Latest Maryland and Delaware News, Sports, Business and Entertainment

ABC 27
March 29, 2012

http://www.abc27.com/story/17281827/latest-maryland-and-delaware-news-sports-business-and-entertainment

PROSTITUTION PLOT

Va. man charged with prostitution in Md. hotel

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Montgomery County Police have arrested a Virginia man they say engaged in prostitution at a Silver Spring hotel.

Thirty-9-year-old Bryant Livingston of Manassas, Va., was arrested March 16 and charged with five counts of prostitution. He was released on bond.

Police say management at the hotel said Livingston, a frequent guest, had rented a room on Feb. 15. When police went to the room that day, officers say they saw 11 people in the room, including several in various stages of undress.

Police say one man admitted to paying Livingston $100 to go into the hotel room and engage in sexual activities.

PASTOR-SEX ABUSE

Former Md. pastor gets 4 years for child sex abuse

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - The former pastor of a Montgomery County church is going to prison for molesting a 10-year-old girl.

Seventy-4-year-old Joe Ivey of Walkersville was sentenced Wednesday in Frederick to four years, with another 16 suspended.

The former senior pastor of the Barnesville Baptist Church pleaded guilty last month to second-degree sex offense. He allegedly abused the girl in February 2010 while she visited his home.

State's Attorney Charlie Smith says Ivey must register as sex offender after his release.

During his five years of supervised probation, he must undergo a psychosexual evaluation and submit to any recommended testing and treatment.

Smith says the court ordered Ivey to have no contact with the victim's family and to avoid unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

FATAL POLICE SHOOTING

Baltimore police: Officer shoots man with knife

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore police say an officer fatally shot a man armed with a knife during a confrontation.

Officers were called to a home on West Cold Spring Lane on Tuesday for a report of someone "about to do something crazy."

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says that as an officer approached the home, 21-year-old Seron Jackson walked out displaying a folding knife. He says there was a confrontation between Jackson and the officer and that the officer shot Jackson multiple times.

Jackson was taken to Shock Trauma, where he was pronounced dead.

The officer was placed on routine suspension. The department has 48 hours to release the officer's name.

RON PAUL-MARYLAND

Ron Paul talks about need to shrink government

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Texas Rep. Ron Paul says the federal government must stop running up debt that has become overwhelming.

Paul, who is in last place among the four Republicans seeking the GOP nomination to run against President Barack Obama, spoke Wednesday night to a capacity crowd at the University of Maryland, College Park's Ritchie Coliseum.

He touched on campaign themes underscoring the need to shrink federal government.

The fire marshal estimated about 1,780 people attended. Scores of students lined up outside were turned away because the venue was full.

Supporters chanted "President Paul" before the congressman spoke.

Maryland is drawing candidates this week; the state's primary is on April 3.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was in Annapolis on Tuesday. Mitt Romney was in Arbutus last week.

LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE

Del. will would expand lobbyist disclosure rules

DOVER, Del. (AP) - The Markell administration is proposing legislation that would expand disclosure requirements for lobbyists working to influence legislation and state regulations in Delaware.

The bill was unveiled Wednesday with bipartisan support.

It would require lobbyists to identify each piece of legislation, budget bill item or proposed regulation on which they are working.

The disclosures would have to be made electronically within five business days of the lobbyist having direct communication with a legislator, the governor, lieutenant governor or any state agency employee about a bill, resolution or regulation.

If the communication takes place before a bill is introduced or proposed regulation published, the disclosure must be made within five business days of the bill introduction or regulation publication.

CRAFT DISTILLERIES

Bill would allow craft distilleries in Delaware

DOVER, Del. (AP) - A bill that would allow small-scale liquor distilleries in Delaware has cleared a Senate committee.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to release the bill, which creates a framework for issuing licenses to distill spirits.

The license fee would be $1,500 every two years, and so-called "craft distilleries" could make and sell up to 750,000 proof gallons of distilled spirits a year.

Licensees also would be able to sell liquor for consumption on or off the premises.

Microbrewery, brew pubs and farm wineries located in Delaware would be eligible to own and operate distilleries as well.

The legislation now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.