CRIME & JUSTICE

MARYLAND

Drug Boss, Girlfriend Plead Guilty

The leader of a drug ring that allegedly included a D.C. policeofficer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt yesterdayto drug conspiracy and money laundering charges.

Erskine "Pee Wee" Hartwell, who prosecutors said led a drug gangthat was active in the District and surrounding suburbs for much ofthe past decade, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Deborah K.Chasanow and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify incourt.

Hartwell's girlfriend, Lajuan Butler, pleaded guilty yesterday toone count of perjury. Butler admitted lying to the federal grand juryinvestigating the drug gang.

Nine of the 12 people who have been identified publicly asindicted in the case have pleaded guilty.

The drug gang allegedly was helped by D.C. police officer AndrewJames McGill Jr., 29. McGill, who faces federal charges of drugconspiracy, perjury and other offenses, has pleaded innocent and isscheduled to be tried May 2.

Chasanow scheduled Hartwell's sentencing for July 21. Butler wassentenced to three years' probation, including six months of homedetention, a $2,000 fine and a $100 court assessment.

Murder Suspect Held in St. Mary's

A former soldier charged with first-degree murder in the death ofa Leonardtown mortician was ordered held without bond yesterday bySt. Mary's County Circuit Court despite his plea in court that hefeared jail because he is homosexual.

Jairo Fortunato Torres, 19, is charged in the Jan. 25strangulation death of Michael K. Blankenship, a man who often posedas a retired Army brigadier general at community functions in St.Mary's County.

Torres, who believed Blankenship was a general, met him in anInternet chat room early last year. At the time, Torres was aninfantryman stationed at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Wash. Torres wasarrested in Seattle on March 28 on a first-degree murder indictmentand brought to St. Mary's County over the weekend.

Yesterday, St. Mary's County State's Attorney Richard Fritzopposed bond because he said Torres, a native of Mexico, poses aflight risk. Fritz said that Torres flew to the D.C. area Jan. 23,met with Blankenship and strangled the man in Blankenship'sLeonardtown town house shortly thereafter.

Torres, who has not yet retained a lawyer, told Judge Marvin S.Kaminetz, "I strongly believe I'm not guilty of first-degree murder."

Driver in Parkway Shooting Sought

The U.S. Park Police were looking last night for the driver of asilver pickup truck who they say shot at a car on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway yesterday morning.

Police said the assault occurred about 6:15 a.m. in the southboundlanes of the parkway, about one mile north of the split to New YorkAvenue. According to police, the driver of a green Ford Taurusnoticed the truck pull up to its right side. Moments later, a shotwas fired. Both cars slowed to about 5 mph, creating heavy trafficthat the truck driver was able to merge into.

Police found a nick on the windshield of the Taurus that couldhave been caused by a bullet. The driver of the pickup, which isdescribed as full-sized and silver with a blue cab, is thought to bea white male in his late twenties with short hair.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call thePark Police at 202-690-5080 or 202-619-7310.

VIRGINIA

Two Babies Allegedly Were Shaken

Two Prince William County infants remain hospitalized--one likelyto lose sight and one on life support--after each was violentlyshaken in unrelated incidents during the past week, police saidyesterday.

Oscar Morales, 28, of Mansfield Court in Dale City, was arrestedSunday night and is being held without bond on charges of felonychild abuse for allegedly shaking 4-month-old Zayra Gonzalez, hisgirlfriend's child. Police said Morales stated on Saturday that thebaby fell off a couch, but police said his story was not supported bythe baby's injuries. Police said the infant could lose sight.

In a separate case, Alan Khalil Wiggins, 2 months old, sustainedserious injuries Thursday and was on life support last night.Prosecutors said they are waiting to see if the infant survivesbefore filing charges.

Driver Charged in Fatal Fairfax Crash

The driver of a 1991 Toyota Corolla that ran off the road nearInova Fairfax Hospital early yesterday, killing a passenger, has beencharged with drunken driving, police said.

Megan Hamlin, 21, of the 8100 block of Heatherton Lane in Fairfax,was driving on Morningside Drive about 3 a.m. when she lost controlof her car, which hit several trees on the opposite side of the road,Fairax police said. Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash,police said.

Killed was Todd Hughes, 21, of the 3600 block of Lido Place inFairfax, a passenger in the back seat of the Toyota. Hamlin and twoother passengers were taken to the hospital for observation, policesaid.

Hughes was wearing a seat belt, police said; Hamlin was not.

Help Wanted in Solving CVS Break-In

Fairfax investigators are seeking help in solving a pharmacy break-in in Reston in which thousands of prescription drugs were stolen.The burglary at the CVS store at 1110 South Lakes Dr. occurred March27 between 10:15 and 10:45 p.m., police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective George Barlowof the Fairfax criminal investigations section at 703-478-0208 orFairfax Crime Solvers at 703-691-8888.