Wicomico Co. Man Receives Max Sentence for First Degree Assault
EASTON, Md. – A man from Wicomico County has received the maximum sentence on charges related to a domestic assault that took place earlier this year.
On Nov. 21, Samuel Curtis Russ of Willards pled guilty to first degree assault and two counts of felony witness intimidation in the Talbot County Circuit Court. For the assault charge, Russ received a 25-year active sentence in the Maryland Department of Corrections. For the witness intimidation charges, Russ received a 40-year suspended sentence, consecutive to his sentence for first degree assault. His incarceration will be followed by five years of supervised probation.
On Jun. 13, officers with the Easton Police Department were dispatched to a residence for a welfare check. Upon arrival on the scene, police made contact with a female victim with apparent injuries to her face, head, and neck.
Police determined that Russ and the victim were in a romantic relationship, and were sharing a residence at the time of the assault. Russ physically assaulted the victim for several hours, and did not allow her to leave or use her cell phone. Russ reportedly strangled the victim multiple times, causing changes in her breathing, swallowing, vision, and voice. He ultimately fell asleep, allowing the victim the opportunity to contact 911.
The victim maintained throughout the investigation and prosecution that she believed Russ was going to kill her during the assault.
Russ was arrested on scene and transported to the Talbot County Detention Center. He was ordered to not contact the victim through a protective order as a pretrial condition. While in custody, he contacted the victim multiple times. Many of the recorded communications involved Russ pressuring the victim to recant her statement and withdraw testimony.
