La Plata, MD – Kalifah Saffiya Ishmael, 21 of Bryans Road, will face sentencing Jan. 7 on distribution of marijuana charges after entering an Alford Plea Thursday, Oct. 29 before Charles County Circuit Court Judge Helen I. Harrington.
“The court has agreed on an 18-month active sentence,” Harrington said. “You will forfeit all money seized in the case.”
According to Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney John Stackhouse, Ishmael had an agreement with one other person to sell marijuana when he was arrested March 25, 2015.
“Officer Harrison of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol in Bryans Road in an area known for drug activity when he saw a vehicle with three passengers in a car with Delaware tags. He pulled up behind the vehicle in a marked police cruiser. All of the occupants made furtive movements which indicated criminal activity.”
When the officer asked the occupants to roll down the window, he detected the odor of burnt marijuana, Stackhouse said. “He asked the individuals if they were doing anything illegal and one suspect handed him a bowl and a marijuana cigarette wrapped in a paper towel. Backup was called for and the vehicle was searched, revealing a digital scale under the front passenger seat.”
The defendant had $1,000 and $700 worth of marijuana and the other defendants had $630 and marijuana valued at $4,000.
“This was all evidence indicative of drug sales,” Stackhouse noted. “There was cash, text messages and scales, consistent with someone conspiring with other individuals to sell marijuana.”
Harrington schedule a pre-sentencing investigation by Dec. 31 and said sentencing will take place the afternoon of Jan. 7.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com