Leonardtown Man Charged After Sharpening Eyeglasses Into Weapon Inside St. Mary’s Jail

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A Leonardtown man is facing a felony charge after authorities say a weapon was discovered inside his cell at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, according to court records.

Joseph Charles Mindick, 34, of Leonardtown, was charged April 20, 2026, following an investigation into reported contraband at the facility.

According to the statement of probable cause, deputies responded to the detention center on Baldridge Street after staff reported finding contraband in a housing unit. During an inspection of Mindick’s assigned cell, authorities located the item hidden under a mattress on the bottom bunk.

Investigators said the contraband consisted of the arm of a pair of reading glasses that had been sharpened to a point, creating what authorities described as a weapon.

Officials reported that Mindick was the only inmate assigned to the cell where the item was found, and the mattress where the weapon was located was covered with his personal belongings.

Mindick is charged with possession of a weapon while confined in a place of detention, a felony offense.

Court records show he was held without bond following his arrest. A bail review hearing was held April 21, 2026, before Judge James Tanavage in St. Mary’s District Court.

Under Maryland law, possession of a weapon while confined in a place of detention carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

A hearing is set for May 14, 2026, in St. Mary’s District Court.

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