Prosecutors downgrade charges against Maryland lawmaker; trial date set – WTOP News

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Charges related to a family incident involving a freshman delegate who is alleged to have threatened a relative have been downgraded.

Del. Jeffrie E. Long Jr. (D-Calvert and Prince George’s) now faces second-degree assault and fourth-degree burglary charges stemming from an April 4 incident. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Long was expected to be in a Calvert County District Courtroom Wednesday to face felony charges. That hearing before District Court Judge Robyn Riddle was canceled after prosecutors and Long’s attorneys agreed to amend the charges.

A trial on the misdemeanor charges is set for Aug. 18.

The case is being handled by the St. Mary’s County state’s attorney’s office at the request of Calvert County prosecutors. St. Mary’s prosecutors do not comment on pending cases.

Michael Adams, one of Long’s attorneys, characterized the updated status of the case as a measure of progress.

“Delegate Long is innocent,” he said. “I guess it’s a positive that the State decided to drop all the felony charges and leave just some misdemeanor allegations, but my focus remains where it always has been — to show at trial that Jeffrie is completely innocent. I look forward to doing that in August.”

Long is also represented by C.T. Willson, a state delegate from Charles County who chairs the House Economic Matters Committee and is a criminal defense attorney.

Long initially faced charges of home invasion and first-degree felony assault related to the April 4 incident.

Long was accused of going to a home in the 1000 block of Stephen Reid Road in Huntingtown around 10 p.m. that night. While there, Long allegedly threatened a woman with a pipe, according to a statement of charges.

Debbira Brown, the woman who filed the charges, is Long’s aunt.

Brown last month voluntarily dismissed a protective order filed against Long.

Long, 26, was elected to his first term in November and is the second youngest member in the House of Delegates. He serves on the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

Before his election to the House, Long was a legislative aide to Democratic Prince George’s County Sens. Joanne C. Benson and Michael A. Jackson. He also worked for former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

Long attended Huntingtown High School. He graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology and is senior pastor at Communion Church in Huntingtown.

The story has been updated to include a comment from Long’s attorney.

This article was written by WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters and republished with permission. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.