Jonathan Mohelski, 39, of Rockville, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the 2021 stabbing death of his friend, Brandon Sutherland, after a retrial in Montgomery County Circuit Court, and faces up to ten years in prison with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Debra Dwyer, defendant, Jonathan Mohelski, 39, of Rockville, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for the death of his friend, 33-year-old Brandon Sutherland. Mohelski was convicted late Friday evening, November 1, 2024, following a ten-day jury trial.
Mohelski faces up to ten years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
This case was originally tried in December of 2023 and resulted in a hung jury. It stems from an incident on November 3, 2021. The defendant and the victim were friends. The victim was staying at the defendant’s home in the 13000 block of Turkey Branch Parkway in Rockville. The defendant called 911 to report that the victim “fell on something sharp in the bathroom” and “he might be dead on the floor.” The victim had a stabbing wound to his chest. When first responders arrived, they attempted life saving measures, but Sutherland was pronounced dead at the scene. The knife that was used in the stabbing was found cleaned off and re-sheathed in the defendant’s bedroom closet. The weapon was tested for DNA and the victim’s blood was found to be present on the blade.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Herdman and Lauren Fetsch are prosecuting this matter.
“We thank our prosecutors who remained dedicated to seeking a conviction following this senseless loss of life. We continue to express our deepest condolences to the family of Brandon Sutherland. The State will seek the maximum penalty at the sentencing hearing,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.”
