City Man Gets 40 Years In Columbia Attack

A Howard County judge sentenced a Baltimore man Thursday to 40 years in prison for a 2008 break-in and attack on his estranged girlfriend's mother and the mother's then-fiance at a Columbia townhouse.

Judge Richard S. Bernhardt sentenced Gregory S. Imes Jr., 27, formerly of the 4900 block of Parkton Court, to two consecutive 20-year sentences. Imes was convicted in June of two counts of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault and burglary.

Assistant State's Attorney Maurice Frazier asked Bernhardt to exceed the sentencing guidelines of 15 to 50 years in prison, saying that the guidelines "do not reflect the terror, the horror and the mayhem" of the attack.

According to testimony, Imes broke a sliding door with a rock and entered the townhouse. Imes stabbed Reginald Cruddup in the chest, face and neck as Cruddup tried to prevent Imes from going upstairs. Imes then attacked Maria Cokely in a bathroom and attacked Cruddup again before leaving. Both suffered life-threatening injuries.

Bernhardt ordered the terms to be served consecutively to the two-year term Imes is now serving for telephone misuse and harassment of his former girlfriend before the attack last fall.