Robert B. Clements

Leonardtown, MD— On March.3, Judge Karen Abrams sentenced Robert B. Clements, 32, of California to six months in the St. Mary’s County Detention Center for theft of $1,000 to under $10,000 that occurred on April 17, 2015. 

Clements has admitted to stealing Niche Plates (rectangle shaped piece of brass) from the Columbarium at the Trinity Church located on Trinity Church Road in St. Mary’s City. 

According to charging documents, “Deputy A. Schultz of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office made contact with the property manager, who noticed several Niche Plates missing from their location.” Additionally, all of the screws which were holding these plates in place were also stolen. The total estimated value of stolen items was $4,045. 

St. Mary’s County Deputy State’s Attorney Theodore Weiner  stated, “this case appears to be a scrapper’s case, I think Clements is a hardcore drug addict and needs to attend drug treatment classes. 

“Clements is supposed to start drug treatment; I have brought a blank copy for Clements to fill out to get into drug treatment classes. I am sure that whatever the court hands down for a sentencing Clements would be happy to do. Clements has a very supportive mother, and he (Clements) has a child,” said Sean Moran, who was Clements’ public defender. 

Abrams asked if Clements had anything to say to the court before she gave her sentencing, Clements replied, “no, I have nothing to say.” 

Abrams responded, “I (Abrams) had a chance to look at your record, there are many cases that have been moved to the stet docket, some were criminal or traffic in nature. What I (Abrams) am seeing is that you (Clements) don’t think the law applies to you. You (Clements) melt down brass plates that belong to people who lost their loved ones, and you don’t care enough to say sorry for what you have done.” 

Abrams sentenced Clements to two years suspended down to six months in the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. Clements was also given three years of supervised probation, and also order to pay restitution of $2,841. 

Abrams last remark was, “You can change your behavior and you need to stop making excuses for what you do.” 

Contact Charles Seifert at c.seifert@thebaynet.com