Frederick, Maryland. Prosecutors say a Baltimore man who committed four charges of felony witness intimidation and one count of obstruction of justice while on probation for a previous first-degree murder conviction was sentenced Thursday to 60 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections.
In March, a Frederick County jury convicted Milton Stewart, 58. Judge Julia Martz-Fisher gave a total sentence of 85 years, of which 60 years were to be served and 25 years were suspended.
The case started on March 28 of last year when cops from Frederick County pulled over a car on Interstate 70 and discovered Stewart inside with four other people. Controlled hazardous substances and felony drug charges were found as a result of a K9 scan. The probable cause affidavit contained information on Stewart that was given by another passenger during that stop.
Prosecutors said that Stewart intimidated the witness by sending threatening texts and a birthday card with the words “I love you to death” and “Bodymore Murdaland” to the witness’s daughter while she was in the Frederick County Detention Center awaiting trial.
The prosecutor draws attention to the risks of intimidation.
Witness intimidation is treated seriously, according to state attorney Charlie Smith, especially when cooperators or domestic abuse are involved. Smith emphasized the seriousness of Stewart’s behavior by pointing out that judges and prosecutors have a very negative opinion of people who intimidate witnesses.
At the time of these offenses, Stewart had been freed in 2021 from probation for a first-degree murder conviction he had received in Baltimore City in 2006.
The state’s prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Tumulty of the Felony Narcotics Division.
Following the traffic stop, the initial investigation was headed by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
Stewart’s sentence for the witness intimidation convictions will be served in a state prison.
