William A. Dunnington Jr.
Lexington Park, MD— On Jan. 8, St.Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carl Ball responded to Pegg Lane in Lexington Park about a destruction property incident.
The victim advised he had been sleeping when he heard a noise come from the kitchen. When he went to check on it, he noticed a kitchen window had been broken out. According to charging documents, “He (victim) believed the defendant, William A. Dunnington Jr., 30 of Lexington Park to be the one who broke the window because of an ongoing issue between Dunnington and the victim.”
Ball spoke to the victim when he arrived on the scene. The victim stated Dunnington had been driving and returned a car to her other residence. The victim advised Dunnington had lived at the residence at Pegg Lane up until three weeks prior when she (victim) kicked him out of the residence because she was moving out.
Dunnington threatened, “to burn the victim’s trailer down with them (victims) in it. The victim went back inside his residence and shut his door,” according to charging documents.
According to charging documents, “several drops of fresh, still wet blood were located on the broken window and the surrounding deck area. A towel was also found in the immediate area that was covered in fresh blood.”
A friend of the victims was interviewed during the investigation. The friend advised, “she had been at a friend’s residence with Dunnington earlier in the evening drinking. The friend followed Dunnington home to ensure his safety. She followed him to Pegg Lane residence, where Dunnington parked his vehicle,” according to charging documents.
While responding to another call in the area of Great Mills Road and North Essex Road, Dunnington approached deputies on the scene. Ball spoke with Dunnington and advised him of his Miranda rights.
Dunnington stated, “he was the one who broke the window at the Pegg Lane residence. Upon inspection of his hand, Dunnington had several lacerations and abrasions on his left wrist along with dried blood,” according to charging documents.
Dunnington appeared to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at this time due to his quick and constantly changing demeanor and difficulty retaining a constant thought process along with the odor of an alcohol beverage emitting from his person.
Dunnington was charged with arson/threat, and two counts of malicious destruction of property.
Dunnington at this time does not have a scheduled court date. Dunnington faces a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and four months and/or a maximum fine of $11,000.
Contact Charles Seifert at c.seifert@thebaynet.com