Md. man charged with defying statewide stay-at-home order and hosting party for teens with booze
On March 30, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a “stay-at-home order” statewide amid the coronavirus pandemic. You can read the Governor’s order here and see the excerpt below.
“No Marylander shall be leaving their home unless it is for an essential job or an essential reason such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking urgent medical attention or for other necessary purposes.” Only essential needs are exempt from the order, according to Hogan executive order.
And authorities are taking the stay-at-home and social distancing order seriously.
Maryland State Police charged a man with violating the Governor’s Executive Order and providing alcohol to teens during a party he hosted this week at a Carroll County hotel.
The suspect is identified as Ryan M. Serra, 26, of Lutherville, Maryland. He is charged with violation of the Governor’s Executive Order and ten counts of allowing a minor to possess alcohol. Serra was charged on a criminal summons, which was served on him by State Police at his home.
The Maryland State Police in Westminster received a call reporting a party being held in a room at the Boston Inn, located in the 500-block of Baltimore Blvd. The caller indicated the party involved individuals under the legal drinking age.
Troopers responded to the room and, after knocking and announcing their presence multiple times, made contact with the suspect. The suspect said other people were in the room and multiple males and females, later determined to be ages 15-17, came out of the bathroom area of the hotel room where they had apparently been attempting to hide. An empty liquor bottle was observed in the room. Further investigation developed evidence indicating Serra was hosting the party, had purchased alcohol for the juveniles, and was aware those attending were underage. In addition to Serra, there were six males and four females in the room.
The juveniles were identified and their parents were contacted. The juveniles were turned over to the custody of their parents.
Troopers contacted the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office and, after consultation with officials there, applied for charges against the suspect with the District Court Commissioner’s Office. Charges were not filed against any of the teens.
As part of the state’s effort to combat the COVID-19 virus, Maryland State Police will continue to enforce the Governor’s Executive Order which requires non-essential businesses to close, assembly of only ten persons or less and staying at home unless travel is essential.
The charge for violating the Governor’s Executive Order is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
For more on Maryland’s Stay-at-Home executive order, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: Maryland State Police)
Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
