Zenone

A Baltimore man named by police as a suspect in a 1995 Loch Raven double homicide was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore of robbing two Baltimore County banks.The jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours before convicting Michael Zenone, 27, of robbing and of aiding and abetting in holdups at the Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in White Marsh on April 12 and First Virginia Bank in Towson on April 26.Zenone was acquitted on two federal weapons charges.The trial, which began Monday, was Zenone's second on the robbery charges.

A federal court has refused the appeal of Anthony and Michael Zenone, two Baltimore brothers convicted in a 1996 spree of violence that prosecutors say culminated with two mysterious murders and three bank robberies.The decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ends the criminal case against the men, who argued they were convicted based on evidence wrongfully seized in an FBI search of their Northeast Baltimore home. They also claimed that a federal judge erred in doling out stiffer sentences than were called for in sentencing guidelines.

Bank robber Anthony J. Zenone, 32, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for murdering two men at Loch Raven Reservoir in a 1995 case that remained a mystery until police found the rifle used in the crime in Zenone's locked bedroom closet.His plea, made in front of his mother and his victims' relatives, came four days before his trial was to begin in Baltimore County Circuit Court. By the time he is eligible for parole, he will be in his 80s.As part of the plea agreement, Circuit Judge John G. Turnbull II ordered Zenone to serve two life sentences concurrently, but only after he completes the 34-year sentence he is serving for a federal bank robbery conviction.

Bank robber Anthony J. Zenone, 32, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison yesterday for murdering two men at Loch Raven Reservoir in a 1995 case that remained a mystery until police found the rifle used in the crime in Zenone's locked bedroom closet.His plea, made in front of his mother and his victims' relatives, came four days before his trial was to begin in Baltimore County Circuit Court. By the time he is eligible for parole, he will be in his 80s.As part of the plea agreement, Circuit Judge John G. Turnbull II ordered Zenone to serve two life sentences concurrently, but only after he completes the 34-year sentence he is serving for a federal bank robbery conviction.

Federal jurors in Baltimore deadlocked yesterday on a series of bank robbery charges against the prime suspects in a 1995 double slaying at Loch Raven Reservoir, but convicted one of the two brothers of robbing two Baltimore County banks.Of the 12 charges against Anthony Zenone, 30, and Michael Zenone, 27, prosecutors were able to win only two weapons and two bank robbery convictions -- all of them against Anthony Zenone.The U.S. District Court jury, which deliberated 2 1/2 days, acquitted Michael Zenone of a First National Bank of Maryland robbery in Arnold on Sept.

In a surprise move, defense attorneys and prosecutors began discussing a plea agreement yesterday in the high-profile murder case of Anthony J. Zenone, a convicted bank robber charged with killing two men at Loch Raven Reservoir in 1995.Discussions began abruptly yesterday morning as Zenone, 32, sat in a cell in the Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse, awaiting a pretrial hearing about search and seizure warrants.His trial in the killing of Vernon Arthur Smith, 46, and Vincent Brian Young, 26, is scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection.

Nearly two years after a mysterious double-slaying at Loch Raven Reservoir, a Baltimore County grand jury indicted yesterday convicted bank robber Anthony Zenone -- one of two main suspects -- in the deaths of the two Cockeysville men near the reservoir's Warren Road bridge.Zenone, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the June 1995 death of Vincent Brian Young, 26, who was shot several times in the chest, and Vernon Arthur Smith, 46, who died from a blow to the head, said Assistant State's Attorney S. Ann Brobst.

Two brothers who are suspects in a 1995 double homicide at Loch Raven Reservoir were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore for their roles in robbing three area banks.Judge Frederic N. Smalkin sentenced Anthony Zenone, 31, to 34 years in prison for robbing First Virginia Bank in Towson on April 26, 1996, Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in White Marsh on April 12, 1996, and First National Bank in Arnold on Sept. 2, 1993. Zenone pleaded guilty to the Arnold robbery in December.

The U.S. District Court jury deciding the fate of two brothers charged with robbing three area banks -- one in which the bandits wore presidential masks -- heard final arguments in the case yesterday and is expected to continue its deliberations today.The jury in the trial of Anthony J. Zenone, 30, and Michael Zenone, 27, spent the morning listening to defense lawyers present evidence they said proved that the brothers did not rob the banks."The best thing that the bank tellers can say is that the guns and masks here look like the ones used in the robberies," said Andrew Graham, lawyer for Anthony Zenone.

A suspect in a double slaying in Loch Raven in 1995 pleaded guilty yesterday to bank robbery charges in U.S District Court, closing a difficult case for federal prosecutors.Anthony Zenone, 30, pleaded guilty to robbing First National Bank in Arnold on Sept. 2, 1993, wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. During a trial in October, jurors were deadlocked on reaching a verdict on that robbery, but convicted him of committing two other bank robberies.Zenone could receive 20 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederic N. Smalkin on March 5.Zenone pleaded guilty on the same day he was scheduled to be retried by prosecutor Thomas DiBiagio.

In a surprise move, defense attorneys and prosecutors began discussing a plea agreement yesterday in the high-profile murder case of Anthony J. Zenone, a convicted bank robber charged with killing two men at Loch Raven Reservoir in 1995.Discussions began abruptly yesterday morning as Zenone, 32, sat in a cell in the Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse, awaiting a pretrial hearing about search and seizure warrants.His trial in the killing of Vernon Arthur Smith, 46, and Vincent Brian Young, 26, is scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection.

TOWSON -- County police were searching yesterday for a 14-year-old patient from Taylor Manor Hospital who walked away from a group outing to Security Square Mall on Saturday.Jamal Davon Matthews is described as a black teen-ager, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 130 pounds. He was wearing a black coat, jeans and black boots, police said.He is a ward of the Baltimore Department of Social Services who was sent to Taylor Manor Hospital in Howard County, police said. He has exhibited threatening behavior in the past, police said.

Nearly two years after a mysterious double-slaying at Loch Raven Reservoir, a Baltimore County grand jury indicted yesterday convicted bank robber Anthony Zenone -- one of two main suspects -- in the deaths of the two Cockeysville men near the reservoir's Warren Road bridge.Zenone, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the June 1995 death of Vincent Brian Young, 26, who was shot several times in the chest, and Vernon Arthur Smith, 46, who died from a blow to the head, said Assistant State's Attorney S. Ann Brobst.

Two brothers who are suspects in a 1995 double homicide at Loch Raven Reservoir were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore for their roles in robbing three area banks.Judge Frederic N. Smalkin sentenced Anthony Zenone, 31, to 34 years in prison for robbing First Virginia Bank in Towson on April 26, 1996, Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in White Marsh on April 12, 1996, and First National Bank in Arnold on Sept. 2, 1993. Zenone pleaded guilty to the Arnold robbery in December.

A suspect in a double slaying in Loch Raven in 1995 pleaded guilty yesterday to bank robbery charges in U.S District Court, closing a difficult case for federal prosecutors.Anthony Zenone, 30, pleaded guilty to robbing First National Bank in Arnold on Sept. 2, 1993, wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. During a trial in October, jurors were deadlocked on reaching a verdict on that robbery, but convicted him of committing two other bank robberies.Zenone could receive 20 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederic N. Smalkin on March 5.Zenone pleaded guilty on the same day he was scheduled to be retried by prosecutor Thomas DiBiagio.

A Baltimore man named by police as a suspect in a 1995 Loch Raven double homicide was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore of robbing two Baltimore County banks.The jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours before convicting Michael Zenone, 27, of robbing and of aiding and abetting in holdups at the Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in White Marsh on April 12 and First Virginia Bank in Towson on April 26.Zenone was acquitted on two federal weapons charges.The trial, which began Monday, was Zenone's second on the robbery charges.

It was a rookie cop's recollection that led to two brothers being charged as bank robbers and named as suspects in last summer's double slaying at Loch Raven Reservoir, a crime that had baffled police for months."

A federal court has refused the appeal of Anthony and Michael Zenone, two Baltimore brothers convicted in a 1996 spree of violence that prosecutors say culminated with two mysterious murders and three bank robberies.The decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively ends the criminal case against the men, who argued they were convicted based on evidence wrongfully seized in an FBI search of their Northeast Baltimore home. They also claimed that a federal judge erred in doling out stiffer sentences than were called for in sentencing guidelines.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has donated 35,000 books to Baltimore's 16 Head Start centers.Each of the 3,000 participating families will get six books, each center classroom will get 70 and each classroom's lending library for parents will get 44, the city Department of Housing and Community Development said.Head Start centers serve 3- and 4-year-old children with reading and other programs. Parents are offered tutorial training and opportunities to earn high school equivalency degrees.

Federal jurors in Baltimore deadlocked yesterday on a series of bank robbery charges against the prime suspects in a 1995 double slaying at Loch Raven Reservoir, but convicted one of the two brothers of robbing two Baltimore County banks.Of the 12 charges against Anthony Zenone, 30, and Michael Zenone, 27, prosecutors were able to win only two weapons and two bank robbery convictions -- all of them against Anthony Zenone.The U.S. District Court jury, which deliberated 2 1/2 days, acquitted Michael Zenone of a First National Bank of Maryland robbery in Arnold on Sept.