William Joseph Gross
Leonardtown, MD — A Charles County man has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for his part in the armed robbery of a 95-year-old woman at her St. Mary’s County home in Town Creek. William Gross, 61, of Newburg was sentenced Aug. 31 in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court by Judge Karen Abrams.
Gross and two co-defendants entered the home in the early morning hours in August of last year. All three were wearing masks and Gross was brandishing a handgun. They tied up the woman and her caregiver with duct tape.
The sentencing hearing featured emotional testimony from both of the victims. The caretaker said, “That night I thought I was going to die.” She added, “I thought I was never going to see my kids again and I thought my kids would never see me again. They would grow up without their mother.”
The caregiver described walking in the dark the short distance to the home’s kitchen to dial 911. She said the 30-second trip “felt like a lifetime.”
The woman said her life has changed because of the incident. “I used to be very, very trusting of people and now I don’t trust anyone,” she said, adding that she is afraid of the dark and has constant nightmares. She said her doctors have told her she has PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from the incident, even though she has never been a soldier or served in a war. “Everything freaks me out,” she added.
The caregiver said she is now raising her children differently. Now she has her children sleep in her bed because she is afraid of leaving them alone in their own room. In asking for Gross to have a maximum sentence, she said, “He is a bad guy.”
The elderly woman, speaking to the judge from her wheelchair, but in a clear, strong voice, echoed her caregiver’s sentiments. “I was sure I was dying because I was bound so tightly on my face and hands,” she reported. “
“I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since then,” she said, calling it “the worst of all the horrible experiences I have ever had.” She added that she went from being a trustworthy person to feeling “I don’t trust anybody.”
The elderly victim told the judge, “All of St. Mary’s County should be able to enjoy peace in their own home without fear.”
Gross’ attorney, public defender Edie Cimino attempted to place the blame for Gross’ actions on his addiction, particularly alcohol. The attorney said that Gross’ father was a “severe alcoholic.” She said without a role model to look up to her client “turned to drugs and alcohol and drugs and alcohol became his role model and friend.” She also said he has suffered from depression.
Cimino also attempted to shift the blame for the crime to co-defendant Jessica Johnson, who had previously worked as a caregiver for the elderly woman and thus knew where valuables were kept. “This was not Mr. Gross initiated,” she said. She concluded, “The root of his involvement was his addiction.”
Before the sentencing hearing commenced Cimino said Gross had changed his mind and wanted to withdraw the guilty plea entered in June and instead have a jury trial. That plea had come after a jury had been called for a trial then and Gross changed his mind at the last minute and entered the plea.
Cimino said Gross had misunderstood how he was going to be sentenced and believed he would be given the opportunity for substance abuse treatment under the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene instead of being placed in the state penal system.
Assistant State’s Attorney Julie White called that contention “absolutely wrong.” She said she was the author of the plea agreement and nothing about the sentencing under the state’s health articles was ever included.
Judge Abrams agreed and noted that she had clearly asked Gross a series of questions to make sure that he understood what he was pleading guilty to. She also said she never granted the health exception until after sentencing and then only late in the sentence term. She denied the motion.
White called Gross a “career criminal” with a record that went back 45 years. Judge Abrams verified that by listing the crimes as far back as the 1970’s. The judge said she felt bad about Gross’ childhood and his addictions, but noted that countless others had overcome such challenges.
Judge Abrams said Gross’ behavior went beyond merely being caused by his addictions. “This is something that was unimaginable and this was violent.”
Before the sentencing, Gross turned and apologized to the victims sitting in the audience and his family and then turned back and apologized to the judge.
In imposing the 50-year sentence, which consisted of three consecutive sentences on three charges, said, “It doesn’t give me pleasure to send someone to prison for the rest of his life but I feel I have no choice.” State sentencing guidelines, considering Gross’ record, were 30-60 years.
Gross then starting arguing with the judge that his addictions were the underlying cause of his behavior. Judge Abrams responded, “Mr. Gross. You are a big boy. You are old enough to have made decisions.”
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com