State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that following a four-day trial, a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Marvin Orlando Johnson, 39, of Mechanicsville, Maryland of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence for the premeditated shooting and killing of his stepfather.

On May 24, 2023, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville, Maryland for a report of a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was immediately pronounced deceased by responding law enforcement officers who observed the victim appeared to have been shot in the head while he was sleeping.

The Defendant will be held without bond pending a sentencing hearing where he faces a maximum penalty of Life plus twenty years in prison.

“My hope is the verdict provides peace and a sense of justice for this family who are living with the unimaginable nightmare of a beloved family member murdered at the hands of another family member,” said State’s Attorney Sterling. “I would like to thank the members of the law enforcement and prosecutorial team who worked diligently in the successful investigation and prosecution of this tragic homicide.”

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Maylor and Assistant State’s Attorney Zach Varda prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.

Detective Andrew Burgess of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator.

The Honorable Amy Lorenzini presided over the case.