La Plata, MD — For Thomas Aaron Caparella, 22 of Waldorf, a high-speed chase over seven miles throughout St. Charles at speeds of 100 miles an hour came to a crashing halt in Charles County Circuit Court on Thursday. Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced him to one year in jail for his transgressions.

Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney John A. Stackhouse detailed an August night in 2013 when Caparella led police on a chase “at speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour.”

Stackhouse said Caparella went through a traffic light at St. Patrick’s Drive, squeezing through traffic on St. Patrick’s Drive, Smallwood Drive, Lancaster Circle, “going through stop sign after stop sign,” he said.

At Turkey Hill Road, Caparella lost control of the motorcycle and went into a ditch. He then fled on foot behind a residence, and after an officer ordered him to stop and he kept running, the officer tazed him, Stackhouse stated.

The motorcycle was found to have a “popped ignition,” Stackhouse said, and was listed as stolen from Anne Arundel County.

“He didn’t have a license and he was on a stolen motorcycle,” he stressed, adding that Caparella was on parole at the time of his arrest for distribution of cocaine and Second-Degree Assault.

Stackhouse added that Caparella was slated to appear in district court on charges that he had beaten his former girlfriend multiple times and threatened to kill her and her son.

“While he’s on probation he keeps picking up other charges,” Stackhouse noted.
Caparella’s attorney, Don Castro told the court his client was trying to turn his life around.

“He’s doing very well, Castro said, telling the court Caparella was up for a promotion at his job and was no longer with the ex-girlfriend. He said Caparella’s fiancé was in court and due to have a baby in February.

“His biggest concern right now is to be there for the birth of his baby,” Castro said.

Bragunier sentenced Caparella to one year consecutive “to any other sentence you may receive on your other charges.”

She also sentenced him to 10 years on a second charge, suspending that time and placing him on five years of supervised probation following his release and granted him work release.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com