Prince Frederick, MD – Emotional comments from a family devastated by a motor vehicle collision that occurred in September 2015 were spoken in Calvert County Circuit Court Thursday, July 28. The remarks from the family of Peter Schroeder, 59 of Chesapeake Beach (pictured below), the man who died in the crash on Route 231, expressed so much sorrow that even the defendant’s attorney had to fight back tears.
The defendant, Robert W. Rambo, 58 of California, had pleaded guilty in May to negligent manslaughter with an automobile, a felony; and causing life threatening injuries while under the influence.
Judge Mark Chandlee sentenced Rambo to 13 years—10 years for the felony and 3 years for the second count. Chandlee suspended all but 18 months of the second count sentence and ordered five years’ probation for Rambo, who has been incarcerated since January following his indictment.
The crash that killed Schroeder and severely injured his wife, Mary, occurred during the afternoon hours of Sept. 5 near Heather Road in the Barstow area. According to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, the 2009 Chevy Silverado Rambo was driving westbound crossed the center line and struck the 2003 GMC Envoy in which the Schroeders were headed eastbound. Witnesses told police Peter Schroeder attempted to take evasive actions to avoid the collision. Schroeder was taken to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Mary Schroeder and Rambo were flown to Washington, DC-area hospitals. Deputies who responded to the crash detected alcohol on Rambo’s breath. Tests were administered to Rambo at the hospital following the crash.
During the court hearing, Peter Schroeder’s sister, Jackie Rowland; his mother, Pauline Schroeder; daughter, Erika Davis; and finally, his wife addressed the court.
Pauline Schroeder said the entire family “is heartbroken. Our lives are not the same anymore.”
“I still miss his presence,” said Rowland, who told Rambo, “at least now you can no longer hurt another family.”
The defendant, said Davis, “destroyed my mother’s world and ended my father’s life.” Davis was nine months pregnant with her second child when her father was killed.
“I want you to know what you did to my soul,” Mary Schroeder said to Rambo. “You took my soulmate.” Mary Schroeder sustained numerous injuries in the crash, including a broken neck and fractured skull. Family members now have to help her when she walks. At the conclusion of her remarks, she said to the defendant “I can’t forgive you.”
In addition to the family testimony, Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Rappaport read into the record two love notes Peter Schroeder had written to Mary Schroeder during their nearly 40 years as a couple. Rappaport requested Rambo be given the maximum sentence and noted his (Rambo’s) long list of prior offenses, which, in addition to drunk driving, the prosecuting attorney said include assault and indecent exposure. Rappaport told Chandlee the defendant was not a good candidate for probation since he had previously violated probation several times.
Clearly touched by remarks from the victim’s family, defense attorney Crea Axley told the court, “we do understand the feelings, the hurt. There are no words.” She further stated, “this was a triable case but in May Mr. Rambo accepted his responsibility.” Axley said Rambo wanted to spare the Schroeder family the anguish of a trial. “We ask the court to consider that,” said Axley.
“I am sorry from the deepest part of my being,” said Rambo, reading a statement he prepared. “I have a family as well.”
Rambo’s brother Ronald also addressed the court. “Bobby, he’s a good man. He has a problem with alcohol,” said Ronald Rambo. “Our family’s deeply sorry.”
Before imposing the sentence, Chandlee admitted he was “appalled” at Rambo’s criminal record, which goes back to 1982. The judge labeled the defendant as “someone who’s utterly disregarded the law of Maryland.” He called Rambo’s role in the crash “a selfish act” since Rambo thought he could “consume alcohol and drive. You’ve been given chances time and again.”
The judge ordered that Rambo undergo treatment while in jail and indicated several driving restrictions will be imposed once Rambo is released, provided he can re-obtain a driver’s license.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
Prince Frederick, MD – A Calvert County Circuit Court judge has sentenced Robert W. Rambo, 58 of California to 13 years in jail in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred last September on Route 231. The crash claimed the life of Peter Schroeder, 59 of Chesapeake Beach and critically injured his wife, Mary.
In May, Rambo pleaded guilty to one count each of negligent manslaughter with an automobile and causing a life-threatening injury while under the influence.
Judge Mark Chandlee determined that Rambo must serve 11 and-a-half years of the 13-year sentence. The judge also ordered five years of probation once Rambo is released from jail.