Prince Frederick, MD – A little bit of Yuletide compassion was shown by the Board of License Commissioners of Calvert County (The Liquor Board) at their Dec. 7 meeting. Nine businesses were summoned for a variety of violations and the three-member panel patiently listened to the offending parties. All nine received $100 fines but only two of the businesses were required to pay on the spot. The others had their fines held in abeyance for one year, provided no violations occur during that time.

Deborah Woody of CD Café in Solomons went before the board to explain why her businesses’ invoices were not on the premises when an inspector recently paid a visit. Woody pointed out that a long-time employee who was recently indicted on five counts of felony theft scheme took possession of the invoices. The ex-employee, identified in court records as Carrie Jean Wilson, 44 of Lusby, was served a bench warrant back in October after a Calvert County grand jury indicted her for thefts that allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 2012 and April 1, 2017. Woody told the Liquor Board that Wilson had worked for her for 15 years and “one of the ways she stole was checks fraud.” As for the missing invoices, Woody alleged, “she [Wilson] has thrown away everything.” Woody affirmed that she is in possession of all of the business’s invoices since the alleged thefts were discovered.

Stoney’s Seafood House and ABD Liquors were also cited for not having invoices available for inspection. Sunderland Wine and Spirits, Len’s Market, Fox Run Liquors and Applebee’s were all cited for Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPs)/Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAMs) violations. St. Leonard Fastop and Lusby Liquors were cited for sales of alcohol to minors. Due to previous violations, Fox Run Liquors and Lusby Liquors were required to pay their fines. Due to three recent violations, Fox Run Liquors also had its license suspended for three days. Due to the persistent lobbying for clemency from the Fox Run store owner, the board decided to make the suspension effective for three days in early January, after the holiday season. Board attorney David C. Weigel told the Fox Run Liquors store owner that if he was still aggrieved about the three-day suspension he could file an appeal in Circuit Court.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com