not be losing their jobs. “We still will have a 9-12 program in the southern and the northern part of the county, so we still need those teachers” for the alternative programs, Goldson said.
Goldson insists that the current wraparound services that students get at schools, such as the Community Based Classroom and Tall Oaks, will still be available when the schools are shifted into alternative programs at their new locations.
Currently, the county’s five alternative schools each have a 1-star rating from the Maryland State Department of Education, Goldson said. Converting the alternative schools into programs “removes that star rating and the possibility of the state ever looking at those schools for a future reorganization,” she said.
The consolidation also saves $2.5 million in the school system’s budget, Goldson said.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PARENTS, MARYLAND BLOG 