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Man Found Guilty in 2021 Germantown Murder Sentenced to 55 Years in Prison; Instagram Plays Role in Investigation

Published November 7, 2023 at 10:50AM

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable John Maloney has sentenced defendant, Mario Samm, to 60 years in prison suspend all but 55 years to serve and five years of probation upon release. The sentencing hearing concluded yesterday evening. In April, a jury convicted Samm on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence for the death of 25-year-old Jahandar Darvish.”

This stems from an incident inside Darvish’s apartment on the 19300 block of Circle Gate Drive in Germantown on December 23, 2021. During an altercation, Samm fired seven rounds from two firearms, striking the victim three times. One of the other bullets went through the floor into an apartment unit below. There were no additional injuries. During the investigation it was found that social media posts of the defendant in the weeks preceding the incident, showed him with one of the guns believed to be used in the fatal shooting. Additional information below from the charging documents:

MCFRS Respond to Cell Phone Fire Tuesday Morning in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published November 7, 2023 at 9:45AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 18800 block of Bent Willow Dr in Germantown on Tuesday, November 7, for the report of a cell phone on fire. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, “cell phone overheated and caught on fire in apt, resident moved phone out of apt into hallway, occupant got out, closed door and called 911. Arriving firefighters encountered ‘smoking device’ in hallway.”

The building was evacuated and one patient is being evacuated for minor burns. We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

MoCo Native Jordan Hawkins Scores 31 Points on The Nuggets Monday Night

By MCS Staff

Published November 7, 2023 at 8:38AM

Montgomery County native and New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jordan Hawkins, making a start in place of CJ McCollum, scored a career-high 31 points on Monday night in a 116-134 loss to the defending World Champion Denver Nuggets. Hawkins’ coach Willie Green referred to him as fearless, saying, “When he’s open he’s going to shoot it. He’s aggressive and the beauty of it is Brandon, Z, all of his teammates are looking for him.”

The young man from Gaithersburg was drafted 14th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2023 NBA Draft. He is averaging 12.6 and 4.7 rebounds per game coming off of the bench, but earning significant minutes, for the Pelicans this year. Including the seven he hit on Monday night, Hawkins has made 20 three pointers in seven games this season. He has made 11 in his last two, showing that he is the outside-shooter he was drafted to be in the NBA.

Renovations at Damascus High School Now Have a Recommended Completion Date of August 2027; Will Accommodate Students From Clarksburg High School

By MCS Staff

Published November 5, 2023 at 8:22PM

A Major Capital Project was approved to address various building systems and programmatic needs for for Damascus High School, located at 25921 Ridge Road. The Board of Education, in the requested FY 2021–2026 CIP, included expenditures in FY 2022 to continue the planning and design of this major capital project had an original completion date of August 2025, however the County Council delayed the expenditures by one-year. An FY 2023 appropriation was approved to begin the design of this Major Capital Project. An FY 2024 appropriation was approved for construction funds. As part of the recommended FY 2025–2030 CIP, the completion date for this project is delayed one-year again due to an extension of the construction timeline. The recommended completion date is now August 2027.

Once completed in 2027, school capacity is expected to increase from 1,543 (where it’s at currently) to 2,250. Community meetings have begun regarding future plans for the project, as the capital project for Damascus High School will include a major addition to accommodate students from Clarksburg High School. A boundary scope recommendation will be included in a future CIP. Information courtesy of the MCPS Capital Improvements Program/Master Plan.

Germantown Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Attempted Murder in Gaithersburg Shooting, Per State’s Attorney

By Patrick Herron

Published November 3, 2023 at 8:15PM | Updated November 4, 2023 at 10:50AM

According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Christopher Fogleman has sentenced defendant, Marvin Frazier, 24, of Germantown to 40 years in prison suspend all but 25 to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Frazier was convicted by a jury in April of 2023 on charges including attempted first-degree murder, two counts each of first-degree assault and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a handgun. The sentencing hearing took place on Thursday, November 2^nd, 2023.

This stems from an incident at a music studio along Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg on August 8^th, 2020. Frazier shot a 19-year-old male, causing him to become paralyzed from the waist down. He also pistol-whipped a 20-year-old male. The defendant and victims are associated with rival gangs. The defendant fled but was apprehended in 2022.

Introduction to Self-Defense Course Being Offered by Commission for Women

By Patrick Herron

Published November 2, 2023 at 12:14PM | Updated November 15, 2023 at 4:54PM

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Commission for Women will be presenting three classes on “Introduction to Self-Defense: The S.A.F.E. (Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange) Seminar.” Each class is a single two-hour sampler seminar for women of all ages and abilities taught by Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.)-certified instructors. Classes are available on Thursday, Nov. 16, Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 3. Classes are $12 per person.

More information about the classes is available at Introduction to Women’s Self-Defense Fall 2023 Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite.

MCFRS Respond to Early Morning Fire at Germantown Apartment Complex

By MCS Staff

Published November 2, 2023 at 6:50AM

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) was dispatched to 20253 Shipley Terrace, near Wynnfield Dr., in Germantown for fire on the balcony at approximately 1am early Thursday morning.

According to MCFRS Spokesperson David Pazos, “units on scene extinguished a small fire on a balcony apartment from discarded smoking material with no extension or reported injuries. No displacement occurred due to the fire.”

Delta Air Lines Selects Germantown’s Hughes In-Flight Connectivity to Elevate the Wi-Fi Experience on Regional Aircraft

By MCS Staff

Published November 1, 2023 at 6:39PM

Germantown-based Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), today announced that Delta Air Lines has selected the Hughes In-Flight connectivity solution to power passenger Wi-Fi service on more than 400 Boeing 717 and regional jets serving North America. Designed for commercial aircraft, the weight-optimized, high-performance aeronautical solution combines the advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning powered Hughes In-Flight management system with a multi-orbit antenna and Hughes JUPITER Ka-band satellite capacity to deliver reliable in-flight connectivity (IFC) even over busy airport hubs. This solution enables a consistent passenger IFC experience at scale across the entire itinerary.

Per the press release: “Hughes welcomes Delta and appreciates their collaborative approach to enabling an enhanced connectivity experience for their regional passengers,” said Reza Rasoulian, vice president, Hughes. “Travelers expect a reliable Wi-Fi experience wherever they go, including in the air; the Hughes In-Flight connectivity solution enables Delta to meet that expectation with fast gate-to-gate connectivity.”

Public Meeting on the Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study – Wisteria Drive to be Held on Wednesday, Nov. 8

By Patrick Herron

Published November 1, 2023 at 9:49AM

Per MCDOT: “On Wednesday, November 8 starting at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold an online and in-person public information meeting about the concept designs for the Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study – Wisteria Drive in Germantown. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

The Germantown Multimodal Improvements Study is a facility planning study of multimodal improvements, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities safety and connectivity improvements, access improvements to nearby bus stops and the Germantown MARC train station, in Germantown. The limits of this project are from Great Seneca Highway to Germantown Road on Wisteria Drive and Middlebrook Road. This project will evaluate the safety needs of pedestrians and cyclists, facilities connectivity and access improvements, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus stops.

Police and Family Searching for Missing 12-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published October 31, 2023 at 3:40PM

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Isabella Faith Cardillo, a missing 12-year-old from Germantown. Cardilloesd last seen on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at approximately 11:50 a.m., in the 15000 block of Broschart Road in Rockville. She is 4-feet, 10-inches tall, 107 Ibs., with red hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing glasses, a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Isabella Faith Cardillo is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

The Top 10 Restaurants in MoCo, According to Trip Advisor (Fall 2023 Edition)

By Patrick Herron

Published October 31, 2023 at 9:03AM

Trip Advisor is a popular American online travel company that offers ratings of restaurants primarily from those who have traveled to the area, rather than locals. If you’re interested in seeing the opinions of those who have traveled to the area, you’re in luck, as today we’ll be sharing the top 10 restaurants according to Trip Advisor as of October 31, 2023.

10. Copper Canyon (928 Ellsworth Dr, Silver Spring): With a 4 out of 5 rating after 471 reviews, Copper Canyon’s Silver Spring location comes in at #10 overall in the county and #2 in Silver Spring. The restaurant has an additional MoCo location at Gaithersburg’s Rio.