Steve Joe Howell
La Plata, MD – The last time Steve Joe Howell, 29 of Waldorf, appeared in Charles County Circuit Court back in April, he left in handcuffs.
Tuesday, May 24, Howell was back in court again, and this time the result was the same, only now he’ll be in jail for a long, long time.
Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Howell to 20 years for first-degree burglary, suspending all but 16 years. He was given 230 days credit for time already served.
Howell was arraigned on a 23-count indictment May 17, 2015.
One of those charges was illegally possessing a firearm with intent to harm or injure.
Bragunier handed down an additional 10-year sentence for that count, telling Howell that five years of that sentence would be without parole—citing state law.
She also gave the defendant another 20 years for first-degree burglary but suspended all of it, to run consecutive to the previous sentences.
“You will be eligible for parole only after you have served 50 percent of the sentence,” Bragunier stated.
She tacked on five years of supervised probation upon his release.
The sad irony of Howell’s predicament is that he accepted a plea in this case and was given probation.
The reason he was called into face violation of probation charges was because he hadn’t reported to his probation agent.
When he appeared before Bragunier April 28, he had only met with the officer the day before his court hearing.
“At the eleventh hour,” Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Tiffany Campbell noted.
Instead of serving five years of probation and remaining with his family members, who wept openly in the courtroom as he was led away, Howell will now face hard time.
“First-degree burglary is considered a crime of violence,” Campbell said.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com
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