Stepmother

A former Hagerstown-based stockbroker for Ferris, Baker Watts Inc. was sentenced yesterday to a 21-month term for embezzling more than $780,000 from his clients, including his stepmother.Before his sentencing on one count of mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, the broker, William S. Hatcher, 40, apologized to Chief Judge J. Frederick Motz in an emotional speech."I want you to know how terribly sorry I am for what I did and for the terrible consequences that have been suffered by many," said Hatcher, who pleaded guilty to the single count in September.

Want to know the best thing about fairy tales? Even without the magic, they're magical.At least they are when handled with the deft touch and lightness of spirit director Andy Tennant displays in "Ever After," a re-telling of the Cinderella tale that features Drew Barrymore at her most beguiling, Anjelica Huston at her most bedeviling and Leonardo da Vinci -- Leonardo da Vinci? -- at his most bewitching.Told in flashback (with legendary French actress Jeanne Moreau handling the introduction)

Chineye Mills was only 13 when she died, but already she was acquainted with the tough side of life.By the time she was 9, her aunt's boyfriend had pleaded guilty to raping her while the girl was asleep. Neighbors in Southeast Baltimore's O'Donnell Heights public housing project, where Chineye lived, said she had a scar down her face from temple to jaw. And she suffered from mental problems, according to her father.When Chineye was stabbed to death late Tuesday afternoon, it was allegedly at the hand of another child coming of age too soon -- a 12-year-old girl now charged with first-degree murder, in what police described as a fight over a boy.Chineye was found lying in the 300 block of W. Saratoga St. about 5: 30 p.m. Tuesday, bleeding from a stab wound to the left side of her neck.

The death penalty trial of Roger Dale Ramsey Jr. -- charged in the contract killing of his stepmother -- will be moved at his request from Baltimore County to Worcester County, according to Baltimore County Chief Circuit Judge Edward A. DeWaters Jr.Ramsey, 19, formerly of the 300 block of Endsleigh Ave. in Middle River, is accused of paying an acquaintance $250 to kill Kimberly Sue Ramsey, his 32-year-old stepmother. Investigators said she had admonished her stepson about a car accident.She was shot seven times during a robbery Sept.

John I. Reed IV, who confessed to killing an acquaintance's stepmother Sept. 7 for a $250 payment, was sentenced in Baltimore County Circuit Court last night to life without the possibility of parole.He was given another life term for conspiracy to commit murder.On April 2, Baltimore County Circuit Judge Alfred L. Brennan Sr. found Reed, 21, of no fixed address guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Kimberly Sue Ramsey, 32, of Middle River. She was shot seven times during a contrived burglary, according to investigators.

Voicing hard-line views on crime and punishment, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke yesterday revealed that his father and stepmother were robbed at gunpoint recently outside their West Baltimore home. And, he said, a Baltimore delegate's proposal to cane delinquent teen-agers should not be dismissed as frivolous."I was just really angry," Mr. Schmoke said of the recent robbery. "When it happens to anybody, it's something that just tears you up. When it happens to your parent, your loved one, you feel it personally.

The Pennsylvania man charged with killing his friend's stepmother in Middle River last month has told police that he received $250 from his friend for the shooting.John I. Reed IV said in a statement to police that he was wearing a mask and that Kimberly Sue Frampton Ramsey was begging not to be killed when she was confronted in her home."I turned around and she was coming at me," the statement says. He pulled the trigger seven times, and the statement reads, "I was scard out of my miened I ran out of the home."

Baltimore police obtained an arrest warrant last night for a 15-year-old boy accused of shooting two people, including a 4-year-old girl who was apparently hit by a stray bullet as she played in the 2700 block of Pennsylvania Ave. late Tuesday night.Police are searching for Varion Romeo Simms of the 2200 block (( of Roslyn Ave., West Baltimore, who faces two counts of attempted murder and handgun violations, said Sabrina Tapp-Harper, a police spokeswoman.The Simms youth will be charged as an adult when apprehended.

A 21-year-old woman told an Anne Arundel Circuit Court jury yesterday that she performed a sex act three times on the former special education teacher who had befriended her while she was his student at Northeast High School in 1989.The woman alleged that Charles Allen Yocum, 30, took advantage of her after she began confiding in him about problems with her father and stepmother when she was 16.Mr. Yocum is charged with child abuse and unnatural and perverted sex practices. He is among three Northeast teachers charged last year with sexually abusing students, a scandal that attracted national attention when one teacher admitted on "Geraldo!"

Title: "Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery"Author: John Gregory BrownPublisher: Houghton MifflinLength, price: 244 pages, $19.95*Title: "The Circus of the Earth and the Air"Author: Brooke StevensPublisher: Harcourt, Brace and Co.Length, price: 384 pages, $23.95 "We make sense of the world, some philosopher once said, only through its rearrangement, through a constant shift in perspective coupled with a slight movement of this or that. . . . In that manner . . . the truth becomes apparent."The words belong to Meredith Eagen, protagonist of "Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery," one of two first novels written by recent graduates of the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars that were published this month.

The pistol apparently used to kill former Ravens quarterback Steve McNair and his girlfriend Saturday was bought by the 20-year-old woman less than two days earlier, Nashville, Tenn., police said Monday. Authorities stressed that they have not concluded that Sahel Kazemi killed the retired football star and then turned the gun on herself. Police are awaiting the results of a ballistics analysis, including gunshot residue tests, and tracking down details of the pair's final hours. "We are beginning to make some headway into trying to understand what took place," police spokesman Don Aaron said at a news conference.

On February 20, 2008 DOROTHY GROSS stepmother of Mathilda Wright. She is also survived by her nieces Christine Watson and Deborah Carter and nephew Larry Ward and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue on Monday after 9 where family will receive friends from 4-6. Family will also receive friends on Tuesday at 11:30 followed by funeral services at 12.

Herve Massaba came to suburban Baltimore from Africa to finish his education. He reunited with his family, took classes at Baltimore City Community College during the day and worked at night to pay his tuition, his stepmother said. The 24-year-old native of Cameroon was just blocks from his home in the Randallstown area last week when he was shot in the spine, causing an injury that could leave him paralyzed, police said. Baltimore County police said they knew of no motive for the shooting.

On June 28, 2006, CHARLOTTE A. (nee Kelly) MAY; beloved wife of Charles J. May, Sr.; devoted mother of Edward Smith, Sr., and his wife Kimberly and Holly Channell and her husband Dave; dear stepmother of Charles J. May Jr., and his wife Kelly; dear sister of Albert Kelly Jr.; also survived by five grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the SCHIMUNEK FUNERAL HOME OF BEL AIR, INC., 610 W. Mc Phail Road (at Rt. 24) on Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., where funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment Highview Memorial Park.

MICHELE D. VEASEY (Thomas), 45, of Fulton, MD, died May 9, 2006 at Howard County General Hospital. Born September 12, 1960 in Silver Spring, MD, daughter of James A. Thomas and the late Mary Lou (Trible) Thomas; survived by husband John A., daughter Patricia A. and son Steven T., both at home; father and stepmother, Barbara (Maynes) Thomas, both of Westminster, MD, brother Michael Thomas, College Park, MD, father-in-law and stepmother-in-law Allen J. and Barbara (Barnes) Veasey, Crofton, MD, mother-in-law Maralea Kay Nucker of WV and brothers-in-law Robert J. Veasey, Michael S. Veasey and David L. Veasey.

On February 10, 2006, ESSIE MAE devoted stepmother of Mary Jones. Friends may call at MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST INC., 4300 Wabash Ave. on Wednesday after 8:30 A.M. where funeral services will take place on Thursday at 11:30 A.M.

On January 31, 2006, ERNEST PATRICK WILLIAMS, JR.; beloved son of Ernest P. Williams, Sr. and stepmother June Williams, and the late Barbara A. Williams; loving brother of Joseph P. Williams and his wife Tracy; devoted uncle of Abigail and Ethan; cherished grandson of Sarah Guyger; nephew of Ricardo Barreras, Joseph Guyger and Martin Murphy. He was recently predeceased by his grandmother Rita Barreras. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, February 6, 9 A.M. at Mc Ilvaine Funeral Home, 3711 Midvale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. In lieu flowers contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

On March 26, 2005, KARA SNYDER, devoted and beloved wife of Philip Snyder, and loving stepmother to Paul and Ronald Snyder. Kara is also survived by one Grandson. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday April 1, 2005 at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.

On Sunday, March 20, 2005, "TEDDY", beloved son of Theodore L. Dworkowski and the late Leila Lee Harrison Dworkowski; also survived by stepmother Madeline Dworkowski and sister Leila Gainer and by numerous family and friends.thee will be no public visitation. Graveside Services will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Baltimore on Wednesday at 11 A.M. Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster, are in charge of arrangements.

On February 16, 2005, ELAINE M. (nee Bathon); beloved wife of William E. Fromm; mother of Dorothy Barker, John, Anthony, and David Turner; stepmother of James Fromm, Sharon Moscotti and the late Richard Fromm. Survived by 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Services at ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., 11605 Reisterstown Rd., Owings Mills, Saturday at 8 P.M. Interment private. Friends may call Saturday, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M.