A special prosecutor declined Wednesday to drop the case against a Maryland state delegate accused of unlawfully entering his aunt's house wielding a metal pipe.
Maryland Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr. originally received two felony charges from an alleged incident that occurred on April 4 between him and his aunt. The original charges included home invasion and first-degree assault, both felony counts under Maryland's criminal code. According to court records obtained by The National Desk (TND), Special Prosecutor Lisa M. Ridge filed a motion to modify the charges to fourth-degree burglary and second-degree assault. This amendment modifies the felony counts to misdemeanors, according to Maryland code.
In obtained court filings, TND learned Long's attorneys agreed with the amendment and requested to cancel today's felony hearing. Delegate Long is represented by attorneys Michael Adams and C. T. Wilson. Wilson serves with Long in the Maryland House of Delegates.
Long's trial is scheduled in Calvert County District Court on August 18.
In prior statements to TND, Delegate Long denied any wrongdoing.
I was not there, I am entirely innocent," Long told TND.
In an exclusive interview earlier this month, TND spoke with Delegate Long's alleged victim. Huntingtown resident Debbria Ann Brown told TND her nephew did not have permission to enter her house and she felt he was there to harm her.
He's supposed to be a delegate and he's supposed to be a minister. I'm not sure what they're ministering now," Brown passionately declared to TND about her nephew.
Original court filings alleged Delegate Long entered his aunt's house around 9:30 p.m. wielding a metal pipe. The allegations continued that Long told his aunt to "keep my name off your mouth or I'm going to put you six feet under." According to the report, Brown told Calvert County Sheriff Deputies that Long then got into his car and drove away.
The alleged incident occurred while the Maryland General Assembly had only six days left in session.
Delegate Long is innocent. I guess it's a positive that the State decided to drop all the felony charges and leave just some misdemeanor allegations, but my focus remains where it always has been: to show at trial that Jeffrie is completely innocent," Long's attorney, Michael Adams, told TND in a written statement.
Special Prosecutor Ridge told TND she cannot comment on an active case.