Sex assault suspect found competent for trial in Calvert

Woman says she was held for 4 days

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008

Lacoy ‘‘Mike” R. Toms, 27, was deemed competent to face the charges against him after Judge Steven Platt, visiting from Prince George’s County, reviewed a not criminally responsible report and evaluation, which was sealed by the court.

Calvert County Public Defender Del Lynch, who is representing Toms, filed a motion with a plea of not criminally responsible by reason of insanity May 1, court records state, so a psychological evaluation was performed.

Toms allegedly took part in a four-day ordeal, beginning Jan. 21, in which a woman was held against her will in an Owings home and repeatedly beaten and sexually assaulted, charging documents state.

After a neighbor called police, responders searched the home and found the victim hiding under the basement stairwell and saw bruises on her face, a black eye and a tooth knocked through her chin, according to charging documents. The victim stated in the police report that Toms and Roland D. Pelletier, 44, of Owings held her against her will with a large kitchen knife and made her drive on numerous drug runs to Washington, D.C. The victim said that Toms constantly slapped her and punched her and had also sexually assaulted her, according to charging documents.

Pelletier entered an Alford plea to false imprisonment on June 13 and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 8, according to judicial records. Toms’ trial is scheduled for Nov. 5.