Prince Frederick, MD – A Calvert County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday, April 5 in connection with the stabbing death of a Lusby man during a fight last September. The defendant, Jamar Jermaine Jefferson, 28 of Chesapeake Beach (pictured right), had entered an Alford plea to a modified count of second-degree murder late last month in Calvert County Circuit Court. Jefferson also pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for the wounding of another man—Jovonte Darnell Willet—who was stabbed in the same melee in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates subdivision that claimed the life of Devaughn Savoy. The plea was part of an American Bar Association binding agreement among the defendant, the defense attorney, the prosecuting attorney and judge. The second-degree assault charge carries a sentence of 10 years, which will be concurrent to the 25-year sentence for second-degree murder. Jefferson also pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree assault in connection with an incident that occurred at the Calvert County Detention Center in late January. That 10-year sentence was also merged and will be served concurrently. In imposing the sentence, Judge Mark Chandlee stated Jefferson’s 25-year sentence is retroactive to Sept. 12, 2017, when the defendant was first incarcerated for the knife assault in Lusby.
Jefferson’s attorney, Derrick G. Hamlin, requested that his client serve his sentence at Patuxent Institute. Chandlee said he would consider the request.
Calvert County Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Rappaport called Jefferson “a clear threat to the public,” citing his past criminal record. Rappaport contended that Jefferson and his twin brother, Lamar, could have avoided their involvement in the street fight by simply staying away from the neighborhood. “He’s the one that goes to the house, he could have made the decision not to go over there,” said Rappaport. The Jeffersons went to Savoy’s neighborhood after several exchanges by telephone with the victims.
Wearing a T-shirt displaying images of her slain son (pictured, left), Mara Savoy-Wilson stated her son wasn’t supposed to die before she did. “I have to be strong every day for my family,” said Savoy-Wilson, noting that her son was the father of three children. “I’ll forever miss my son. He [Jefferson] didn’t have to do this.”
“Mr. Jefferson was invited to the [Savoy’s] residence to have a discussion,” said Hamlin, who labeled claims that his client showed up in front of Savoy’s home to start trouble “disingenuous and untruthful. We all agree none of this should have happened.” Hamlin further stated that Savoy was armed with a handgun during the set-to involving himself, Willet and the Jefferson twins. “This sounds like a classic self-defense,” said Hamlin, adding that in making his plea, his client “is accepting responsibility for his actions. I think this is a fair sentence.”
Jefferson apologized to Savoy’s family prior to the judge rendering his decision. “It’s a sad day in our county,” said Chandlee. “People should feel safe.” Of the 25-year sentence, Chandlee said, “it doesn’t provide closure. The bottom line is a young man died and another is going to jail.”
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com