State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that John Otha Dickens, Jr., 35, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to LIFE in prison with 58 years of active incarceration for several domestic violence incidents.
On November 21, 2024, a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Dickens of attempted first-degree murder for viciously attacking his prior intimate partner. Dickens slashed the victim’s neck with a knife, causing devastating, life-threatening injuries that required immediate emergency medical treatment.
Most troubling, Dickens was out pending sentencing for other assaults against the same victim stemming from 2021 when he committed this subsequent offense in February 2023.
At the sentencing hearing, the State requested the maximum sentence of LIFE in prison. The Court imposed the following sentence:
· Attempted first-degree murder: LIFE in prison, with 40 years active incarceration, consecutive;
· Second-degree assault: 8 years active incarceration, consecutive;
· Second-degree assault: 10 years in prison with 5 years active incarceration, consecutive; and
· Third-degree burglary: 10 years in prison with 5 years active incarceration, consecutive.
Dickens received a total sentence of LIFE in prison, with 58 years of active incarceration.
“Dickens had a lengthy history of violence against women as a domestic violence offender. This sentence demonstrates our office’s commitment to stopping intimate partner violence in our County,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “With this sentence, I hope our survivor can find some solace knowing that her abuser will no longer be able to harm her or her family.”
Corporal Christopher DiToto and Trooper First Class Michael Posch of the Maryland State Police and Detective Kortnie Marsch and Deputy Bianca Salas of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were the lead investigators.
The sentencing hearing was presented by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case.
