Leasure

The trial of Linda R. Tripp is at least a few months away, but the pressure of the high-profile case is already building on Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure.Many legal observers say the case will be decided and shaped during motions hearings before Leasure and might not even reach a jury. However she rules on the complicated legal issues, the relatively inexperienced judge is assured of intense scrutiny from the legal community and the news media.Sounding like a circumspect coach before a big game, Leasure says only that she likes a good "challenge," refusing to comment further on the case or even allow a new photograph to be taken for fear of being accused of grandstanding.

Linda R. Tripp's criminal trial on state wiretapping charges will be postponed until July.Tripp had been scheduled to stand trial Jan. 18, but Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure yesterday granted Tripp's request for postponement. Leasure set a trial date for July 10.Tripp's defense attorney said yesterday that he sought the delay to seek more time to file motions and attack the state's case."The amount of time required to litigate the outstanding issues is unknown," Joseph Murtha said.

Linda R. Tripp's criminal defense team was dealt a major blow yesterday when a Howard County circuit judge ruled that immunity granted by federal prosecutors does not protect their client from a state prosecution.Though the ruling by Judge Diane O. Leasure allows state prosecutors to press ahead with their case against the Columbia resident on two counts of violating Maryland's wire-tapping law, it does not guarantee they can use their evidence against Tripp.State Prosecutor Stephen Montanarelli was the sole witness yesterday, testifying about the scope and independence of his investigation.

A Howard County circuit judge has upheld a 1988 Carroll County murder conviction, saying allegations that prosecutors tampered with a taped confession are unfounded.Judge Diane O. Leasure, in a 72-page written decision, rejected arguments that convicted murderer Brian Richard Jordan received ineffective counsel at his trial and that tape recordings of his confession had been altered."There was no evidence to support claims that the State intentionally and deliberately misrepresented the integrity of the tapes," Leasure wrote.

A Howard County judge -- seeking to give a convicted rapist a sentence that rivaled the scars he left on his teen-age victim a year ago -- sentenced Timothy B. Chase to life plus 25 years in prison yesterday.With the victim sitting in the back of the courtroom, Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure said she feared the long-term effects of Chase's attack on the honors student, then 15, and her younger sister, then 7, behind the county's central library in Columbia in March 1996.Even now, Leasure said, the younger girl -- who was forced to lie on the ground an arm's length away while her sister was raped -- is afraid to be alone with her older sibling because it was just the two of them together the night of the attack.

An 18-year-old Elkridge man who admitted participating in a vandalism spree that included spray-painting racial and obscene epithets on four county schools was ordered yesterday to learn about the value of a multicultural society.Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure ordered Cory Lee Lafon to research and write an essay of at least 500 words on how the community is enriched by cultural and racial diversity."There's no question these type of actions have an effect on the community at large," Leasure told Lafon in Howard County Circuit Court yesterday, referring to the racial and devil-worshiping signs scrawled across Howard High School, Ellicott Mills Middle School, Worthington Middle School and Mount Hebron High School.

The judge hearing the case against the west Columbia man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl ordered the Carroll County jury sequestered for the remainder of the trial yesterday.Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure did not explain the reason for the sequestration, telling jurors that circumstances beyond the court's control mandated the move."I apologize, but this is an action that is necessary at this time," Leasure told the jurors, some of whom were visibly upset.Though no one directly connected with the case would comment on the reason for the move, speculation centered on the possibility that the sequestration might be connected with publicity generated by the death of an inmate who had been housed with the defendant, Timothy Bryan Chase, in Carroll County Detention Center.

Mark C. Cordero -- the Columbia man accused of plotting to kill his wife -- will stay in the Howard County Detention Center until his November trial.Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure on Friday denied a request from Cordero that he be transferred to a Towson mental hospital because of his psychiatric problems."

The trial of a man accused of a rape in Columbia that made many question the safety of the placid planned community got under way in Carroll County Circuit Court in Westminster yesterday.Timothy Bryan Chase, 28, is charged with raping a 15-year-old girl while her 7-year-old sister was forced to watch -- after the two were abducted in front of Howard County's Central Library in March.Yesterday, jurors were selected to hear the case against the former Howard County General Hospital janitor.

The judge hearing the case against the west Columbia man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl ordered the Carroll County jury sequestered for the remainder of the trial yesterday.Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure did not explain the reason for the sequestration, telling jurors that circumstances beyond the court's control mandated the move."I apologize, but this is an action that is necessary at this time," Leasure told the jurors, some of whom were visibly upset.Though no one directly connected with the case would comment on the reason for the move, speculation centered on the possibility that the sequestration might be connected with publicity generated by the death of an inmate who had been housed with the defendant, Timothy Bryan Chase, in Carroll County Detention Center.

A 52-year-old Howard County woman, whose mother was sentenced to six months in jail for abusing cats, must serve a day in jail for each of the 74 cats that died. Nese Icgoren, of the 7300 block of Swan Point Way in Columbia, told Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure on Friday that she couldn't get her 81-year mother, Ayten Icgoren, to properly care for a small family of cats, then failed to do anything after the felines multiplied to well over 100. Neighbors had called authorities, complaining about an odor coming from the townhouse and bugs that infested their homes.

The daughter of an 81-year-old woman imprisoned in a cat abuse case was convicted Wednesday on similar animal cruelty charges by a Howard County judge. Nese Icgoren, 52, of the 7300 block of Swan Court Way in Columbia faced 148 counts in the mistreatment of cats found dead or dying by animal control officers in August 2006. Authorities found more than 50 live cats, only three of which survived. Neighbors had complained to county authorities about the odor coming from the townhouse that Icgoren shared with her mother, Ayten, and said bugs in the residence were infesting adjacent homes.

A former River Hill High School teacher who was sentenced this week to four years in prison for undressing a student and photographing him naked will appeal his case, his attorney said. However, Alan Meade Beier, 54, of Columbia must go to prison until the appellate court rules, Howard County Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure ordered Monday. Beier was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree assault in March. His attorney, Joshua Treem, argued throughout Beier's trial that his client's actions did not constitute exploitation under Maryland law because he was not seeking sexual gratification.

On June 21, 2007, LEO LEASURE, Jr., beloved husband of the late Mary Alice Leasure (nee Fridley), devoted father of Ronald Leasure and his wife Sharon, Sherrie Pierce and her husband Duane, dear brother of Goldie Stewart and John Leasure. Also survived by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, P.A., 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex at Route 702 (beltway exit 36) on Sunday from 3 to 5:30 P.M. Funeral service on Sunday 5:30 P.M., followed by private cremation.

On February 14, 2005, MARY LEASURE, beloved wife of Leo Leasure, devoted mother of Ronald Leasure and his wife Sharon, Sherrie Pierce and her husband Duane, dear sister of Nina Kifer and Charles Fridley, niece of Gladys Justice also survived by six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the family owned Bruzdzinski Funeral Home P.A., 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex (at Beltway Exit 36) on Thursday from 3 to 5:30 P.M. Funeral services on Thursday at 5:30 P.M. Private cremation to follow.

In an unusual move, two Howard County Circuit Court judges presided yesterday over the sentencing of an Ellicott City man who was convicted for his role in the April armed robbery of the Columbia Hilton Inn. The two-judge sentencing resulted because Judge James B. Dudley became ill with asthma after the first day of the jury trial last month and did not return to court, leaving Judge Diane O. Leasure to oversee the second and final day. "That's the...

A Columbia man convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse in the beating of his 2-year-old stepson was sentenced to 60 years in prison yesterday. Marcus D. Owens, 33, was found guilty in June of killing the child - whom a doctor and state medical examiner earlier testified had injuries similar to those seen in serious car crashes or falls from a tall building - and received the maximum sentence by Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure - 30 years for murder and 30 for child abuse.

A Columbia man convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse in the beating of his 2-year-old stepson was sentenced to 60 years in prison yesterday. Marcus D. Owens, 33, was found guilty in June of killing the child - whom a doctor and state medical examiner earlier testified had injuries similar to those seen in serious car crashes or falls from a tall building - and received the maximum sentence by Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure - 30 years for murder and 30 for child abuse.

The 51-year-old former treasurer of a Howard County youth football club who stole tens of thousands of dollars from the volunteer organization - and more than $60,000 from her employer - was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison. Harriet Williams' actions were "deliberate, calculated, deceitful and a complete violation of trust," Howard Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure said before imposing the sentence. "She had numerous opportunities to cease her criminal activity, but she chose not to do so," Leasure said, adding that the thefts "cry out for punishment" greater than the one-year maximum penalty recommended by state sentencing guidelines.

On December 31, 2003, SHIRLEYLEASURE (nee Hladik); beloved wife of William E. Leasure; devoted mother of Karen M. Jones and her husband William H., Jeffrey W. Leasure and his wife Sharon; loving grandmother of Kyle, Joshua and Nicholas Leasure. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Road, (Perry Hall), on Saturday and Sunday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., where funeral services will be held on Monday, 11 A.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery.