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Plass held in killing
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009
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A circuit court judge decided Jan. 22 to hold the former D.C. police officer charged with stabbing and killing a man in Waldorf in jail without bond.
Joseph John Plass, 57, of Waldorf has been incarcerated since the November slaying, but at Thursday's court hearing, a defense attorney said he wouldn't be a danger to the community or a flight risk if released.
"He's lived in Charles County for 25 years, and his family lives here. He's not going anywhere," said Benjamine Evan, who requested that Plass be allowed to leave jail on electronic home monitoring.
Charles County Deputy State's Attorney Jerome R. Spencer argued that Plass' charges are too severe to allow for his release and described the killing of Shelton D. Stephens, 42, of Dunnellon, Fla., who was cut in the neck Nov. 12 while walking out of the Hooters in Waldorf. After being stabbed, Stephens ran into the nearby Super 8 motel and died on the lobby floor, court documents show.
Police found Plass inside the Hooters with a bloody folding knife clipped to his pants, according to the documents. He was arrested and now faces a charge of first-degree murder.
Spencer also pointed to Plass' convictions of assault with intent to disable, reckless endangerment and transporting a handgun in a Prince George's County case and mentioned his subsequent violations of home detention.
Judge Stephen G. Chappelle decided against allowing Plass bond, saying, "The court believes the only way to ensure Mr. Plass' presence at trial and the safety of the community is to keep him incarcerated. So the motion for bond is denied."
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