In a new report, the Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging and Best Practices argued the policy fails to improve public safety and instead harms young people — but many of the state’s top prosecutors said they strongly disagree.

Seven State’s Attorneys stood shoulder to shoulder for an exclusive interview with FOX45 News on Monday, voicing opposition to the commission’s first major recommendation since its restructuring last year.

“We’re standing out here because we’re about public safety,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said. “We’re the ones on the ground floor doing the work.”

The report recommended that all youth cases begin in juvenile court, with judges deciding on a case-by-case basis whether to transfer them to adult court. But those on the front lines warn that such a change could overwhelm an already strained system.

“What they’re trying to do makes no sense right now,” Bates said. “We have DJS [Department of Juvenile Services] that doesn’t have the capability or enough bed space to hold the juveniles that are there now on the system. What are you going to do with the bed space that we have? Are we going to now move these kids who are charged with, say, a murder case, let them go home? What about a child charged with rape? Are we going to now let them go home?”

State’s attorneys from Cecil, Harford, Howard, Prince George’s and Frederick counties echoed Bates, stressing that only the most violent offenders are sent straight to adult court.

“They’re the murderers, they’re the attempted murders, they’re the robbers, the carjackers, the rapists, those are the types of violent crimes,” Bates said.

The commission’s report, however, argued the practice disproportionately impacts children of color, placing them in “dangerous environments,” where 85% of the time, the cases are either dismissed or sent back to juvenile court. The report also claims Maryland’s youth detention rate in adult facilities is more than six times the federal standard.

“First of all, I didn’t hear anything about the victims. Because I think one of the things when you talk about the victims, you’ll find out most of the victims are Black and brown as well. We’re also looking at the data and statistics — when I’ve talked to myself and my colleagues, we don’t know where these numbers come from,” Bates noted.

“I think what they’re failing to see is these young adults, that they’re not children. They are sophisticated offenders. Many times, this is far from the first contact with the justice system,” Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith added.

For now, the report is simply a recommendation. However, Sen. William Smith, one of four lawmakers on the commission, pledged to reintroduce a bill to address the issue next legislative session. Past legislation he has proposed would have raised the age a juvenile could be tried as an adult from 14 to 16.

Meanwhile, prosecutors warn they’ve been down this road before. Many of them fought similar battles in Annapolis over the past few years. In 2024, they successfully pushed to roll back earlier juvenile reforms — changes they say fueled spikes in juvenile auto thefts and gun crimes.

“Remember, these are not actions of misdemeanors. These are actions of murder, violence that are terrorizing, plaguing our community,” Bates said. “They must be held accountable.”

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV.

In February, 15-year-old Blake McCray and his friend 16-year-old Michael Robertson were gunned down outside the mall. Police placed their accused killer, 18-year-old Emmetson Zeah, at the scene using the GPS coordinates from an ankle monitor he was already wearing from a previous attempted murder charge.

At the time, Advantage Sentencing Alternative Programs Inc, also known as ASAP, was responsible for tracking him. According to court documents, in the weeks leading up to the shooting, Zeah violated the terms of his release at least five times. And while state law requires all violations be reported within 24 hours, ASAP did not alert authorities in that timeframe.

“It could have been anyone’s son,” said McCray’s mother, Marshay Eaddy, “So much life, and it just was snatched away.”

An attorney for the victims’ families, Jeremy Eldridge, said the killings had far-reaching consequences.

“This has not only destroyed their families, but this has essentially infested the Howard County school system,” he said. “You have kids that are traumatized, and this is not going to be erased overnight.”

The families are now attempting to hold ASAP accountable in court. Collectively, they’re seeking nearly $1 million in damages. But they say, more than money, what they really want is change.

“It’s not an isolated incident. It’s simply, it’s negligence compounded upon negligence is the best way to put it,” said David Ellin, another attorney representing the families.

Accusing ASAP of putting the “public’s safety in jeopardy,” earlier this year the state cut ties with the Towson-based company. The families call the action too little, too late.

“There are state agencies that are supposed to oversee companies like this. Clearly, the oversight has not worked. So, yes, I think an overhaul and an investigation into that agency is warranted,” said Ellin.

The lawsuit also names Zeah’s mother — attorneys say she was the guardian who was supposed to be supervising his home detention. Instead, she was the one who allegedly drove him to the mall.

“The failure of her to follow through with what she was supposed to do as a parent led to two young men losing their lives,” said Ellin.

Advantage Sentencing Alternative Programs Inc., did not immediately return a request for comment on this story.

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com.

Seven of McCloud’s relatives are buried on the grounds, but she can only find two of them. The others are lost beneath a sea of weeds and overgrown grass. Elsewhere throughout the cemetery, several other gravestones are cracked, collapsed or crumbling.

FOX45 reported on concerns about the cemetery last summer. But more than a year later, grieving families said nothing has changed.

“Who is responsible for this?” McCloud asked.

“From a local perspective, there is a question of ‘what can we do?’ versus ‘what can’t we do?” Young said.

Young said the issue now lies in legal limbo. The county doesn’t oversee private cemeteries, and the state limits regulating religious grounds. This General Assembly session, lawmakers established a Maryland Inventory of Cemeteries and Burial Sites Workgroup to address the issue. But that provides little comfort to the families pleading for help now.

“If their loved one was right here with our loved ones, would it be the same story?” McCloud asked. “No, you would be trying to untie your hands to get things done.”

In the meantime, a local non-profit is now taking matters into its own hands, hosting community clean-ups every other Saturday.

“I’m going to be here until they figure this thing out,” Shayna Alderman, the executive director of Unfailing Love Outreach Services, said.

But the non-profit is running low on the equipment, resources, and manpower needed to upkeep acres of land — and families are running out of patience.

“Put yourself in our shoes. We are crying out for help,” McCloud said. “One person can not do it all.”

For donations, volunteer registration, or sponsorship opportunities, you can email SAlderman@uloservices.org.

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV

Taki Allen says he was sitting with friends after football practice on Monday afternoon when armed police officers suddenly surrounded him. He says the officers pointed their weapons, ordered him to the ground, and detained him — a moment he says left him shaken and afraid for his life.

“I just in that moment, I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel like the school actually cared about me. Because nobody came up to me after, not even the principal,” Allen told FOX45 News.

The incident was triggered by a false alert from an artificial intelligence gun detection system installed in Baltimore County schools.

The AI software, developed by security company Omnilert, mistook Allen’s shiny, crumpled chip bag for a firearm, according to the student.

“It was mainly like, am I gonna die? Are they going to kill me?” Allen recalled. “They showed me the picture, said that looks like a gun — I said, no, it’s chips.”

The software, introduced last year, scans existing school surveillance cameras for signs of weapons. If a potential threat is detected, it alerts law enforcement in real time.

In this case, the alert prompted an immediate response from officers — a response Allen and his family say was dangerously aggressive.

“God forbid, my grandson could be dead if he flinched or twitched,” said Allen’s grandfather, Lamont Davis. “He doesn’t want to come outside unless somebody is there to pick him up.”

In a statement, Omnilert expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging that the image “closely resembled a gun being held.” The company called it a “false positive,” but defended the system’s response, stating it “functioned as intended: to prioritize safety and awareness through rapid human verification.”

Baltimore County Public Schools sent a letter home to parents, reinforcing Omnilert’s message and noting that counseling services would be available to students affected.

But Allen says no one from the school has reached out to him personally.

“They didn’t apologize. They just told me it was protocol,” Allen said. “I was expecting at least somebody to talk to me about it.”

His grandfather believes the school’s leadership should have done more to support Allen following the incident.

“I want [the principal] to reach out to him and go to his class and say, ‘Are you okay? Do you feel okay?’” Davis said.

Allen says the experience has left him deeply uneasy — especially about returning to school.

“I don’t feel like going out there anymore,” he said. “If I eat another bag of chips or drink something, I feel like they’re going to come again.”

Omnilert says it will conduct a thorough review of the incident to improve the system’s accuracy and emphasized that its AI is designed to support, not replace, human judgment.

 Have a news tip? Contact Alexa Dikos at aadikos@sbgtv.com. Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV.

“The car was riddled with bullet holes. Riddled with bullet holes! It was intentional,” Patricia Phillips said.

It happened around 10:30 p.m. when police were called to the 1000 block of Cameron Road for reports of a shooting.

“I heard eight shots in a row,” neighbor Danielle Morrisey said. “I was just outside. So, I’m glad I wasn’t caught in the crossfires.”

Police said officers located a man and a woman in their 30s suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to a hospital, where the man later died, police said in a news release Tuesday, while the woman was expected to survive.

Overnight, investigators could be seen collecting scattered shell casings in and around a blue SUV. Tuesday morning, shattered glass and a blood stained sidewalk were left behind.

“I met the ambulance down here. I was behind them. I seen them when they took my daughter, and she told me, ma, take care of my girls if I don’t make it,” Phillips said.

While police have yet to confirm any details, Phillips described a violent ambush. She claimed her 35-year-old son, Stephen Phillips, and her 31-year-old daughter, Destiny Wooten, were sitting inside the vehicle, parked just feet from Wooten’s front door, when a barrage of bullets rang out. At the time, Phillips said they’d been packing up her daughter’s belongings, preparing to move her to a new home the following day.

“Seven-and-a-half months pregnant woman, defenseless, and all her brother did was try to protect her,” Phillips said.

Suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, her son was pronounced dead at the hospital.

“He was my baby. … He was my everything, and he’s gone,” Phillips said.

Meanwhile, her daughter and new grandson were left fighting for their lives. According to Phillips, the expecting mother was shot in the stomach, with the bullet traveling through her uterus, liver, and colon. And yet, miraculously, “The baby didn’t have a bruise on him. So, the person who wanted to get rid of that baby, the baby still made it, you coward,” Phillips said.

Phillips said her daughter and grandson, born nine weeks early, were recovering in the hospital on Tuesday.

Investigators continue to search for a suspect, described over police radio as a “male with a black hoodie and blue jeans, 5’8″ to 5’9″, 130 to 140 pounds, running up Tunbridge and Midwood Avenue,” dispatchers said.

“I don’t do karma. God does that, but I just pray the detectives pick you up or just turn yourself in,” Phillips said.

If anyone has any information on this case, homicide detectives request you contact them at 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV.

According to the department, 253 youth are currently in detention — roughly the same number as this time last year, when 255 were detained.

Even more youth, however, are being monitored outside of lockup. That number is up 22% from last year, rising from 223 to 274 youth currently under 24/7 GPS supervision — with only 63 staff members assigned to watch over them.

In June, a 14-year-old was linked to a crime spree involving armed robbery, carjacking and a stolen vehicle—all while wearing an ankle monitor.

In July, a 13-year-old with 18 prior felony arrests was apprehended after a series of armed carjackings, also while under GPS monitoring.

According to the new data, DJS acknowledges that so far this year, nearly 20% of youth on ankle monitors either face a new arrest or fail to appear in court.

“I think it certainly does underestimate the problem, but even if it didn’t, it is still a rather high number,” said former Baltimore Police Deputy Commissioner Jason Johnson.

Johnson argues the problem isn’t the ankle monitors themselves. “It’s far less expensive to the state than detaining kids, and it’s more appropriate in many circumstances,” he said. The issue, he added, appears to be the lack of oversight.

“Just because they haven’t been charged with reoffending doesn’t mean they’re not reoffending,” Johnson said. “If no one is actually paying attention when a child is out at 3 a.m. in a place they’re not supposed to be, and they’re on an ankle monitor, that alert should be addressed immediately. And case after case after case, we see where it’s not been—it seems to be ignored. And if you’re going to administer the program that way, it will not work.”

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com.

It was recently discovered the former Iowa school superintendent and Baltimore principal appeared on the state’s voter rolls despite being in the country illegally. A failure, prompting further investigation from the American Accountability Foundation.

“We really wanted to get to the bottom of what went wrong here and see if it tells us more about what’s wrong with Maryland’s election system,” said President of the American Accountability Foundation, Tom Jones.

After filing a public records request with Prince George’s County — where Roberts registered — Jones uncovered not one, but two voter registration applications. One from 2011, the other 2016. On both, Roberts clearly signed under penalty of perjury that he was eligible to vote. But one key section remains unclear: His answer to ‘Are you a U.S. citizen?’ was redacted.

“What immediately stood out to us was that the county went to pains to black out whether Mr. Roberts had told them that he was in the country legally,” said Jones.

However, even with the redaction, Jones says it raises serious concerns over Maryland’s election integrity. Whether Roberts lied, or the county made a mistake, a non-citizen was still wrongfully added to the rolls.

“We can’t rely on the honor system to hope that illegal aliens won’t lie to us,” said Jones, “I guarantee that there are hundreds, if not thousands of illegal aliens registered to vote in Maryland. And as Prince George’s County showed us, they don’t care about this.”

Today, FOX45 reached out to state and county election leaders asking the following:

• Why was the citizenship section of Ian Roberts’ voter registration application redacted in the public release?
• Under what circumstances does the Board redact the citizenship question from voter registration records?
• Can you confirm whether Ian Roberts indicated “yes” or “no” to the U.S. citizenship question?
• If an applicant selects “no,” how does the system prevent that person from being registered?
• What safeguards currently exist to ensure only U.S. citizens are added to Maryland’s voter rolls?
• Has the Board identified any instances of non-citizens being registered to vote in recent years?
• Does the Board audit or review voter registrations for accuracy regarding citizenship status?

The only response we received was an old statement from the State Board of Elections, which doesn’t mention any proactive protocols. Instead it states voters are only removed from the rolls at the voter’s request or when legally verifiable information is sent to them. The board also noted Roberts never cast ballot, according to their records.

“There are no safeguards,” said Jones, “It tells us that, frankly, Governor Moore and Democrats in the state of Maryland are not serious about election integrity.”

Jones arguing the case exposes gaps in the system and supports calls, long made by Republican lawmakers, for tighter election protections such as requiring real ID’s at the polls.

“This has happened once. I don’t think it’s so crazy that it couldn’t happen again,” said Del. Matt Morgan.

“The simple fact that he registered to vote, in and of itself is a huge problem. So, there needs to be more checks in place,” echoed Del. Ryan Nawrocki.

FOX45 also reached out to the governor’s office asking if he agrees more safeguards should be put in place. As of the time this article was published, we have not heard back.

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV.

In Baltimore’s Little Italy, a marble platform surrounded by a steel gate now sits empty. For decades, it held a statue of Christopher Columbus — a gift from the Italian American Organizations United, unveiled by President Ronald Reagan and then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer.

But in 2020, amid a nationwide racial reckoning, protesters tore it down within minutes. Then, dragged and dropped it into the Inner Harbor. A scene that struck a nerve with local artist and fisherman Tilghman Hemsley.

“It’s your history, you know, it’s our history. And a lot of people say, ‘are you Italian?’ Even though I have Italian in my family, it wasn’t about being Italian. It was about being American,” Tilghman said. “It just irritated me so badly.”

Fueled by that frustration, Hemsley combined his two passions — art and fishing — to recover what was lost. First, reeling in the shattered sculptor from the bottom of the bay.

“I hired a dive team and from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., we had everything out of the water,” he said.

From there, the fragments were shipped to the family’s art studio in Centreville, where Tilghman’s son, Will Hemsley, used 3-D scans to digitally piece them back together like a puzzle. From that, a mold was made to shape a precise replica made of crushed marble and mixed resin.

“I think it’s a pretty impressive achievement, considering we did this all within the span of a year to replicate something as close enough to the original as we could, that took a very refined craftsman better part of a decade to do,” Will said.

However, that momentum soon stalled. Ongoing controversy surrounding the statue, ultimately, kept the resurrected explorer stored in the same place for several years.

“I think you kind of, unfortunately, had to wait for a time where it was more politically feasible, and those are currents that ebb and flow,” Will said.

But last week, the Trump administration gave the Hemsley’s an unexpected call, and the statue, new ground to claim.

“I never thought it would go to the White House. They just called me up and said, ‘can you get it there?’ I’m like, okay,” Tilghman exclaimed, “I thought that would be a great place that it’s honored.”

And kept safe and secure – although, its specific placement has yet to be settled on.

“It’ll be on the lawn somewhere,” Tilghman said. “I would say a pretty prominent area.”

Originally, the statue was set to descend on D.C. before the federal holiday. But President Trump’s trip to the Middle East delayed the timeline. It’s now expected to arrive within the next week or so.

But it’s also, not alone. The Hemsleys made two identical statues. A second one intended to serve as a backup, in case history repeats itself.

“I had it for a reserve for if something would happen,” Tilghman explained.

Now he hopes Baltimore will reserve a spot for it, potentially even placing it back where it originally stood.

“You already have the podium,” he said, “Baltimore deserves to have that. I know the people that originally put it up, and there was a lot of pride in that. I mean, one guy that was really involved in it, he’s 90 something. You know, he probably would rest easy knowing that it was put back.”

While Ian Roberts’ ties to Baltimore City schools are under review, concerns are also shifting beyond the classroom, as state records suggest the undocumented immigrant may have been registered to vote despite his immigration status.

“Once again, our citizens’ votes are diluted and the democratic process is undermined as another illegal alien is found on Maryland’s voter rolls,” Delegate Matt Morgan said. “This isn’t about politics; it violates our fundamental right to fair and secure elections.”

At the time of his arrest, Roberts was working as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. According to federal immigration officials, the Guyana native overstayed a student visa in 1999, was charged with illegally possessing a handgun in 2020, and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2024.

Back in Maryland, state records show a voter registration listing with the same birthday and address tied to a traffic citation Roberts received in Iowa. It comes as the Department of Justice is requesting Maryland’s voter registration data, following a state audit finding over 2,400 potentially deceased and more than 300 duplicate registrations on the voter rolls.

State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis, has yet to comply, citing a concern that the list would be used to enforce immigration. In a letter to the DOJ, DeMarinis asked to first know, “whether the voter registration list will be used for enforcement of immigration laws against Maryland residents” before turning over the records.

“Why wouldn’t you want to turn over the voter rolls for that? How is immigration enforcement using our voter rolls? I mean, obviously that means there’s multiple people that are registered to vote,” Morgan argued.

FOX45 News sent the following questions to the Maryland State Board of Elections:

Can you confirm whether this individual was registered to vote in Maryland?
What verification process does the State Board of Elections use to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens are added to the voter rolls?
If a non-citizen were mistakenly added, what safeguards are in place to detect and remove that record?
Has the Board reviewed this individual’s case, and if so, what was determined?
Can you explain why the Maryland State Board of Elections has not yet turned voter rolls over to the U.S. Department of Justice?
Is this delay related to concerns about non-U.S. citizens being on the voter rolls?
As of the time this article was published, there has been no response.

Morgan added this is exactly why he’s pushing for legislation requiring voters to show a Maryland ID at the polls, along with verifying signatures on mail-in ballots.

Meanwhile, FOX45 News also sent the following questions to Baltimore City Public Schools, where Roberts was employed for nearly eight years:

Was Mr. Roberts employed by Baltimore City Public Schools?
If so, what was his official job title?
At which school(s) or office(s) was he assigned?
What were the dates of his employment with BCPS?
What documentation did BCPS require from Mr. Roberts to verify his eligibility to work in the U.S.?
Can you confirm whether Mr. Roberts was working legally in the United States during his time with Baltimore City Public Schools? If not, how was he able to be hired by the district?

In response, a spokesperson sent the following statement:

“Ian Roberts was employed with Baltimore City Public Schools for a total of 7 years and 10 months between August 2001 and June 2010. He served as a teacher for five years, resident principal for one year and principal for two years. That is the extent of the employment history I can share with you.”

FOX45 News has independently confirmed Roberts served as the Principal at Friendship Academy of Science and Technology in Baltimore City. He also graduated from Coppin State University.

While Schlegel has been cleared in criminal court, the court of public opinion remains divided. Several sources also tell FOX45 that civil lawsuits are mounting against him.

Eight girls were attached to the criminal case, accusing Schlegel of touching them inappropriately during the school day. Following an emotional, month-long trial, Schlegel’s acquittal left parents enraged and sparked widespread protests. Across Anne Arundel County, many residents and business owners put up pink signs reading, “We believe them,” in support of the girls.

During the trial, Schlegel testified under oath and has always maintained his innocence.

While polygraphs aren’t typically admissible in court, Seidel says they’re a last resort for restoring Schlegel’s reputation.

“Everything in this case is demonstrating that he is innocent, and unfortunately, we’re stuck in the position where despite all of that, we still have to prove this negative,” said Seidel.

A report provided by Schlegel’s attorney outlines the key questions asked during his polygraph examination:

While teaching at Severna Park Elementary, did you ever inappropriately touch a student for sexual pleasure? Answer: No

Have you had sexual contact with any student at Severna Park Elementary? Answer: No

The report states that Schlegel passed with “no deception indicated.”

“He can fail it, and I’ve seen that happen where people have failed. He can be inconclusive, which is the majority of these tests, or they can’t say one way or the other. But in this case, there’s no indication of deception, which is a pass. And frankly, in my experience, that’s rare,” said Seidel.

It’s unclear what or how many additional questions Schlegel was asked. Seidel did not release the full transcript, and the polygraph examiner did not respond to FOX45’s request for comment.

Thiru Vignarajah, who represents several families of the alleged victims, issued the following statement in response to the results:
“Pathological liars pass polygraphs all the time. Polygraphs are not admissible in any Maryland court because they are unreliable and easily manipulated. Junk science doesn’t erase the facts, the testimony of survivors, or our pursuit of justice.”

Have a news tip? Contact Rebecca Pryor at rkpryor@sbgtv.com or on X at @RebeccaPryorTV.