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Teen charged with three more Waldorf burglaries
Police say cache of stolen items found in bedroom
Friday, June 26, 2009
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The Waldorf teen charged in April with six break-ins is now facing three additional counts of first-degree burglary, added after fingerprints from a crime scene were found to match those of the 18-year-old, according to police.
The charges stem from a police investigation into a string of burglaries at Waldorf apartments and townhomes beginning in fall 2008 and reaching into April.
Carterrys Abednega Morgan, 18, of Waldorf was arrested about two months ago when he was allegedly spotted trying to break into a home, a charging document stated. Police then searched his bedroom and discovered a cache of stolen items, mainly electronics such as digital cameras and laptops, the court papers stated.
Investigators connected the property to six break-ins and charged Morgan for the crimes on April 9, the records show.
At the scene of a November burglary, police collected fingerprints from a wine bottle and watch box that the homeowner said had been moved, court records state.
Someone had forced open a locked window and entered the Tanglewood Drive home, then had ransacked the residence and stolen, among other items, a piece of Tiffany jewelry, some game systems, an iPod, perfume and a deep fryer, court records state.
The fingerprints lifted from the bottle and box came back as matches to Morgan on May 21, according to the documents. Police then charged the teen with the Tanglewood Drive burglary and also with a nearby break-in from the same day.
In this second burglary, someone kicked open the home's French doors, but left without taking anything after an alarm sounded, court papers indicate. The home was a short distance from Morgan's residence.
"Based on my training and experience, I know that residential burglars will often target residences that are close in proximity to each other. My experience also shows burglars often target residences that are close in proximity of their own," wrote Detective Wimberly in the charging document.
A grand jury recently indicted Morgan, who is charged in the case with three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of theft of more than $500, malicious destruction of property valued at less than $500, malicious destruction of property valued at more than $500, attempted first-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary.
His arraignment is slated for July 17.
Morgan has seven additional open Charles County Circuit Court cases charging him with six counts of first-degree burglary and an attempted burglary.
Sheriff's officers believe more people may have been involved in the burglaries, but have made no additional arrests, according to Diane Richardson, police spokeswoman.
