Calverio T. Somerville
Leonardtown, MD — “Forty” has been sentenced to four years in jail. Calverio “Forty” Somerville, 26, of Lexington Park was given the jail term July 17 in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court by Judge Karen Abrams. Somerville was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Somerville was one of 40 people arrested in April of last year as part of a massive drug sweep dubbed by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office as “Operation Undivided Attention.” According to the sheriff’s office, during their attempt to arrest him, Somerville attempted to escape and in the process threw 14 individual baggies of cocaine from his vehicle. After he was arrested a search of his home on Mako Way uncovered 52 grams of crack cocaine valued at $5,200, marijuana, a digital scale and $7.300 in cash.
State sentencing guidelines for the crime were four to eight years in jail. Assistant States Attorney Julie White asked for sentencing within the guidelines. Judge Abrams sentenced Somerville to eight years, but suspended four years of that. He will be on supervised probation after his release from the state penal system.
Before the judge imposed the sentence, Somerville’s attorney Ralph Warren, Sr. of Largo asked for the judge to be merciful, saying his client had been addicted to drugs since being introduced to marijuana at the age of 14. Yet Warren also argued that Somerville’s only previous conviction was for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. Warren noted that many states are legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana and predicted legalization in Maryland in the future.
The attorney observed that Somerville had a one-year old child by his fiancé and that had caused him to have a wake-up call. “He is trying to turn himself around,” Warren said, noting he had a job and had previous attempts at rehabilitation.
Judge Abrams noted, however, that the pre-sentence report from the Maryland Department of Parole and Probation showed that Somerville had tested positive for drugs as recently as June 23rd. “You are really not there yet. You are still using drugs,” she said.
“I plead with the court to give Mr. Somerville one last chance. He understands that this will be his last chance,” Warren argued passionately in asking for a sentence that would allow Somerville to serve his time locally (18 months or less). Warren observed that Somerville’s past transgressions had not been of a violent nature.
But the judge pointed out that the pre-sentence report also noted an arrest for assault stemming from a barroom brawl. Somerville argued it was the result of being drunk, but the judge said that was an indication of Somerville’s addictive personality.
Judge Abrams suggested that Somerville afford himself of substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com