NEWBURG, Md. — A Charles County man is facing multiple misdemeanor and felony charges after a racially charged neighbor dispute allegedly escalated into threats of arson and physical intimidation.
Deputies with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 9900 block of Cliffton Drive in Newburg, Maryland, after two men reported being verbally assaulted by their neighbor, identified as Michael Gerard Benedict, 50. The incident took place on the evening of April 4.
According to charging documents, both victims — who are Black men — told deputies that Benedict yelled multiple racial slurs at them from across the property line. They said Benedict referred to them using racist language, threw sticks and other objects into their yard, and shouted that he would “burn their house down with them inside.”
Deputies located Benedict at his nearby residence. In a recorded statement, Benedict acknowledged he had an argument with his neighbors and admitted he may have used a racial slur and made a comment about burning their home. He reportedly expressed frustration with loud music and motion-activated security cameras on the victims’ property.
Benedict is described in court records as a white male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 220 pounds. He has since been indicted in Charles County Circuit Court on 11 charges, including two felony counts of disarming a law enforcement officer and multiple misdemeanors related to assault, racial intimidation and threatening arson.
The most serious charges — disarming a law officer — are felonies under Maryland law and carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison each. A threat of arson is also punishable by up to 10 years, while hate crime charges prosecuted under the state’s bias-motivated crime statute may result in sentence enhancements if convicted.
The case is being prosecuted by the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office. Benedict is represented by defense attorney Thomas Fabrian Matthews of Restoration Law LLC. A jury trial is currently scheduled for Aug. 20, 2025, in Charles County Circuit Court.
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I’m sure the offending “music” lyrics had no racial slurs at all as well. My “neighbor’s” “music” has lyrics like … “white people deceive” and “*F* America” followed by repeats of the “N” word. Nobody should be offended or enraged by that playing out loud at any time day/night, right? This guy was wrong, but what prompted the incident by his “neighbors” was probably not right either, but the “neighbors” are playing the “victim/race” card to their advantage. Get used to things like this, more of it on the way from PG county.
Sorry buddy you can’t say anything to them because they always have the racism word
Bit of a violent past with slaps on the wrists since acts were mental health related. We desperately need insane asylums.
This dude “Benedict’ since elementary school.