Carroll County State's Attorney's Office

06/05/2026

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For more information please contact:

Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County
Phone: 410-386-2671
Fax: 410-876-9286

Westminster, Maryland – June 4, 2026

Man sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole for First Degree Murder

Austin Potocki, 32 years old from Hanover, PA, was given two consecutive Life Sentences, one without the possibility of parole for a shooting that occurred in the Patapsco area of Carroll County on December 13, 20024.

After a two-week jury trial ending in the beginning of April 2026, a jury found that on December 13, 2024, the Defendant travelled to the Patapsco area of Finksburg and laid in wait for David Anderson, a business associate to whom he owed money, and attempted to kill him by firing several shots at him from a high powered rifle. While wounding Mr. Anderson, he killed the driver of the vehicle, Benjaman Billings. Mr. Potocki was immediately one of the suspects and police were quickly able to gather key pieces of evidence confirming he was the shooter. Key evidence included a “hitlist” found on Mr. Potocki’s phone, which had “David Anderson” listed at the top. Also found on the phone was a google map of the area where the shooting took place, measuring the distance between the intersection where the victims were struck and a spot on a nearby hill where forensic evidence showed the shots came from. This map was created on the defendant’s phone 11 days before the shooting that occurred in that very same area.

In explaining why he agreed with the State’s sentencing recommendation, Judge Richard R. Titus mentioned that the google map found on the Defendant’s phone was damning and could not be explained away, but also noted the overwhelming additional evidence that the State presented at trial, showed a long period of premeditation. In deciding that it was too great of a risk for Mr. Potocki to ever return to the community, he indicated that by all accounts, the Defendant was acting from “pure evil” and he did not recall a worse case in Carroll County, in the 10 years that he had been on the bench.

State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker stated, “this was a particularly appalling premeditated murder and attempted murder which cried out for the maximum sentence that could be imposed under the law. I grateful for the sentence, and for the hard work of my prosecutors and law enforcement in bringing this guy to justice”.

Our Office continues to be grateful for the tireless and professional conduct of the Caroll County Sheriff’s Office, throughout the investigation and trial. Special thanks go to lead detective Ashley Owens and all the detectives in the Major Crimes Unit. The Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County was represented by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Amy B. Ocampo and Deputy State’s Attorney Sandra L. Johnson.

05/29/2026

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For more information please contact:
Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County
Phone: 410-386-2671
Fax: 410-876-9286
Email: [email protected]

Man sentenced to 20 years.

Westminster, Maryland –May 29, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Jason Eugene Pickett, age 39, formerly of Iowa, was found guilty by a Jury of Theft Scheme Over $100,000, Theft over $100,000, 4 counts of Theft $25,000 to $100,000 and 2 counts of Theft $1,500 to $25,000 in Carroll County Circuit Court.
Today, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Hockensmith told the Court of Pickett’s extensive criminal history, his gambling spree just before trial, and his choice to purchase a $26,000 Harley Davidson instead of using funds to pay the victim back in this case. Referring to Pickett as a “conman and a liar”, she asked the Court to protect the public from Pickett’s cons by imposing a sentence above the sentencing guidelines given Pickett’s extensive criminal history and the facts of this case.

Jason Pickett told the Court he was sorry for what happened and claimed that he wanted to be released from jail so that he could make payments to the victim. He was sentenced today by Senior Judge Barry Hughes to the maximum sentence of 20 years in the Division of Corrections. A judgment for $310,617.50 was entered on behalf of the victim, C & C Custom Lawncare, Inc of Mt. Airy. In sentencing Jason Pickett, Judge Hughes stated that Pickett’s record was of “someone who is morally bankrupt” and that he doesn’t believe that there is hope that Pickett could change who he is, stating that “this is who you are…a conman, and a conman cons.” Judge Hughes considered the safety of the public in imposing the 20-year sentence, stating that it should give a measure of protection for the business communities where he lives.

In January of 2022, Mr. Miller, owner of C&C, purchased a snowplow off Facebook from Mr. Pickett. Mr. Pickett thereafter represented himself to be a distributor for Snow Wolf Plows, and C&C placed an order with Mr. Pickett for numerous other plows, paying an additional $310,617.50 to Pickett and Arctic Snow and Ice Management, LLC in Virgina. The plows were never delivered, and investigation revealed the funds were not used to purchase the plows from the manufacturer, but instead were used to purchase a luxury vehicle, false teeth and other personal items for Pickett and his wife.

Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker commented on the sentencing, praising the work of his prosecution team and the Maryland State Police, stating “This isn’t your run-of-the-mill theft case. Here, we are dealing with significant sums of money stolen from a Carroll County business. We are grateful for the sentence that the Court imposed, and it should a stern message that conmen will not be countenanced in Carroll County.”

The case was prosecuted by Melissa Hockensmith, Sr. Assistant State’s Attorney, and Dillon Barth, Assistant State’s Attorney, and was investigated by the Maryland State Police. Ms. Hockensmith has been Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for more than 25 years and indicated that this is the largest sentence she has seen imposed for a white-collar crime defendant in Carroll County.

05/26/2026

Today our Community Education Liaison, Tim Weber, was a special guest speaker at the Justice Systems to Careers Initiative for Juveniles (JSCI-J). Tim has built strong relationships with, Carroll County, Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll Community College, and McDaniel College.

This was an opportunity for young individuals who may be heading down the wrong road to hear that it is never too late to turn things around, become productive, and use what was once meant for bad to instead create something very positive for the community.

05/26/2026

Yesterday, Haven Shoemaker and Special Counsel Allan Culver made it around to both the Westminster Memorial Day Parade and the Taneytown Memorial Day Parade.

Connecting with the community, reaching out, and showing support and honor to our veterans this Memorial Day reminds us all what the day is truly about — remembering and honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County is proud to recognize Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and Chief of the Special Victims Unit, Seth Giller, for recently presenting at a statewide symposium for forensic nurses held at University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

Seth was invited to deliver a 90-minute presentation titled “Dynamics of Forensic Nursing Testimony: Strategies, Challenges, and Recommendations.” The presentation was designed to provide Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) from across Maryland with a greater understanding of the criminal justice process, including documentation, relevant laws, courtroom procedures, expert testimony, and what to expect when called as a witness in Special Victims Unit prosecutions.

Forensic nurses from all over the state attended the symposium, and Seth received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants following the presentation.

We are incredibly proud of Seth for representing our office and sharing his knowledge and experience with professionals who play such a critical role in supporting victims and strengthening the pursuit of justice. His invitation to present at this statewide event reflects both his dedication to the field and the respect he has earned among his peers across Maryland.

05/19/2026

Today we had the honor of attending the 10th Annual Carroll County Public Safety Awards hosted by the Carroll County Chamber Foundation. This ceremony recognizes the courage, dedication, and tireless service of Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue Personnel, and Emergency Responders who work every day to protect and serve the Carroll County community.

One of the highlights of the morning was seeing our incredible Evidence Review Unit (ERU) receive the State’s Attorney’s Office Award for their outstanding work on three major Carroll County cases.

The ERU team spends countless hours reviewing and analyzing video evidence — work that often happens quietly behind the scenes but plays a critical role in bringing successful outcomes to investigations and prosecutions. Their dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to justice were instrumental in these cases and this recognition is incredibly well deserved.

We could not be more proud of this team and the work they continue to do for our community every single day. Congratulations to the ERU on this tremendous honor!

05/15/2026

may 1st we celebrated National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. For those who may not know, NCVRW is an annual observance, typically held in April, dedicated to raising awareness about victims’ rights, honoring survivors, and highlighting the services and support available to them.

Here in the Victim Witness Unit, we strive every day to provide victims with support, resources, and guidance throughout the criminal justice process. As part of honoring victims’ rights, we would like to recognize and thank individuals who consistently go above and beyond in service to victims and their families.

We would like to honor Sgt. Ronald Menchey of the Maryland State Police Crash Team. Sgt. Menchey has dedicated 20 years to this work and is routinely involved in some of the most tragic and emotionally difficult crash investigations in the state, including cases involving fatalities and catastrophic injuries. Despite the challenging nature of these cases, he consistently demonstrates professionalism, compassion, and excellence. He is always responsive, timely, informative, and dependable, and we are incredibly fortunate to work alongside him.

We would also like to honor Rachael Pietkiewicz, Assistant State’s Attorney, for her unwavering compassion and advocacy for victims. She is well known for making victims feel seen, heard, and comfortable, while also being honest and straightforward throughout the legal process. Her dedication and commitment to fighting for victims does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for all that she does.

Presenting the awards was Victim Witness Advocate Supervisor, Marley Tyler, whose leadership and dedication to supporting victims continues to make a meaningful impact within our community.

And finally, a big thank you to JeannieBird Baking Company for generously donating all of the delicious pastries for the occasion. Your kindness and support helped make the week even more special.

05/14/2026

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For more information please contact:

Office of the State’s Attorney for Carroll County
Phone: 410-386-2671
Fax: 410-876-9286

Westminster Man Sentenced to Serve Sixteen Years for Armed Robbery Convictions
Westminster, Maryland – May 12, 2026
On April 28th, 2026, Roger Caruso pled guilty to two counts of armed robbery. Today, Wednesday, May 12th, 2026, the Honorable Fred S. Hecker sentenced Caruso to 20 years suspending all but 8 years on count one and 20 years suspending all but 8 years on count two to run consecutive to count one; in total Caruso was sentenced to 40 years suspending all but 16 years.
On June 9th, 2025, Caruso went to High’s gas station in Westminster where he entered and exited the convivence store several times until the store was empty except the employees. He then approached the counter and demanded the money from the cashiers. While making his demands he gestured with his hand in his grey sweatshirt hoodie pocket indicating he had a weapon. The cashiers gave him the money, and he fled the scene on a bicycle; this bike and the grey sweatshirt with an open folding knife were later located by the Westminster Police Department behind a local store. Caruso was chosen from a photo array by a witness, and his DNA was located on the grey sweatshirt. Caruso was observed two tenths of a mile away from the High’s gas station shortly after the armed robbery occurred. He was out of breath and had a large amount of assorted cash in his hands.
During the time Caruso was completing this armed robbery in Carroll County, Caruso was participating in Drug Treatment Court in Anne Arundel County for a case involving an assault and a theft. A termination hearing is set for June for the Anne Arundel County case.
State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker said, “violent offenders deserved long prison sentences, we hope the victims can take comfort in the fact that this Defendant won’t see the light of day for a long time.” Mr. Shoemaker commended Westminster Police Department for their thorough investigation. This case was prosecuted by William F. Sasse.