Published on: Wednesday, September 01, 2010

District man found guilty of brutal beating, rape

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey announced Aug. 19 a Prince George’s County jury found Jeffrey Lee Strickland, 45, of Washington, D.C. guilty of first degree rape, second degree rape, first degree assault and second degree assault.

Judge Leo Green presided, and Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca N. Cordero prosecuted this case.

When Crystal Lucas left her mother’s apartment in Temple Hills on May 23, 2009, her aunt, Veronica Garrett, 47, of Temple Hills, and her aunt’s boyfriend, the defendant, were the only people in the apartment.

When Lucas returned to her mother’s home an hour later, she found Garrett, who also lived there, lying on the kitchen floor unconscious and covered in blood.

When Garrett regained consciousness, she told Lucas and Lucas’ boyfriend that “Jeff” had beaten, strangled and raped her. Jeff was the victim’s live-in boyfriend.

Police were called and the victim was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center where she remained for three days.

Strickland was not on the scene. 

Investigation revealed that several days before the attack, the victim and her sister had asked the defendant to move out of the apartment.

Police spoke with the defendant, who indicated that he and the victim had engaged in consensual sex. He admitted to ripping her underwear that morning, but claimed it was part of their intercourse.

The victim had petechial hemorrhaging in her eyes, which is consistent with strangulation. She also had bruises and scratches around her neck and arms, bruises on her face and other injuries.

Three days later, Strickland was arrested and charged with attempted murder, first degree rape, second degree rape, first degree assault and second degree assault.

On Aug. 27, 2009, Veronica Garrett died of unrelated causes.

Strickland is expected to be sentenced Oct. 22 and faces life in prison.

Man sentenced to two life terms for murder, robbery of newlywed

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey announced Aug. 1 a Prince George’s County Judge sentenced Lawrence Thomas Covington, 36, of Landover, to two life terms.

He was found guilty of first degree murder, attempted murder and other related charges on May 25.

The defendant received life in prison without parole for one count of first degree murder in the killing of Maurice Fountain, 25, of Upper Marlboro, and life in prison for the attempted murder of Genea Simms Fountain, 22, also of Upper Marlboro.

The verdict was determined in approximately five hours before the presiding Circuit Court Judge Sheila Tillerson-Adams.

Covington was found guilty on the following charges: first degree murder of Maurice Fountain (received life without parole in prison), attempted first degree murder of Genea Simms Fountain(received life in prison consecutive), first degree assault of Genea Simms Fountain (received 20 years in prison concurrent), robbery with a deadly weapon of a wedding ring from Genea Simms Fountain (received  20 years in prison concurrent), robbery with a deadly weapon of a Cadillac Escalade from LePrince Hall (received  20 years in prison concurrent), use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence on Maurice Fountain (received 20 years in prison concurrent) and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence on Genea Simms Fountain (received 20 years in prison concurrent).

The verdict stems from an incident the morning of March 26, 2009, when Genea Simms Fountain awoke to the sound of a knock at her front door. She looked outside and noticed an unfamiliar white vehicle parked in front of her house.

Fountain immediately went to her parents’ bedroom and woke her stepfather, LePrince Hall. Hall then went to the front door and let in a black male who was unfamiliar to Fountain.  Over the next few minutes, Fountain overheard the two men discussing “tow trucks” and something about being “owed” something. She did not find the discussion unusual because Hall owned a tow truck company; however, it was not commonplace for Hall to conduct business at the residence.

Soon thereafter, Fountain and her husband, Maurice Fountain, left for Southern Maryland Hospital. While there, she underwent a sonogram and visited with a few co-workers (coincidently, Fountain works at the hospital but had the day off.)

A couple of hours later, the couple returned to the Snow Court residence.

Upon entering the home, they were immediately held at gunpoint and forced to lay face down in the kitchen.

For the next 10 to 15 minutes, the couple spoke extensively with the assailant as they lay on the floor, side by side with their wrists bound. Although she was never able to see the gunman’s face, Fountain is adamant that his voice and general description was identical to the person who came to the house earlier that day.

As the assailant rummaged through the house, he repeatedly demanded various valuables, including cash, jewelry and computers. During the course of the ordeal, the culprit removed the newlyweds’ wedding rings.

Then, without warning, Fountain heard a strange sound coming from her husband.  She looked over and witnessed the assailant slicing her husband’s throat. She began to scream and the suspect then told her to die as he slit her throat. He then grabbed a set of keys off the counter and left the house. Next, she heard Hall’s truck as it was driven out of the garage.

Bleeding profusely, Fountain managed to locate her cell phone and call 911. By the time the authorities arrived, her husband had bled to death. Hall was located in the basement. His wounds, also fatal, were far more violent and left him nearly decapitated.

Later that day, while recovering at the hospital, Fountain was able to provide a composite sketch of the assailant. Detectives showed the drawing to employees at Hall’s tow truck company and they recognized a resemblance to Lawrence Covington who had been fired by LePrince Hall just days prior.

A photo array was then shown to Fountain, and she immediately selected Lawrence Covington.

Covington was sentenced Aug. 18, before Judge Tillerson-Adams. The defendant was found not guilty of the murder of Hall.

— From the Office of the State’s Attorney