CHESTERTOWN –– A former Washington College student whose phone call to police here in January led to a shelter-in-place order at the college served nine days in jail following his sentencing earlier this month.
Grafton Steele Howard, 26, of Chesapeake City was convicted of two misdemeanors related to disturbing school operations at his trial in the District Court of Kent County on March 9.
He was found not guilty of the more serious crime of threatening mass violence.
On May 13, Judge John E. Nunn III sentenced Howard to six months in the Kent County Detention Center for each count of disturbing school operations, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
All but 10 days were suspended, and Howard was given credit for one night spent in the Cecil County jail following his arrest.
He was ordered to pay fines totaling $1,000, with $500 suspended.
At the conclusion of his sentencing hearing on May 13, Howard was taken into custody and transported to the KCDC.
His time of active incarceration overlapped with commencement week at Washington College, aligning with a recommendation by the college and the state’s attorney’s office to have Howard in custody for the May 17 graduation ceremony.
Upon his release, Howard was placed on supervised probation for three years. Special conditions include attending work or school regularly; receiving permission before leaving the state of Maryland; and prohibiting him from possessing firearms and other dangerous weapons.
Howard also is subject to evaluation for mental health therapy, and he is to continue with substance abuse and alcohol therapy as directed by his probation agent.
The charges against Howard stem from alleged offenses on Jan. 20, which was the first day of classes for the spring semester at Washington College.
Chestertown Police Chief Ron Dixon said just before 6 p.m. one of his officers received a telephone call from a male who asked what would happen if he went onto the campus of Washington College and committed a crime of mass violence, specifically if he were to shoot members of the school’s administration and public safety officers.
According to a news release from the CPD, the caller — subsequently identified as Howard — provided detailed and specific information that led to the threat being deemed credible.
At the same time that CPD officers were working to identify the caller and his possible whereabouts, they contacted the Washington College Department of Public Safety to brief them on the situation.
A shelter-in-place order was issued by college officials while law enforcement continued their attempt to gather more information on the caller and locate him.
Police determined that Howard was at his family’s home in Cecil County, not in Chestertown, when he made the phone call.
Sgt. Chris Schwink of the Chestertown Police Department led the investigation.
Assisting agencies included the Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Washington College Department of Public Safety, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police-Centreville Barrack and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.
During the sentencing hearing on May 13, Assistant State’s Attorney Chloe Campbell, who prosecuted the case, told the court that representatives from Washington College expressed that they did not want to “impede” the “forward motion” of Howard’s life — though both the college and the state agreed on the seriousness of Howard’s “recklessness” in “substance use and self-expression.”
Campbell said the college administrator who was specifically named in Howard’s phone call to the CPD in January did not request a no-contact order, nor was the college seeking restitution.
“Washington College is grateful to the dedicated police who responded so quickly to this event that occurred earlier this semester and we were happy to work with the state’s attorney on the case,” a college spokesperson said in an emailed statement to The Evening Enterprise on May 21.
“Our focus was and now remains on the safety and security of our campus and all that reside, work, and visit here,” the spokesperson said. “We remain a steadfast partner with the town of Chestertown and all state entities in ensuring that safety extends to the community as well.”
Punishment, rehabilitation and deterrence are the three “prongs” of responsibility for the court, Judge Nunn said during sentencing, while also noting that consequences for threatening actions are important to send a message to the public that violence is not taken lightly.
“You have a responsibility in this society not to do things like you did,” the judge told Howard. “You don’t get to threaten people.”
Nunn is a graduate of Washington College, which was acknowledged by defense attorney Charles Scott and the judge in open court May 13.
Scott said Howard’s actions on Jan. 20 resulted from Howard’s struggles with substance abuse and depression, for which Howard has since been undergoing treatment.
Scott said Howard had completed a month-long intensive outpatient treatment program with Recovery Centers of America, and was attending twice-weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Scott said Howard also has attended lectures on the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain.
Reading from a statement, Howard told the court that he regretted putting the Washington College community in fear and offered apologies to the college administration.
He said he had been in denial of his alcoholism, but is “turning a new leaf” after Jan 20.
Also addressing the court was Howard’s mother, who said this has been a “pivotal turning point” for Howard in addressing his substance abuse. She also told the court that her son has struggled with depression.