From the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office:
On 21 September 2015, David Corn entered a plea to charges relating to the sexual assault that occurred in the Bel Air parking garage on 11 October 2014. Corn entered a guilty plea to second degree assault and an Alford plea to second degree sex offense. An Alford plea means that the defendant admitted there was evidence from which a trier of fact could convict him of forcing the victim to perform sexual acts without her consent.
As part of the plea agreement, Corn will be sentenced to 10 years with credit for 352 days already served and the balance suspended, the sentencing is scheduled for 29 September. Corn will receive probation before judgment for the second degree sex offense and will be on supervised probation to Judge Elizabeth Bowen for five years. He is facing more than 29 years of imprisonment if he violates his probation.
Corn and his brother were charged with raping and assaulting the victim after meeting her at the Tower Restaurant. A jury acquitted Corn’s brother after hearing the same facts that are the basis of this conviction.
The State’s Attorney believes that given all that the victim had been through including the post-traumatic stress from her ordeal and trial that this was an acceptable resolution.
Less than a year in jail for rape is despicable!! The poor victim has a lifetime of hurt because of this and now he is free to do pretty much whatever he wants without a second thought.
I do believe that this case has proven the point that I have been trying to make for years, all on deaf ears. I want you to read the article again. Notice, the article clearly states, “A jury acquitted Corn’s brother after hearing the same facts that are the basis of this conviction”. Now, think about it. Why would anyone accept this Alford Plea deal? I have claimed that I was forced into an Alford Plea for years. This is exactly what I’m talking about. David Corn was forced/coerced/intimidated/threatened to take this deal and his lawyer was working with Cassilly’s office. Its just that simple. Way to go Joe, you stole another person’s life right out from under them and didn’t even have to take them to trial. Cassilly, you really sicken me you. I can’t believe you are allowed to practice law, yet alone prosecute……
You didn’t hear the evidence presented in the first trial. The evidence presented in this trial would have been the same as the first trial for his brother, however, when you are tried before a jury anything can happen. This man could have rolled the dice just as his brother did and hoped he would also be acquitted. He chose not to do that. Cassily could have chosen to drop all charges against this man since this man’s brother was acquitted. He chose not to do that.
You can go and sell that sand at another beach. This was a conviction of coercion. Plain and simple. Cassilly should be removed from his office……
I’m no fan of Cassily, but removing him from office just because you and others chose to take an Alford Plea is laughable. If you had been the man you think you are you would have taken your case before a jury and proven your innocence.
My case was hinged on a Suppression Hearing that according to Edward Thomas Maxwell, Jr., my former lawyer, was not going to be allowed by Judge Carr. That’s what was relayed to me and I believed him. I still believe him when it comes to that statement……
““A jury acquitted Corn’s brother after hearing the same facts that are the basis of this conviction”. Now, think about it. Why would anyone accept this Alford Plea deal?”
Seriously? The most obvious answer to this question would be that the younger brother didn’t commit the offense whereas the other brother did. That doesn’t seem like much of a stretch to me, but then again I’m not one to believe in every conspiracy posted in comments on the internet…
That’s what I read that to mean: The evidence pointed to one, not the other. It sounds like he got a bargain. If I read it correctly, “the balance suspended” means he’s either out or will be out on 9/29, right? I’d be a little steamed if the guy who assaulted (perhaps sexually) my daughter was out after 352 days.
Actually the reason he took the Alford Plea was because he and his family were having to pay the costs of 4 attorneys for two different trials, he still ran the risk of being convicted (although doubtful it would have happened) and being sentenced to 29 years in prison, and the plea deal allowed him to go home with no additional time served with only probation. The brother should have taken it to court and proven his innocence but the prospect of being able to go home today, not have to register as sex offender was too great. Cassily was desperate and if he had an ounce of integrity he would have dropped the charges.
If you took time to review the evidence in the case you would know that there was a defense witness, who said she saw the two brothers inside the garage with a woman and that there was mutual physical contact among the three, and it appeared to her as though they were preparing to engage in sexual activity.
The woman lied about being sexually assaulted and was mad that they did not pay her $100 after they were done. She was also on probation for prostitution, which is a little fact that gets no airtime, but hey Rape Culture right? It is scary to think that just because a woman cries rape that the man is automatically guilty. Some of the people on this thread should be ashamed of themselves
Regardless of how / why he entered the plea, the fact is that he is now a convicted sex offender, and will most likely have to register accordingly. Which means, he can continue his ways of being a waste to society and run around moaning about how “the cops messed up my life” for an act that HE COMMITTED.
He did the crime, he did the time, but now he will have to deal with a lifetime of atonement for his actions.
My thoughts on this – the brother who was acquitted was going to turn the tables and testify against his brother to remain off the hook. LOL
Buddy, I understand entirely what you are saying and I do agree that those things do happen a lot more than we know…but, this guy? He just went with the option that gave him less time in jail for something that he probably did do, and should spend more time in jail for…I know this, because I worked at Jones with him for four years, and between the womanizing and sexual harassment complaints from ex girlfriends, customers, and co workers…along with the numerous times girls claimed he was forceful at parties…I figured it was just a matter of time. Anyway, you’ll find no disagreements from me about how screwed up our justice system is and how many times innocent people end up behind bars…but, some guys are just messed up in the head.
Admittedly, I do not know David Corn and am not privy to all the details of his case, so I can not defend his character or his actions that may or may not have occurred. However, I do know from first hand experience, that Cassilly and his office use illegal and unconstitutional means to gather convictions from defendants on a regular basis. I call it MASS Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. I encourage everyone to examine 12K09002034 and 12K10000013, of the Harford County Circuit Court, to show the dishonor and lack of integrity of the State’s Attorney Office and the Court. In Corn’s case, the witness testimony shows that the alleged victim was in fact a willing participant of the acts that caused Corn’s conviction and PBJ. I understand your point of view as I hope that you can understand mine……..
And the moral of the story is just as your mother told you and that today is poo poo’d as so passe that while it’s never the victims fault, getting drunk at a bar and leaving the bar alone with one or more young men you barely know presents a situation that will not always end up well.
The 2 men were helping the “victims” mother who was intoxicated (as seen on video presented in court); the “victim” then propositioned the men by offering sex acts in the parking lot. She offered the sex, then claimed rape when they declined to pay her. An eyewitness spoke to the “victim” during the act, The witness stated in court that the “victim” was jovial in her demeanor, unbuckling the accuser’s pants and kissing him. (This is all court documented information)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/belair/ph-ag-david-corn-plea-0923-20150921-story.html
“The decision to accept a plea is a difficult decision for any defendant, but we as his attorneys are required to take any plea offer to our client for his due consideration,” Thomas Maronick, David Corn Jr.’s chief counsel, said in a written statement. “In this instance, we are very happy for our client in that he has accepted a plea in which he will walk free on Sept. 30th not convicted of any sex offense, not convicted of any felony, nor to ever see his name on a sex offender registry, and not to serve another minute of active incarceration should he uphold the terms of his probation.”
David Corn was not convicted of a sex assault crime and does not have to put his name in a sex offender registry.
“My thoughts on this – the brother who was acquitted was going to turn the tables and testify against his brother to remain off the hook. LOL”
The other brother does not have to remain off the hook for anything. The Constitutional right preventing double jeopardy prevents prosecutors bringing the same charges against him. Your comment makes no sense.
The prosecution gets a win every time someone incorrectly believes these innocent men are guilty. Your tax money was spent imprisioning 2 innocent men for 10 months, they want you to believe they are quilty. If he was guilty, why do you think they offered such a plea? The prosecution is happy that you believe they spent your money wisely.This family does not have the money to fight this system.
A couple of months ago the prosecution offered a plea where he would plead guilty to all charges and serve 89 years in jail. Now they offered a deal for second degree assault and time served. The only reason he took that deal is the family is out of money to continue fighting. They were innocent of these charges. This woman was a prostitute on probation. With this charge, the prosecution feels like a win, so the public doesn’t become outraged that 2 innocent people were jailed for 10 months, with thousands of your tax payers money and they won’t have to charge HER for violating her probation. He gets to try to move on with his life. They cannot get back the 10 months served, the thousands of dollars spent or their reputation from the public. This woman propositioned them (without initially asking for money), she walked outside with them (past police), she had her phone in her hand the ENTIRE time (only bothered to text her X-boyfriend-now fiance) and she was witnessed unbuckling his pants, kissing him and the witness told them to “get a room”. Wouldn’t you ask (or yell) for help if you were being raped? The police were within earshot. She didn’t call for help because she was a prostitute and was on probation. She only claimed rape after she asked for money and they said no; but still didn’t even walk over to the police. All of this information was brought out in court, it is all factual information that is available to the public; except of course her name, since she was a “victim”. People are often falsely accused of crimes. It is a frightening nightmare.
And if he didn’t plea he would have to stay on house arrest until trial. Trial had to be delayed because key eyewitness was out of country in school. It cost his family money $500 a month for house arrest monitor, not to mention continued lawyer fees. That is money his family does not get back even when he is found not guilty.
What you are describing sounds much like prosecutorial misconduct. From what I’ve heard about Cassilly, this sounds reasonable.
So to revise the moral to the story. So if you’re a young man and some skanky chick starts coming on to you best to high tail it and run because it might be a set up. Motive unknown – money, revenge..or really just to be a jerk. Second moral to the story – perhaps the authorities might want to start patrolling that garage because we have people leaping to their deaths and untold number of sex acts being conducted openly inside the garage at night. Third moral to the story – who are the gross humans that have recently decided to make themselves residents of Harford? Are we now busing the gutter rot from the roadsides in Baltimore City? Please go home; back to the dregs and rocks from which you crawled out of…disgusting.
The people about whom you speak were probably born here and their families very well may have lived here for generations.
My point is anyone who’s lived around here any length of time – in my case severals of decades will tell you the type and volume of serious crime has gone up quite a bit in the recent past. It’s not “home grown” either as every time, or nearly every time a criminal is caught or place of last known address identified it’s Rosedale, Baltimore City and the like. Edgewood has become a nightmare and it sure didn’t used to be, not to the seriousness it is now – we’re importing crime because the federal government wants it that way by wrapping grant funds and other eligibility to federal monies around programs that encourage the migration of bad actors into communities they aren’t wanted. Ask the people of Essex what happens when the government moves trouble into your community. Home invasions? Strong arm robberies? Murders? Rapes? Some of it may be related to the state of our economy and desperation but to pull a gun on somebody goes beyond a simple economic crime or crime of convenience. Reading the local paper and I’m starting to think I’m in DC.
If I read the crime blotter on the Dagger, I would probably feel the same way. The crime blotter on the Aegis, at least the last time I looked at a copy, tends to give a more accurate portrayal of crime in the county, which is mostly home grown, or at least it has been for the several decades I have lived here.
The increase in population also has led to an uptick in crime as well. More people always equals more crime.
You people got the MORAL of this story completely wrong. It really goes like this. In Harford County, you must pay your prostitute or you will receive a rape charge and conviction……
Fair enough. They were drinking…they were drunk. They made a decision that will affect their lives forever. She was drinking but was below the limit considered intoxicated. I say that because she knew what she was doing. Moral of the story….drinking impairs your judgement. Many people have made bad decisions while drinking. Many, many people have regret sex. They will have to live with the consequences….however, they are not rapist.
Oh, I agree 100%. I think you read into the statement wrong. I was being sarcastic. Personally, I think that the two brothers shared testimony and the witness testimony should have made the State’s Attorney dismiss the case. Basically, the State’s Attorney Office took the word of a known prostitute and in my opinion knowingly and willingly prosecuted a case where they knew the defendants were innocent of the accused crime. The prosecutors in this case are far more criminal than anyone should ever consider the accused.