BALTIMORE — A Maryland Department of Health police captain is accused of falsifying timesheets, misusing a state-owned vehicle, and stealing more than $5,000 in state payroll funds, according to court records filed September 9, 2025 in Baltimore County Circuit Court.
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced the charges that same day, saying Captain Astarte Hunt has been charged with two counts of misconduct in office and one count of theft scheme of $1,500 to $25,000.
Hunt, a certified police officer with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission, joined the Department of Health Police in 2016. She was promoted to captain in 2022 and took her most recent oath as a Special Police Officer in October that year. By April 2022, she had been placed in charge of supervising operations at all 11 state hospitals and facilities, with her primary office based at Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville.
The allegations stem from a four-month span in early 2025 when Hunt, who earned a $120,140 annual salary, was enrolled in two psychology courses at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Prosecutors allege she routinely attended classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays during her 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift without taking leave. The criminal filing says Hunt submitted timesheets through the state’s Workday system showing she was on duty when she was instead at UMBC or doing coursework.
From Jan. 28 to May 13, 2025, prosecutors say Hunt collected $5,140.64 in unearned pay. She was charged under Maryland’s theft statute, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The case also focuses on Hunt’s use of her assigned state vehicle. As a captain, she was issued a department car for official business, but agency policy prohibits off-duty or personal use. The filing says that throughout April and into May 2025, Hunt drove the state car to her UMBC classes, on weekends, and for other off-duty travel. Investigators allege she then falsified monthly mileage logs, claiming the odometer never changed on Saturdays or Sundays. Instead, she rolled weekend mileage into Monday entries to make the usage appear work-related.
Court records detail several examples: On Sunday, April 13, Hunt allegedly drove 25 miles in her state car but logged no mileage for that day, instead adding it to the following Monday’s reading. The same practice allegedly occurred on April 19, April 26, and April 27, including a 49-mile trip on a Sunday that was not reported until the next workday.
Howard, in a statement announcing the charges on Sept. 9, said the case underscores his office’s commitment to pursuing accountability within public service. “Our office is committed to upholding the law, including holding officers accountable when they abuse the public trust and violate the very laws and regulations they are sworn to enforce,” he said.
The criminal information was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Abigail Ticse, who requested a summons be issued to Hunt’s attorney for her appearance in court. No trial date has yet been set.
Hunt has not entered a plea. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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