Embezzlement alleged

Victoria Joelle Ward, 44, of Great Mills has been charged through a summons with theft offenses in court papers alleging she stole more than $21,000 during a four-year period while working as a business manager for a therapy business in Great Mills.

Therapists receiving cash payments from patients of Inner Works Inc. would give envelopes of cash to Ward, court papers state, and Ward would note the income on a payroll sheet.

The corporation’s bank account statements did not show the cash being deposited, from early 2009 to the end of last year, according to a charges application filed by St. Mary’s sheriff’s Cpl. John Kirkner.

Beer stolen during burglary

Charles Louis Bellere Jr., 38, of Leonardtown has been charged through a summons with first-degree burglary and a theft offense in court papers alleging he broke into a Compton area residence last week and stole 18 cans of Bud Light beer.

Bellere also was charged with damaging a rear door window during the Jan. 29 incident at Lucy St. Clair’s home, through the investigation by sheriff’s deputy J.L. Upright.

Motorcycle theft alleged

Garrett Wilson Johnson, 19, of Mechanicsville has been charged through a summons with a theft in court papers alleging he stole a 2007 Honda motorcycle that was reported missing last month from a California home, and was found in Callaway.

Johnson told police that “he knew where the motorcycle had been hidden in nearby woods, and he took the motorcycle from that location and hid it further in the woods with the intention of stealing it from the person he stated stole the motorcycle,” sheriff’s Cpl. John Kirkner wrote in a charges application. “The subject named by the defendant as the person stealing the motorcycle was interviewed, and denied stealing the motorcycle.”

Shoplifting scheme tops $1,600

Brooke Denise McWhorter, 29, of California and Kendra Nicole Brooks, 25, of Dameron have been charged through summonses with theft offenses in court papers alleging they took part in stealing merchandise valued at $1,600 on Jan. 25 from the Kmart store in California.

A 17-year-old girl also took part in the thefts detected by a store loss prevention officer, who detained the suspects and their three full shopping carts, according to a charges application filed by Trooper W.A. Couter of the Maryland State Police. Charging papers allege that the teenage girl had 107 items valued at $825, Brooks had 81 items valued at $657 and that McWhorter was the lookout for the other two suspects while she also stole 15 items valued at $135.

“They all advised they were stealing because they did not have any money, they were unemployed, and they were single mothers,” the trooper wrote in the charges application.

Two arrested in Loveville drug raid

Antoine Markel Yates, 20, of Loveville was released on personal recognizance after his arrest Thursday on a charge of the possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute in court papers alleging police searched his car that day in the driveway of his home.

Martin Durrell Yates, 23, of the same address was released on personal recognizance after he was charged with the possession of cocaine that charging papers allege consisted of residue in small plastic bags found in his bedroom at the residence, along with a digital scale.

Narcotics detectives report that the seized marijuana weighed nearly three-quarters of a pound and was valued at more than $1,300.

Reward offered for tips in cases

Citizens with information about unsolved crimes in St. Mary’s can collect a cash reward by calling St. Mary’s County Crime Solvers 24 hours a day at 301-475-3333. They can withhold their name and later collect their reward through a number-identification system.

The Crime Solvers program assists law enforcement in solving open investigations that may not have been closed without the extra incentive of anonymity and an offer of a reward, providing the information leads to an arrest or indictment.

The Crime Solvers board of directors meets at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the county’s Northern Senior Center in Charlotte Hall. To be considered for membership on the board, attend a meeting or call the Crime Solvers chairperson at 301-884-5417 for details.

Contributions to the Crime Solvers reward fund can be mailed to St. Mary’s Crime Solvers Inc. at P.O. Box 221, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

Sheriff welcomes text-message tips

Cell phones and other handheld communication devices can be used to send text messages with tips for the St. Mary’s sheriff’s office, by texting TIP239, plus the message, to CRIMES, numerically 274637. For more information on the text-message program, go online to www.smscrimetips.com.

Police tips line open

Maryland State Police in Leonardtown operate a Tips Line at 301-475-2936, inviting anyone with information about a crime that has occurred, or they expect may occur, to anonymously report that information 24 hours a day to authorities. Citizens may use the same telephone number to report concerns to police that do not involve criminal activity.

JOHN WHARTON