William Joseph Leo Brown, age 41 of Lexington Park

UPDATE: Leonardtown, MD – On March 2, 2020, Defendant William Joseph Leo Brown, 42 was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten (10) years in prison for the distribution of fentanyl that caused the overdose and death of a victim.

State’s Attorney Richard Fritz prosecuted the case and would like to thank the members of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department’s Narcotics unit for the successful investigation of the case.

Lexington Park, MD – In March of 2019, Robert Bryan Clements Jr., age 34 of Valley Lee, died of a Fentanyl overdose.  The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Vice Narcotics Division conducted an investigation and identified William Joseph Leo Brown, age 41 of Lexington Park, as the distributor of the fatal dose to the decedent. The investigation determined the distribution of Fentanyl occurred in St. Mary’s County.

In collaboration with St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Richard D. Fritz, a Circuit Court indictment for the arrest of Brown was obtained via Grand Jury.  On December 17, 2019, Brown was arrested and served the indictment.  Brown was charged with the following:

  • Murder Second Degree- Inherently Dangerous Nature of Felony
  • Murder Second Degree- Depraved Heart
  • CDS: Distribution- Not Marijuana (Fentanyl)
  • CDS: Distribution- Not Marijuana (Despropionyl Fentanyl)
  • CDS: Knowingly Distribute- Not Marijuana (Fentanyl)
  • CDS: Possession- Not Marijuana (Fentanyl)
  • CDS: Possession- Not Marijuana (Despropionyl Fentanyl)

Brown is currently incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, on a no bond status.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office continues to aggressively pursue those involved in distribution of opioids in our community. If you or a family member lives with a substance abuse condition, we urge you to get help. The following link to the St. Mary’s County Health Department provides tools and resources to understand treatment options available. http://www.smchd.org/BHtreatment/