Snow Dispute Turns Violent, DUI And Child Neglect Cases Surface: Hollywood Woman Faces Multiple Charges Across Separate Incidents

HOLLYWOOD, Md. — A reported snow-day dispute that allegedly turned physical has led to a series of criminal charges for a Hollywood woman, while separate DUI- and child-neglect-related cases from recent months add to a growing list of legal proceedings now moving through local courts. The incidents, spanning St. Mary’s and Charles counties, include allegations of assault, impaired driving, and neglect of a minor.

Tammy Renee Purks, 51, of Hollywood, is charged in St. Mary’s County with driving under the influence, driving while impaired by alcohol, failure to obey a properly placed traffic control device, and driving a motor vehicle on a highway without the required license. In a separate incident on Jan. 25, 2026, she is also charged with second-degree assault. Court records show Purks was released on a $5,000 unsecured personal bond related to the assault charge, meaning no payment was required unless she fails to appear in court. A trial date is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2026. Additionally, Purks is facing a separate charge of neglect of a minor stemming from an incident in Charles County in November 2025, with a trial date set for Feb. 20, 2026.

According to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 4:27 p.m. Jan. 25, 2026, to a residence in Hollywood for a report of an assault. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a reporting party, who alleged that Purks threw a container of food at them during an argument. Deputies reported observing remnants of food at the scene and a visible bruise on the reporting party, which they noted appeared consistent with the account provided.

The reporting party told investigators that the confrontation began after Purks became upset when the reporting party did not assist with shoveling snow. Deputies reported that when they approached Purks, they detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath. She was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center for processing.

Under Maryland law, driving under the influence carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offense, while driving while impaired can carry penalties of up to two months in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense. Failure to obey a traffic control device is a misdemeanor traffic violation that may result in fines and points on a driver’s record. Driving without a required license can result in fines and potential incarceration. Second-degree assault is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $2,500 fine. Neglect of a minor in Maryland may be charged as a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of up to five years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

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