La Plata, MD – If you violate the terms of your probation in Charles County Circuit Court Judge Helen I. Harrington’s courtroom, you might get a break the first time. Commit a second offense, and you’re not as likely to get a break.

That was the lesson for Latoya Jenelle Proctor, 31 of Waldorf, who found that out the hard way Tuesday, Aug. 18 when she appeared before the court with her second probation violation.

According to Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeremy Widder, Proctor was originally convicted during a jury trial April 6, 2011 on a second-degree assault charge and sentenced to 10 years with all but eight days suspended.

In June of 2012, she tested positive for marijuana. Probation was continued at that time, but July 24, 2014, Proctor was charged again, this time for possession of crack cocaine.

“She had a trial in district court, then she didn’t appear for sentencing,” Widder stated. “She still has not been sentenced in district court.”

Her original sentence came about as the result of a “nasty fight,” he added.

“She caused a pretty serious injury to the victim,” Widder noted. “In 2012, she admitted to using drugs. So here we are, with another charge of using crack cocaine. She is not taking her recovery seriously. She’s not putting forth any effort.”

Proctor’s attorney, Robert Castro, said his client is working 40 to 50 hours a week and has gotten into the union with her job and “is clean now,” he said, adding that she has been at the Charles County Health Department receiving treatment.

“I am asking that if you incarcerate her, that you allow her to do work release,” Castro stated. “Our biggest hope is that you will let her start all over.”

“That’s what we were doing with the first violation,” Harrington quipped.

Harrington noted that Proctor had almost 10 years of backup time, but decided against giving her the full measure of that sentence, ordering her to the Charles County Detention Center for one year. She did grant the defense’s motion for work release.

She also suggested Proctor enroll in the CCDC’s jail-based treatment program.

“You will remain on probation after your release,” Harrington told the defendant. “This is your second probation violation. The court is not going to overlook it.”

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com