Man charged, second sought in store holdup
One man was arrested and another was being sought in the armed robbery Wednesday night of a Northwest Baltimore convenience store, a crime that was witnessed by two city officers, a police spokesman said. Shortly after 11 p.m., Officers James Vega and Pablo Diaz, both of the Northwest District, were approaching a 7-Eleven in the 5500 block of Park Heights Ave. in their patrol car when they saw a store clerk standing behind the counter with his hands above his head, said Agent Donny Moses, the spokesman. Seconds later, two men quickly left the store, one carrying an undisclosed quantity of cigarettes and money, the other a handgun. Backup units were dispatched, and during a foot chase an armed man was caught in the nearby 5600 block of Narcissus Ave., Moses said. A handgun believed used in the robbery was not recovered, Moses said. Christopher Kemp, 18, of the 3900 block of Yolando Road, in the city's Ednor Gardens-Lakeside neighborhood, was arrested and charged with armed robbery and related offenses. He was held at Central Booking and Intake Center. A second man was being sought.
Richard Irwin
Man admits stealing child-support checks
A 44-year-old Finksburg man pleaded guilty Thursday to felony theft after stealing child-support checks in Baltimore County for about seven years, according to the Maryland attorney general's office. Keith Hibbs was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Circuit Court Judge Robert Cahill and ordered to pay more than $49,000 in restitution. Prosecutors said Hibbs worked as a specialist with the Baltimore County Child Support Enforcement Administration. From October 1998 to February 2005, Hibbs used department computers to change the names on 112 child-support checks so that the money would be made payable to his wife, according to the plea. Hibbs then signed his wife's name and deposited the checks in his account, prosecutors said.
Brent Jones
2 brothers are indicted on fraud charges
Federal prosecutors say two brothers face fraud charges in connection with a $1.75 million loan they obtained on behalf of a Hagerstown ministry. The U.S. attorney's office announced Thursday that a grand jury in Baltimore indicted Otis Ray Hope, 53, of Aiken, S.C., and Richard Wayne Hope, 51, of Denham, La., on bank fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say the pair falsely told bank officials that the Shiloh Conference and Retreat Center had reopened for business when it had not and submitted fraudulent financial statements overstating assets and cash flow. Prosecutors say the brothers, who also face tax evasion charges, could draw up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud counts.
Associated Press
Ocean City's tourism director resigns
OCEAN CITY: Ocean City's director of tourism and the Roland Powell Convention Center is resigning after 13 years. Resort officials say Michael Noah resigned Tuesday for personal reasons. His last day is April 17. Noah accepted the director's job when Ocean City's convention center was being expanded and renovated in 1996. Since then, the convention center has doubled the town's meeting and convention space and has exceeded revenue projections.
Associated Press
