Shawn M. Clarke
Leonardtown, MD—On April 21, Maryland State Police Trooper Jason Mulhearn responded to Church Street in Leonardtown for the report of an assault that occurred at Lawrence Avenue in Leonardtown.
Mulhearn made contact with the victim who advised, “She just had a recent domestic incident with the defendant who was identified as Shawn M. Clarke, 34, Leonardtown so she has been staying with her sister but still lives with Clarke and went back due to finding out she was pregnant,” according to charging documents.
The victim stated that Clarke started a verbal argument with the victim about her cheating on him. The victim stated during the argument that, “Clarke grabbed a 10-inch long kitchen knife with a black handle. The victim advised Clarke put the tip of the knife to her throat and told her he (Clarke) was going to kill her and her baby,” according to charging documents.
The victim advised that Clarke would not let her leave the residence and he would grab the knife if she attempted to leave. According to charging documents, “Clarke made the victim get naked because Clarke knew she would not run out of the house with no clothes on.”
The victim also advised that Clarke kept telling her he was going to kill her. The victim stated that Clarke would rub the knife down her shoulder to taunt her and left a red mark and cut from the tip of the knife.
Mulhearn observed the physical signs of injury to the victim’s shoulder from what appeared to be the backside and tip of a knife.
The victim stated that Clarke was retrieving ice from the kitchen when the victim ran out of the apartment with Clarke chasing after her. The victim said that Clarke stopped chasing her, so she went to a friend’s house in Leonardtown.
Mulhearn made contact with Clarke who was walking outside the residence. Clarke was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and false imprisonment.
Clarke told Mulhearn, “that he never held a knife to the victim’s throat or even touched her,” according to charging documents.
Clarke has a tentative preliminary hearing scheduled for May 19 at the St. Mary’s County District Courthouse. Clarke faces a maximum jail sentence of 35 years and/or a maximum fine of $2,500.
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